



phone no.
506 625 430
open:
Tuesday - Friday 10am-7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays - one hour before the concert

phone / fax no.
+48 504 856 500, + 48 504 063 337, + 48 12 619 87 22
e-mail:

Orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Krakow started its activity in February 1945 as the first Polish symphonic orchestra after WWII. Despite obvious difficulties in post-war Poland, the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra has presented a high artistic level and outstanding interpreting skills, mastered throughout the years in cooperation with several renowned conductors.
The first post-war manager and conductor of the memorable concert in February 1945 was Zygmunt Latoszewski. Later, for the successive 73 years, the Orchestra has been conducted by such outstanding masters of baton as: Valerian Bierdiayev, Bohdan Wodiczko, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Witold Rowicki, Andrzej Markowski, Henryk Czyż, Jerzy Katlewicz, Tadeusz Strugała, Gilbert Levine (USA), Roland Bader (Germany), Vladimir Ponkin (Russia), Tomasz Bugaj, Jan Krenz, Paweł Przytocki and Michał Dworzyński.
In the years 1988-1990, the post of Artistic Director of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Krakow was held by Krzysztof Penderecki. He became honorary Artistic Director of the Philharmonic in 1993.
The Orchestra accompanied eminent soloists several times including Yehudi Menuhin, Artur Rubinstein, Igor and David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Lev Oborin, Bella Davidowich, Maurizio Polini, Mstislav Rostropovich, Nigel Kennedy, Kevin Kenner, Vadim Brodski, Emanuel Ax, Yo-Yo Ma, Garrick Ohlsson, Gidon Kremer and was conducted by such celebrities as Hermann Abendroth, Roberto Benzi, Paweł Klecki, Rafael Kubelik, Kirill Kondrashin, Carlo Zecchi, Antal Dorati, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Helmuth Rilling, Jerzy Semkow, Kazimierz Kord, Gabriel Chmura, Antoni Wit, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Jacek Kaspszyk, Marek Pijarowski and Christopher Hogwood.
The Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra performed in over 30 countries, including most European countries, re-invited many times, the performances being held in the most famous concert halls worldwide, for instance Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Gewandhaus in Leipzig or Carnegie Hall in New York. The Orchestra successfully participated in numerous renowned festivals, such as Festival di Musica Contemporanea in Italy (1961,1964), Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Italy (1972,1973), Flanders Festival in Belgium (1972, 1974, 1986, 1994), Athens Festival (1974, 1987), Festival de Paris (1983, 1986, 1989) and Festival de Musique de la Chaise Dieu in France (1986, 1989, 2000), Festival Europäischer Musik in Germany (1985, 1986, 1990), Ravello Festival in Italy (1999, 2003), Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland (2004, 2005) and several times at the Warsaw Autumn and Vratislavia Cantans festivals.
One of the highlights in the Krakow Philharmonic’ artistic output was its successful performance in Musikverein in Vienna in February 2009, as a result of which the Krakow Philharmonic was re-invited to this prestigious concert hall where the Kracow Philharmonic Orchestra performed again in 2010.
The Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra has performed several first performances of pieces by 20th century composers, including these by Artur Malawski, Grażyna Bacewicz, Witold Lutosławski, Tadeusz Machl, Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar, Juliusz Łuciuk, Adam Walaciński, Bogusław Schaeffer, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Krzysztof Penderecki, Zbigniew Bujarski, Marek Stachowski, Krzysztof Meyer, Wojciech Widłak, Marcel Chyrzyński.
The Orchestra’s recordings were awarded twice with the most prestigious awards: Passion by Krzysztof Penderecki conducted by Henryk Czyż was awarded in 1967 with Grand Prix du Disque; Polonica by Franz Liszt conducted by Tadeusz Strugała was awarded in 1988 with Grand Prix International du Disque.
For several years, the Orchestra has performed extensively and on a regular basis, and participated in educational activities of the Philharmonic, presenting the most eminent works to the young audience. In every artistic season, the Orchestra performs about 50 programmes during symphonic concerts and oratorios with the mixed and boys' choirs. The rich repertoire includes pieces from Bach to Penderecki.
I VIOLIN
Joanna Konarzewska
concertmaster
Paweł Wajrak
concertmaster
Jakub Żurek
Jerzy Mikuliszak
Maria Arnold
Jadwiga Bialic
Andrzej Broniatowski
Joanna Dowhyluk-Berniak
Justyna Dybek-Boczek
Beata Kwiatkowska-Pluta
Zofia Kucharska-Omiotek
Barbara Mglej
Janusz Mrozik
Szymon Naściszewski
Alina Świerczek
Marcin Türschmid
Irena Żurek
II VIOLIN
Bogusława Ziegelheim
Krzysztof Wojczuk
Paweł Stawarski
Jan Nazimek
Wojciech Pisula
Anna Hara-Pióro
Anna Wójtowicz
Małgorzata Osak
Krzysztof Podniesiński
Agnieszka Łuciuk-Wojczuk
Joanna Król-Józaga
Katarzyna Kobyłkiewicz
Ewa Krasowska-Wrzesień
Piotr Piechowski
Anna Hyla-Praschil
VIOLA
Elżbieta Gromada
Anna Migdał-Chojecka
Grażyna Piechowska
Janusz Pisarski
Maciej Sobiecki
Marta Czepielowska
Wei Zhang
Błażej Michna
Beata Płoska
Bożena Adamczyk
Edyta Korczewska-Brylińska
Janusz Drewnicki
CELLO
Jacek Kociuban
concertmaster
Franciszek Pall
Michał Dąbek
Agata Sanchez Martos
Andrzej Bosak
Janusz Leśniak
Magdalena Zubrzycka
Joanna Łuciuk-Kalinowska
Alicja Gach
Marta Nagawiecka
DOUBLE BASS
Marek Kalinowski
Włodzimierz Gazdeczka
Duszan Korczakowski
Konrad Maź
Ryszard Dzieło
Paweł Hoszowski
Wiesław Grela
Grzegorz Klimczak
FLUTE
Magdalena Di Blasi
Maria Gromińska
Natalia Jarząbek
Zbigniew Witkowski
Ewa Dumanowska
OBOE
Mariusz Pędziałek
concertmaster
Paweł Nyklewicz
Stanisław Korta
Anna Michałek-Nowak
CLARINET
Janusz Antonik
Jan Cielecki
Michał Poniżnik
Andrzej Zając
BASSOON
Zdzisław Bogacz
Wojciech Turek
Adam Mróz
Marcin Krakowski
HORN
Adam Kozłowski
Wiesław Worek
Paweł Dziewoński
Łukasz Nowak
Marek Gumiela
Artur Tyński
TRUMPET
Stanisław Majerski
Wacław Mulak
Czesław Dołęga
Bogdan Skocz
TROMBONE
Tomasz Stolarczyk
Andrzej Tkaczyk
Marek Pawlik
Teodor Grodecki
TUBA
Jarosław Jastrzębski
HARP
Irena Czubek-Davidson
KETTLE - DRUMS
Ryszard Haba
Andrzej Kaczmarczyk
PERCUSSION
Leszek Żurek
Paweł Mielcarek
INSPECTOR
Konrad Maź
LIBRALIAN
Marek Pawlik
PIANO TUNER
Ryszard Gazdowicz
ORGAN TUNER
Lech Skoczylas
© Filharmonia Krakowska 2010