Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of Poland's most prestigious symphonic ensembles and a major institution on the European musical scene. Based in the city of Katowice since the end of the Second World War, it has distinguished itself through numerous premieres of works by Polish composers and through an exceptionally rich discography comprising more than 200 award-winning recordings. The orchestra's history began in 1935 in Warsaw, when conductor and composer Grzegorz Fitelberg founded the first symphonic ensemble in Poland dedicated to radio broadcasting. From the outset, it stood out for the regularity of its broadcasts and quickly assumed a central role in the country's musical life. The Second World War interrupted its activities, but the ensemble was revived in 1945 in Katowice under the direction of Witold Rowicki. Two years later, Fitelberg returned to Poland to resume leadership after having fled to Brazil and the U.S. to escape the Nazis. He led the orchestra until his death in 1953. In the decades that followed, artistic leadership was entrusted to several notable figures of the Polish musical scene, including Jan Krenz, Jacek Kaspszyk, Antoni Wit, and Gabriel Chmura, among many others. Under their direction, the ensemble gradually developed an international reputation, appearing in major concert halls throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia. At the same time, Polish National Radio Symphony strengthened its national identity through close collaborations with leading Polish composers such as Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and Krzysztof Penderecki, premiering several of their works. From the early 2000s onward, the orchestra entered a particularly dynamic period marked by the leadership of figures such as Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa and Alexander Liebreich, whose work contributed to broadening its repertoire and strengthening its international presence. In 2014, the ensemble inaugurated a new concert hall in Katowice, a modern complex seating up to 1,800 listeners and renowned for its exceptional acoustics designed by the Japanese acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota. The venue quickly became a major musical center in Central Europe and hosts several important festivals, including the Festival of World Premieres - Polish Modern Music and the Katowice Kultura Natura Festival. Since 2018, general management has been overseen by Ewa Bogusz-Moore. The position of chief conductor was held by Lawrence Foster from 2019 before being assumed by Marin Alsop in 2023. The orchestra maintains an active schedule of concerts, tours, and recordings, continuing to play a vital role in the promotion of both Polish and international symphonic repertoire. ~ Islem Meghiref, Rovi