A Classical Foundation. An International Recording Journey

Founded in 2000 by conductor and recording producer David Hernando Rico, the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra began with a clear ambition: to bring together outstanding musicians in Bratislava and create a flexible, professional orchestra dedicated to recording.

From the outset, the BSO combined the musicianship of Central Europe’s classical tradition with the demands of international music production. Careful preparation, expressive performance and close collaboration with composers became central to its approach.

More than 25 years and over 900 international projects later, those principles continue to guide our work.

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An Orchestra Built for Recording

Recording requires more than technical accuracy. It calls for confident sight-reading, responsiveness to direction and the ability to deliver expressive performances within a defined schedule.

These qualities have shaped the BSO’s identity. Our musicians work across classical and contemporary repertoire, film, television, video games, pop, rock and folk, adapting to different musical languages while maintaining a cohesive ensemble sound.

Whether performing a complete symphonic score or recording individual sections, our purpose remains the same: to understand the music and bring the composer’s intentions to life.

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Expanding Our Musical Possibilities

In 2005, the creation of the Bratislava Symphony Choir added a new dimension to our recording work. Bringing together professional singers with strong vocal training and studio experience, the choir opened further possibilities for concert works, film scores and vocal productions.

Its portfolio includes Penguins of Madagascar, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, alongside contributions to MYSTERIA, the cinematic vocal instrument developed by Galaxy Instruments and Native Instruments.

A further milestone came in 2016, with the foundation of Bratislava Symphonic Winds in collaboration with composer and conductor Otto M. Schwarz. Dedicated to symphonic wind recording, the ensemble has recorded works by Jacob de Haan, Thomas Doss and Otto M. Schwarz, including projects for publishers such as Hal Leonard.

Together with chamber ensembles and instrumental and vocal soloists, these groups allow us to offer a broad range of musical forces.

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Concerts, Classical Recordings & Contemporary Music

Classical and contemporary concert music is an essential part of the BSO’s artistic identity. Through concert performances and recording projects, we bring a commitment to interpretation, orchestral balance and expressive depth that underpins all our work.

The concert platform and the recording studio offer complementary perspectives. Live performance brings the immediacy of communication with an audience, while recording allows a sustained exploration of phrasing, orchestral colour and the architecture of a work.

Our classical recording portfolio includes music by Swiss composer Fritz Brun, featured in releases from Guild and Brilliant Classics. Such projects provide an opportunity to explore repertoire beyond the familiar concert programme and make it available to a wider audience.

Collaboration with living composers is equally important. Recordings such as Pedro Vilarroig’s The Odyssey reflect our engagement with contemporary symphonic writing and the value we place on working closely with composers to realise their musical intentions.

From established repertoire to new orchestral works, our aim is to create performances with character, coherence and a clear understanding of the score.

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Music for Film, Television & Video Games

Over the years, recording for the screen has become another important part of the BSO’s work. Our portfolio includes projects associated with Netflix, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, as well as titles in the Assassin’s Creed, Batman and Castlevania video game franchises.

Our recording experience encompasses music by composers including Hans Zimmer, Michel Legrand, Roque Baños, John Debney, Lorne Balfe, Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli.

A substantial recent project was the orchestral recording for Netflix’s ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line. During the summer of 2025, the BSO recorded music by Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli across more than 50 hours of studio sessions, conducted by David Hernando Rico.

Other projects include 12 Strong, Torrente Presidente, with music by Roque Baños, and The Occultist, for which Pepe Herrero conducted his own score with recording production by David Hernando Rico.

These collaborations draw on the same musical foundations as our concert repertoire: careful listening, interpretative sensitivity and a shared understanding of the work.

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Collaborations Across Musical Styles

Our story also includes recordings for artists such as Rosalía, Alejandro Sanz and Raphael, bringing orchestral colour and expression to a variety of musical settings.

Each project has its own priorities. A pop arrangement may call for a distinctive string sound; a concert work may depend on the natural interaction of the full ensemble; a video game score may require independently recorded sections for flexible use in production.

Working across these settings has broadened our experience and strengthened our ability to respond to each project individually.

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A Recording Home in Bratislava

Our work is closely connected to the recording facilities of Slovak Radio in Bratislava. The contrasting characteristics of its studios allow us to select an acoustic environment suited to the music.

Studio 1 provides space and resonance for large orchestral and choral forces. Studio 2 offers a versatile environment for soundtrack recording, section sessions and a wide range of ensemble sizes. Studio 4 supports smaller groups and productions requiring a drier, more controlled sound.

These spaces form an important part of our recording identity, supported by experienced engineers and production professionals.

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Connecting with Clients Around the World

For more than 20 years, remote recording has enabled us to collaborate with composers and producers who cannot attend sessions in Bratislava.

Live audio, video and direct communication allow clients to remain involved in the interpretation and recording process from their own studios. Alongside attended sessions, this approach has become an established part of our international work.

Our services have also developed beyond the recording itself, with support for orchestration, music preparation, score printing and session filming, as well as editing, mixing and mastering through specialist collaborators.

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Continuing the Story

The BSO’s history is built on the people behind each performance and recording: musicians, composers, conductors, engineers, producers and clients working towards a shared musical goal.

As our repertoire and portfolio grow, we remain committed to the values on which the orchestra was founded—preparation, flexibility and expressive performance. Every new score offers an opportunity to listen, collaborate and create something distinctive.