WARSAW NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

The first performance of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra took place on 5th November 1901 in the newly opened Philharmonic Hall under the artistic director and principal conductor, Emil Młynarski. The soloist was the world-renowned pianist, composer and future statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and the programme included Paderewski's Piano Concerto in A minor and works of other Polish composers, Chopin, Moniuszko, Noskowski, Stojowski and Zelenski.

In the succeeding years the orchestra won a high reputation, collaborating with leading conductors and soloists, until the outbreak of war in 1939, the destruction of the Philharmonic Hall and the loss of 39 of its 71 players. Resuming activity after the war, the orchestra was conducted by Straszynski and Panufnik. In January 1950 Witold Rowicki was appointed director and principal conductor, organizing a new ensemble under difficult conditions.

In 1955 the rebuilt Philharmonic Hall was re-opened, with a large hall of over a thousand seats and a 433-seat hall for chamber music, recognised as the National Philharmonic of Poland. Subsequent conductors included Bohdan Wodiczko, Arnold Rezler and Stanisław Skrowaczewski, and in 1958 Witold Rowicki was again appointed artistic director and principal conductor, a post he held until 1977, when he was succeeded by Kazimierz Kord, serving until the end of the centenary celebrations in 2001.

In 2002 Antoni Wit became general and artistic director of the Warsaw Philharmonic - The National Orchestra and Choir of Poland. The orchestra has toured widely abroad, in addition to its busy schedule at home in symphony concerts, chamber concerts, educational work and other activities. It now has a complement of 112 players.

Please also see Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra page.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
CHOPIN, F.: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (Falvai, Harasiewicz, Budapest Philharmonic, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Korodi, Kord)	CA14003
CLASSIC MASTERWORKS - Frederic Chopin	C49030
CLASSIC MASTERWORKS - Peter Tchaikovsky	C49031
CLASSIC MOODS - BEETHOVEN, L. van / BACH, J.S. / CHOPIN, F. / BRAHMS, J. / MENDELSSOHN, Felix / SCHUMANN, R. / GRIEG, E.	C18402
DISCOVER CHORAL MUSIC	8.558198-99
KILAR: Bogurodzica / Piano Concerto / Hoary Fog / Koscielec 1909	8.557813
MAHLER: Symphony No. 8, 'Symphony of a Thousand'	8.550533-34
PENDERECKI (Eternal)	8.572134
PENDERECKI, K.: Concerto Grosso No. 1 for 3 Cellos / Largo / Sonata for Cello and Orchestra (Monighetti, Noras, Kwiatkowski, Wit)	8.570509
PENDERECKI, K.: Polish Requiem (A) (Klosinska, Rappe, Minkiewicz, Nowacki, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Wit)	8.557386-87
PENDERECKI, K.: St. Luke Passion (Klosinska, Kruszewski, Tesarowicz, Kolberger, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Wit)	8.557149
PENDERECKI, K.: Te Deum / Hymne an den Heiligen Daniel / Polymorphia / Ciaconna (Klosinska, Rehlis, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Wit)	8.557980
PENDERECKI: Seven Gates of Jerusalem, 'Symphony No. 7'	8.557766
PENDERECKI: Symphony No. 8 / Dies irae / Aus den Psalmen Davids	8.570450
STRINGS (Eternal)	8.578027
SZYMANOWSKI: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Nocturne and Tarantella	8.557981