The Choir of the Polish Radio
The Choir of the Polish Radio was established by Jerzy Gert in Krakow in 1948. Choir has sung under the direction of Alojzy Kluczniok, Tadeusz Dobrzański, Adam Pałka, Jerzy Kurcz, Maciej Ogarek, Stanisław Krawczyński, Bronisława Wietrzny and Małgorzata Orawska. Until 1995 Włodzimierz Siedlik was their director and artistic director. Their wide repertoire ranges from a cappella music to vocal-instrumental pieces of all periods with special interest in Polish music.
The choir has often premiered with works by Polish composers (including those of Lutosławski and Penderecki) and sung during numerous festivals in Poland and abroad (such as Wratislavia Cantans, Easter Festival, Warszawska Jesień, Poznańska Wiosna Muzyczna, Muzyka w Starym Krakowie, Rossini Opera Festival, Settimana di Monreale, Oratorio und Cantata Festival Ratzeburg, music festivals of the Polish Radio, Gaude Mater Festival). As one of few choirs it has sung Schönberg's opera Moses and Aaron in Darmstadt, Palermo, Stuttgart and Hamburg. Apart from a rich collection of radio recordings, the choir's discography consists of nearly 60 CDs including the recording of the works of Górecki which has received the “Fryderyk” award twice.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the choir, they have been awarded the Honoris Gratia order by the Mayor of the City of Krakow.