History
The Polish Radio Choir in Kraków was founded in 1948 by Jerzy Gert. The first choirmasters of the choir were Alojzy Kluczniok and Tadeusz Dobrzański.
From its beginnings till 1994 the Choir was an integral part of the Orchestra and Choir of the Polish Radio and Television in Kraków. The choir co – operated with numerous outstanding conductors in Poland and abroad, among others with W. Rowicki, J. Semkow, J. Krenz, A. Wit, B. Bartoletti, J. Ahronovitch and G. Sinopoli. The Choir often participated in the first performances of Polish composers` works, namely those of W. Lutosławski, K. Penderecki, H. M. Górecki and others.
The Choir performed in international festivals: Settimana di Monreale, Festival Regione Lombardia, Oratorio und Cantata Festival Ratzeburg, Le Festival de la Musique Contemporaine Centre Pompidou, Rossini Opera Festival.
Besides concerts the Choir made numerous recordings for the Polish Radio and Televison and foreign broadcast stations and musical firms. The co – operation with EMI resulted in recording complete works of Karol Szymanowski and some works of Krzysztof Penderecki. The Choir received 6 Oscar awards for recording the opera Boris Godunow by M. Musorgsky. The Academia Charles Cros awarded Grand Prix du Disque for the record with Krakow Concerto, Katyń by N. van de Vate, Rescued from Warsaw by A. Schönberg and Dies irae by K. Penderecki.
Since 1995 the Choir has worked as an independent group within the structures of the Polish Radio. The repertoire of the Choir embraces a capella music and vocal – instrumental forms with a special emphasis on Polish music.
At the turn of the millennium the Choir, together with the Israeli Kibbutz Orchestra, took part on concert tour performing Stabat Mater by K. Szymanowski, Mass in c minor by W. A. Mozart and Stabat Mater by F. Schubert, conducted Avi Ostrowski.
In November 2001 the Choir participated in the Europalia 2001 Festival in Brussels, where they performed Stabat Mater by K. Szymanowski together with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Antoni Wit.
In February 2002 the group went on tour in Switzerland, where together with the Polish Radio Orchestra conducted by Wojciech Rajski, they performed the cantata Alexander Newski by S. Prokofiew.
As one of very few group, in his repertoire the Choir has the opera Moses and Aaron by Arnold Schönberg. In 1998 the Choir was a guest at Staatstheater Darmstadt, in 2002 Teatro Massimo in Palermo, in 2003 Staatstheater Stuttgart and in 2004 – Hamburgische Staatsoper.
WŁODZIMIERZ SIEDLIK – graduated from the Academy of Music in Cracow (diploma with the highest distinction), the Liturgical Institute of the Papal Academy of Theology in Cracow (diploma with distinction) as well as a College of Voice Emission of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (diploma with distinction).
In March 1990 – 1992 he was a laureate of the Polish Competition Choirmasters in Poznań. From 1990 to 1992 he was a director of the Paderewski Centre in Tarnów.
In 1991 he established the Chamber Orchestra in Tarnów. In 1992 – 1996 he was a director of the Group of Schools Music State in Tarnów.
Since 1994 he has been working the Liturgical Institute of the Papal Academy of Theology in Cracow as a lecturer.
During his conductor’s work with Choirs: Cantus, Psalmodia, Jagiellonian’s University Masculine Choir, he obtained Polish and foreign distinctions.
In 2001 he was awarded Jerzy Kurczewski Prize for outstanding achievements in choral field given by the Council under the honorary patronage of Krzysztof Penderecki.
Since 1995 he has been the Director and Artistic Manager of the Polish Radio Choir.