Our Ensembles.
Covent Garden Soloists™
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House was originally formed as the Covent Garden Orchestra in 1946. In the 1990s, the orchestra began to emerge as an outstanding instrumental ensemble in its own right, touring independently of the opera and ballet and often with Vasko Vassilev as concerto soloist. Under Vasko’s direction, the principals also worked as Soloists and collaborated with world-class conductors, composers and performers, including Sir Bernard Haitink, Placido Domingo, Sir Peter Ustinov, Pamela Tan-Nicholson, Jaz Coleman, Paco Pena among others*.
In 1994, Vasko Vassilev founded the Soloists of the Royal Opera House formed only of its principals. 10 years later, Vasko Vassilev expanded the Soloists of the Royal Opera House to form Covent Garden Soloists™, drawing in performers from artistic institutions all over the world.
The Soloists perform as an orchestra and in smaller formations for chamber music. It tours in many countries performing to standing ovations in many countries.
Its repertoire extends beyond the realm of conventional classical repertoire and members include not only orchestral instrumentalists and ballet dancers but also rock guitarists, electronic musicians and ethnic performers.
Trittico selects, recruits and manages the Soloists under the direction of Vasko Vassilev.
*Alongside their concerts, Covent Garden Soloists™ regularly include master classes and teaching courses in their touring itinerary.
Classical Ladies Orchestra
Classical Ladies Orchestra – Formed originally in 2006 for Hope Gala, the orchestra continues to feature new and exciting accomplished female musicians on all instruments including many more commonly associated with male performers. Trittico actively recruits in many countries with the support of its core founder group led by Margerita Kalcheva under Pamela Tan- Nicholson as resident composer-arranger and conductor.
Laureate
Laureate was the brainchild of Vasko Vassilev who saw his then-contemporary international competition rivals as musical colleagues and created the ensemble for like-minded prize-winning performers to make music together. The group’s initial series of recordings for Trittico Classics demonstrates their individual prowess but above all shows off the impressive musicianship and breath-taking virtuosity of the group as a whole. Laureate was invited to feature its virtuosity on Vanessa-Mae’s chart-busting ‘The Original Four Seasons’.
When Laureate moved into ‘pop’ consciousness with its ground-breaking ‘Total Immersion’ album, record sales soared and with that, demand for tours could not be satisfied for long. The solo careers of the members, each popular individually, began to take precedence over touring as a group. Laureate’s most popular and recognisable repertoire continues to be performed as new arrangements in concerts headlined by Vasko Vassilev. In 2023, members Vasko Vassilev and Ara Malikian, both superstars in their own right reunited in a one-off special event at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan.
