Collegium 1704 is a Prague Baroque orchestra founded in 2005 by harpsichordist and conductor Václav Luks. Together with its affiliated vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale 1704, it ranks among the world's leading historically informed performance groups, appearing regularly at venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Salzburg Festival, and the Opéra Royal at Versailles. The ensemble has played a central role in reviving the music of Czech Baroque composers Jan Dismas Zelenka and Josef Mysliveček. Its name refers to 1704, the year Zelenka's allegorical play was performed in Prague.
Collegium 1704 released a recording of Zelenky's Missa Circumcisionis for its 20th anniversary - the first recording of this mass on period instruments - and the album received significant international critical acclaim.
The ensemble performed Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at the Janáček Theatre in Brno, and the production received enthusiastic critical acclaim.
Václav Luks performed with Collegium 1704 as curator of the FEL!X 2025 festival at the Cologne Philharmonic with a program dedicated to Czech music.
The ensemble received great international acclaim for its production of Rameau's opera Platée in collaboration with the National Theatre orchestra in Prague.
Conductor Václav Luks received the French decoration Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters).
Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 perform sacred music from Neapolitan churches with period instruments and vocal ensemble.
Collegium 1704 performs a classical music programme from the 18th century in an intimate atmosphere.
Collegium 1704 explores musical dialogues across traditions in "For Several Friends", a concert celebrating the exchange between diverse musical styles and cultures.