Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra
The history of symphonic concerts in Poznań goes back to the interwar years. When Poland regained independence, symphonic repertoire was played by the local opera orchestra. In 1931 the Symphonic Orchestra of the Capital City of Poznań, unofficially called the Poznań Philharmonic, was formed comprising mainly the musicians of the opera ensemble. The orchestra went down in the history of Polish music when it premiered the Szymanowski Fourth Symphony in 1932.
A new chapter opened for the Poznań Philharmonic on 10 November 1947 when the orchestra led by its first conductor Stanisław Wisłocki gave a concert with the pianist Raul Koczalski. Tadeusz Szeligowski became the first director of the Philharmonic; a renowned composer who made successful effort before the war to restore regular concert activity in the city. Today, the Philharmonic bears his name. Philharmonic concerts are held at the University Auditorium that is famous for its splendid acoustics.
The orchestra ranks among the most prominent Polish symphonic ensembles. A long line of outstanding musicians followed Stanisław Wisłocki at the helm of the institution including Jerzy Katalewicz, Robert Satanowski, Witold Krzemieński, Zdzisław Szostak, Renard Czajkowaski, Wojciech Rajski, Wojciech Michniewski, Andrzej Borejko, Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, José Maria Florêncio and Przegorz Nowak. Marek Pijarowski has been the principal director of the orchestra since the 2007/2008 season. Wojciech Nentwig became director of the Philharmonic in 2006.
The orchestra has toured all over Europe and participated in numerous festivals such as Romaeuropa – Villa Medici, Kissingen Sommer, Ankara Sanat Festivali, Festwochen in Herrenhausen, Bregenzer Frühling, Dresdner Musikfestspiele and Choriner Musiksommer. It has recorded symphony, opera and ballet music for radio, television and on CDs. The most recent additions to the catalogue of recordings include Karol Karpiński's overtures and clarinet concerto (Polskie Radio) and Franz Xaver Scharwenka's orchestral music (Naxos).
The orchestra has played under eminent conductors such as Hermann Abendroth, Walerian Bierdiajew, Henryk Czyż, George Georgescu, Christopher Hogwood, Zdzisław Górzyński, Jacek Kaspszyk, Kazimierz Kord, Jan Krenz, Zygmunt Latoszewski, Zdeněk Mácal, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Witold Rowiski, Jerzy Semkow, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Antoni Wit, Bohdan Wodiczko and Carlo Zecchi. The stage of the Philharmonic has been graced by a wealth of renowned soloists including Martha Argerich, Piotr Beczała, Andrzej Dobber, Wojciech Drabowicz, Monique Haas, Ida Haendel, Andrzej Hiolski, Ryszard Karczykowski, Joanna Kozłowska, Gidon Kremer, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Aleksandra Kurzak, Bernard Ładysz, Adam Makowicz, Witold Małcużyński, Leszek Możdżer, Sergiej Nakariakov, Garrick Ohlsson, David and Igor Oistrakh, Ewa Podleś, Maurizio Pollini, Ruggiero Ricci, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Artur Rubinstein, Henryk Szeryng, Wanda Wiłkomirska and Krystian Zimerman.
The Poznań Philharmonic and its orchestra have accompanied the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition since its first Poznań edition in 1952. The orchestra also participated in the first edition of the Chopin competition after the war held in Warsaw in 1949. The organizational structure of the Philharmonic encompasses the Boys' and Men's Choir ‘Poznań Nightingales’ conducted by Stefan Stuligrosz and the Young Music Lover Movement ‘Pro Sinfonika’ founded by Alojzy A. Łuczak.
[2011]
Marek Pijarowski
Graduate from the Wrocław Academy of Music conducting programme, he honed his skills with Tadeusz Strugała and the Latvian conductor Arvid Jansons. He started his involvement with the Wrocław Philharmonic in 1974 and progressing through the subsequent stages of his career he became its principal and artistic direstor; he was also the artistic director of the Polish Contemporary Music Festival Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław (holding both positions until 2001). In the years 2002-2005, artistic director of the Łódź Philharmonic and principal conductor of the Kraków Philharrmonic. Since the 2007/2008 season, principal conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. For the past thirty years Mr. Pijarowski has collaborated with major philharmonic and radio orchestras in Poland. He has frequently performed abroad leading such ensembles as the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia and Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra. He has collaborated with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara and the Texas Music Festival in houston (USA). In 1997 he was granted the title of music professor by the President of the Republic of Poland. Mr. Pijarowski teaches conducting at the Academy of Music in Wrocław and at the University of Music in Warsaw.
