Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Public Radio
The Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra has a history dating back to 1945, when Stefan Rachoń, the violinist and conductor, established an orchestra which was to fulfil a wide range of tasks. In practice, the lion’s share of the repertoire was popular and light music. Making archive recordings for Polish Radio and TV, which for many years functioned as a single institution, was one of the orchestra’s main tasks.
It also performed during various gala concerts and festivals. After three decades, the ensemble’s successive conductors and artistic directors gradually changed its profile into a classical symphony orchestra. In the years 1976-1980 Włodzimierz Kamirski considerably expanded the repertoire. His efforts were continued by Jan Pruszak and Mieczysław Nowakowski .
During the four-year stint by Tadeusz Strugała, the ensemble was given its present name and moved from the rather obsolete M-1 Studio in Myśliwiecka Street to a brand-new Polish Radio Concert Hall, which was soon named after the great composer Witold Lutosławski. With an auditorium seating over 400, the Hall boasts the latest in recording and broadcast equipment. It has also achieved wide recognition outside Poland with its excellent and unique acoustics. In 1993, the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra was taken over by Wojciech Rajski. He organized a series of auditions and tests for prospective members in the wake of which he rejuvenated the orchestra by engaging many up-and-coming enthusiastic musicians.
The day-to-day activity of the orchestra comprises archive recordings for Polish Radio and public concerts in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Hall. Foreign tours have taken the ensemble to France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Italy and Germany. In all these countries, it was warmly received and critically acclaimed. On 8 May 1995, the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra took part in a gala concert in Darmstadt marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The programme of the concert featured Penderecki’s St Luke Passion (performed, in the composer’s presence, by combined Polish and German choral forces).
The orchestra has appeared in many prestigious venues in Europe, including Milan’s La Scala, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Philharmonie in Koeln and Duesseldorf, and Auditorium Lingotto in Torino. The past few years have seen a further expansion of the repertoire, reflected in the orchestra’s growing discography on the Polish Radio label as well as on EMI Classic, KOCH, cpo, and Olympia. Recently, the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra has also recorded film music and appeared under the baton of Maurice Jarre, Michael Kamen, Ennio Morricone and Michel Legrand in concerts featuring their music.
