National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice

Considered the leading Polish orchestra, the NATIONAL POLISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA fulfils the role of a cultural ambassador representing Poland on the international art scene. In recent years the opportunity to present Polish works of art were among others concerts in Brussels (Europalia 2001 - Poland), Vienna (opening of the Polish Year), Dusseldorf (Days of Polish Voivodeship in Nordrein Westfalen), Madrid (gala concert of Polish Year in Spain), Rome (commemoration of the 70th birthday of H. M. Górecki), Kiev (opening of Polish Year in Ukraine) and Paris (gala concert of Polish Year in France 'New Poland'). The orchestra were honoured to cooperate with some of the greatest composers of the 2nd half of the 20th century presenting first performances of their works.

History
The NATIONAL POLISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (NPRSO) in Katowice (formerly acting as Polish Radio Great Symphony Orchestra) was founded in 1935 in Warsaw. The orchestra was created and led by Grzegorz Fitelberg until the outbreak of World War II. In March 1945 Witold Rowicki revived the orchestra in Katowice. In 1947 the orchestra was taken over by Grzegorz Fitelberg who had come back to Poland. After his death in 1953, the orchestra was headed by among others Jan Krenz (1953-68), Kazimierz Kord (1969-73), Antoni Wit (1983-2000). From 2001 for six seasons the function of art director was held by Gabriel Chmura. The title of the first Guest Conductor of NOSPR was accepted by Stanisław Skrowaczewski, and Honorary Conductor by Jan Krenz. In September 2000 Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa became the general and programme director.

Recordings
The orchestra has recorded more than 190 compact discs for many Polish and foreign labels (Decca, EMI, Phillips, etc.) and made numerous archival recordings for the needs of Polish Radio. For the Naxos label they recorded among others complete works of Witold Lutoslawski (9 CDs), all symphonies of Tchaikowsky, most of Penderecki's (I-V), Mahler's (except for VIII), as well as works of Kilar, Wieniawski, Moszkowski and Górecki and for Chandos Records they made a three record album with music of Mieczysław Weinberg. Rcorded by NOSPR K. Penderecki's Credo, H.M. Górecki's Syphony No. 3 and W. Kilar's Missa pro pace were released on DVD and SACD by Polish Radio as The Sacred Triptych.
For phonographic achievements the orchestra was honoured with numerous prizes among others Five Piano Concertos by Prokofiev under direction of Antoni Wit with the soloist Kun Woo Paik were awarded the Diapason d'Or and the Grand Prix du Disque de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque 1992 and the recording of Turangalila Symphony by Olivier Messiaen under Antoni Wit was awarded the 2002 Cannes Classical Award. Recently a record for DUX with works of Krzysztof Penderecki (Capriccio for violin and orchestra, De natura sonoris no. 2 for the piano and orchestra Resurrection) with participation of NOSPR as well as soloists Beata Bilińska and Patrycja Piekutowska conducted by the composer received prestigious Midem Classical Award 2008 in the category of Conteporary Music.

Artists
Many renowned conductors and soloists have performed with the NPRSO in Poland and abroad. Among them were: Martha Argerich, Leonard Bernstein, Rudolf Buchbinder, James Conlon, Placido Domingo, Pierre Fournier, Nicolai Gedda, Barbara Hendricks, Julius Katchen, Leonidas Kavakos, Wilhelm Kempff, Kevin Kenner, Paweł Klecki, Kiryłł Kondraszyn, Marguerite Long, Witold Lutosławski, Charles Mackerras, Misha Maisky, Neville Marriner, Kurt Masur, Shlomo Mintz, Ivan Monighetti, Garrick Ohlsson, Kun Woo Paik, Krzysztof Penderecki, Maurizio Pollini, Hermann Prey, Ruggiero Ricci, Mścisław Rostropowicz, Artur Rubinstein, Jerzy Semkow, En Shao, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Isaac Stern, Henryk Szeryng, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Pieter Wispelwey, Krystian Zimerman and Nicolai Znaider.

Tours
The orchestra has toured almost all European countries (regular tours in Great Britain and Germany), Americas  as well as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan enjoying recognition of reviewers and audience. In its post-war history NOSPR has toured abroad 169 times, almost always including Polish music in its programme.

Projects
In recent years NOSPR conducted projects encountered with enthusiasm:
- Marathon of works of H. M. Górecki  organised by NOSPR on the occasion of celebration the composer`s 70th  birthday, constituted the survey of works of the Katowice composer. The Marathon covered eighteen concerts during which during which all published works of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki were performed
- Drive to Kilar`s music took place on the 60th anniversary of the composer's departure from Lvov. To express honour for achievements of Wojciech Kilar the Orchestra conducted a significant journey. Its route was from the Composer's home town, via Rzeszów, Kraków and Katowice to the Monastery Jasna Góra in Częstochowa. During the journey the orchestra performed at railway stations of cities connected with the Composer, presenting his most famous pieces.  
- Musical Sea Voyage on board of the most beautiful Polish sailing-ship - Dar Młodzieży, the NOSPR musicians visited Latvia, Estonia and Finland in order to present in capitals of those countries both Polish works and compositions of Latvian, Estonian and Finnish composers. The tour finished in the concert at Kościuszko Square in Gdynia.
- Kilar's Day during three concerts in Katowice and one in Jasna Góra, NOSPR presenting the works of Wojciech Kilar celebrated 75th birthday of Maestro.
NOSPR is also the organiser of biennale Festival of Premiere Performances Polish Most Contemporary Music, whose second edition was held in April 2007.