Warsaw Philharmonic - Monday, November 3, 2008
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Program:

• Karlowicz – Seranade, op. 2
• Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto no.1
• Tchaikovsky – Symphony no. 6

Conductor: Antoni Wit

Pianist: Valentina Lisitsa

Warsaw Philharmonic History

The first musical perform ance of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra took place on November 5, 1901 in the newly opened Philharmonic Hall. The artistic director and principal conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra Emil Młynarski conducted this inaugural concert. The soloist was the world-renowned pianist, composer and future statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

The early years of the Orchestra were characterised by the gradual achievement of a high level of professionalism and numerous performances by outstanding soloists and conductors from all over the world. Before the World War I and in the inter-war period the Warsaw Philharmonic was the main centre of musical activity in Poland and also one of the leading centres of music in Europe. Almost all the outstanding conductors and soloists of the day appeared with the orchestra, including Grieg, Honegger, Klemperer, Prokofiev, Rakhmaninov, Ravel, Rodzinski, R. Strauss, Stravinsky, Arrau, Horowitz, Kempff, Rubinstein, Huberman and Sarasate.

After 38 years of prosperity, the outbreak of the World War II brought a temporary halt to the activities of the Philharmonic. The Hall was bombed and partially burnt in the first days of September 1939 and completely destroyed by the end of the war. In the first years after the war Witold Rowicki was appointed director and principal conductor. He took it upon himself to organise a new ensemble. Despite the lack of its own hall and difficult working conditions, the Orchestra made rapid progress. Performances were organised in different places, such as sports halls and theatres. The orchestra improved systematically during the first years under Rowicki and became a leading Polish ensemble. Their first concert abroad took place at the 1951 International Youth Festival in Berlin and was followed up by a tour of Romania in 1952.

On February 21, 1955 the rebuilt Philharmonic Hall was re-opened, with a large hall of 1100 seats and a 433 seat hall for chamber music. On that day the Warsaw Philharmonic received the status of the National Philharmonic of Poland. This represented the status, which the Philharmonic had achieved in Poland as the leading institution of its kind in the country. It also provided new opportunities and challenges for the future. In 1977 Kazimierz Kord was appointed artistic director and principal conductor of the Warsaw Philharmonic - National Orchestra of Poland and served the Orchestra till the end of the centenary celebrations in 2001.

As of January 2002 Mo. Antoni Wit has taken over the position of the General and Artistic Director of Warsaw Philharmonic – The National Orchestra and Choir of Poland. Maestro Wit, the winner of second prize at the Herbert von Karajan International Conducting Competition in Berlin and many state awards, is one of the most highly regarded Polish conductors.

Today both the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir have world-wide popularity and appreciation. Both ensembles have completed over one hundred tours on five continents. They are regularly invited to the best musical centers in the world. Each season the Philharmonic presents over 80 symphony concerts. The Warsaw Philharmonic has made numerous recordings for Polish and foreign record companies, such as Polskie Nagrania, Deutsche Gramophone, Philips, Decca, Naxos and CD Accord. These recordings have won numerous awards and distinctions.

At present the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra has 110 instrumentalists and the Choir has 95 members.