Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra (Katowice)

Founded in 1945 in Katowice, Silesia, the PSPO was one of the earliest orchestras to spring up after World War II. It also goes by the name Filharmonia Slaska w Katowicach, which translates into English as Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice. They gave their first concert on 26^th May 1945. Their music director was Jan Niwinski.

In 1947, Witold Krzemienski took over the helm, and was with them until 1949. Stanislaw Skrowaczewski led them from 1949 to 1953. In 1953, Karol Stryja took the reins, and his tenure would last all the way to 1990. Jerzy Swoboda ran the ship from 1990 to 1998. In 1998, MiroslavJacek Blaszczyk became only the sixth music director in their history.

The orchestra underwent some changes during Stryja’s reign: A mixed choir was added in 1973 and a chamber orchestra was formed in 1981.

In 1994, they performed “Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs)” by Henryk Goreckiwith Margaret Field in a tour of Great Britain, and recorded Bernard J. Taylor’s “Millennium Suite”. It was issued in CD form in May 1995. In 1998, a performance of Gorecki’s “Symphony No. 3” was released, this time with soloist Zofia Kilanowicz.

The rest of their discography is massive. Much of their repertoire can be found on the Marco Polo and Naxos labels. It includes a large amount of Polish and Viennese music by composers such as Johann Strauss II and Karol Szymanowski.

Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra (Katowice) recordings
Suite No. 7 in D minor, Op. 190 (Franz Lachner)
Marco Polo 223195
Conductor – Stephen Gunzenhauser

Sources:

Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra (Katowice)

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