The Capella Savaria chamber ensemble was founded in the Western Hungarian town of Szombathely in 1981, taking its name from the area's Roman name, Savaria. The ensemble plays on period instruments under the artistic directorship of Pâl Nemeth. Performances of music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, based on historical documents of the time, have given Capella Savaria a firm place in the musical life of Hungary. Appearances in festivals throughout Europe, and concerts in Brazil and Israel have garnered critical acclaim for the group. The ensemble has no state subsidy, but works with the help of the Savaria Museum Friends of Early Music.