To highlight the special occasion, the orchestra will perform under the baton of its music director Andrzej Boreyko and two of his predecessors, Antoni Wit and Jacek Kaspszyk.
The programme of the concerts on Friday and Saturday comprises entirely Polish music and includes Karol Szymanowski’s Symphony No. 3 'Song of the Night,' Witold Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Agnus Dei from The Polish Requiem, and Cantata to Happiness by Oscar-winning composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek.
This last piece was especially commissioned by the Warsaw Philharmonic for its anniversary.
The history of the Warsaw orchestra goes back to November 5, 1901 when it gave its inaugural concert with Emil Młynarski, its co-founder and first music director, on the conductor’s podium, and Ignacy Jan Paderewski as the soloist.
Within a short time, the Warsaw Philharmonic became a key institution in promoting classical music in Poland. It also played an active role in the European music circuit. It performed with some of the world's most renowned musicians of the early 20th century and the interwar period, such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Sergey Prokofiev, Artur Rubinstein and Igor Stravinsky.
Soon after the start of World War II, the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall was bombed and towards the end of the war it was reduced to rubble. The orchestra resumed its activities shortly after the war, performing in the city’s theatres and sports halls.
On February 21, 1955, it gave its first concert in its newly restored venue and soon regained its position as Poland’s leading symphony orchestra.
Over the years, it has made more than 100 tours worldwide and its recordings have won many international awards.
(mk/gs)