National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NPRSO)

National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NPRSO) - Hailed as the leading Polish orchestra, the NATIONAL POLISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA fulfills the role of a cultural ambassador representing Poland in the international arts scene.( Vienna 2001, Europalia 2001 Brussels, Madrid and Dusseldorf 2002, Rome 2003 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of H. M. Gorecki, and more... ) The orchestra had a unique opportunity to work with probably the most important composers of the second half of the 20th century : Lutoslawski, Penderecki and Gorecki. The first performances of their works were often played by the NPRSO. This experience has given the orchestra a unique status among other orchestras in the world.

History

The NATIONAL POLISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (NPRSO) was founded in 1935 in Warsaw by the Polish conductor Grzegorz Fitelberg. The orchestra worked under his direction until the outbreak of World War II. In March 1945, the eminent Polish conductor Witold Rowicki resurrected the orchestra in Katowice. In 1947 Grzegorz Fitelberg came back to Poland and became its artistic director. After his death in 1953, the orchestra was headed by some of the best Polish conductors, including Jan Krenz (1953-68) and Kazimierz Kord (1969-73). In 1983 Antoni Wit became the artistic director for 17 years. Gabriel Chmura became music director of the orchestra at the beginning the 2001/2002 season. From September 2000 Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa became the general and programme director. Laureate Conductor is Jan Krenz and First Guest Conductor is Stanisław Skrowaczewski.

Recordings

The orchestra has recorded more than 160 compact discs for many international labels (Decca, EMI, Phillips, etc.) and numerous archival recordings for Polish Radio. For the Naxos label they recorded the complete works of Lutoslawski and symphonies of Tchaikowsky, Schumann and Mahler. Five Piano Concertos by Prokofiev under Antoni Wit with the soloist Kun Woo Paik for Naxos were awarded the Diapason d'Or and the Grand Prix du Disque de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque 1992. Recently "Turangalia" Symphony by Olivier Messiaen under Antoni Wit for Naxos was awarded the 2002 Cannes.

Classical Award

Since Gabriel Chmura became music director the orchestra has a contract with Chandos records. The first recordings appeared in autumn 2003.

Artists

Renowned conductors and soloists have performed with the NOSPR in Poland and abroad. Among them were: Martha Argerich, Leonard Bernstein, Placido Domingo, Pierre Fournier, Nicolai Gedda, Barbara Hendricks, Julius Katchen, Wilhelm Kempff, Paweł Klecki, Kirill Kondrashin, Marguerite Long, Witold Lutosławski, Charles Mackerras, Neville Marriner, Kurt Masur, Garrick Ohlsson, Krzysztof Penderecki, Maurizio Pollini, Herman Prey, Ruggiero Ricci, Mstislav Rostropovich, Artur Rubinstein, Thomas Schippers, Jerzy Semkow, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Isaac Stern, Henryk Szeryng, and Krystian Zimerman.

Touring

The orchestra has toured most of the European countries as well as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, Canada and Brazil, receiving enthusiastic reviews and the applause of enraptured audiences. The orchestra tours regularly the UK (IMG Artists), Germany and Austria (H.U.Schmid ) and Japan.

Forthcoming tours include:

• Prague and Warsaw Autumn Festivals, September 2003
• Wratislavia Cantans Festival, September 2003
• Rome, November 2003
• Paris, May 2004
• South American tour (Argentina, Brazil), June 2004
• French tour including the Berlioz Festival, August 2004
• German tour, November 2004
• Japan, December 2004
• UK tour, 2005 (date to be announced)