NOSPR (POLISH NATIONAL RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN KATOWICE)

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) fulfils the role of ambassador of Polish culture on the international artistic scene. the ensemble has collaborated with some of the greatest Polish composers of the second half of the 20th century: Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki and Krzysztof Penderecki, delivering the first performances of their works.

NOSPR was founded in 1935 in Warsaw by Grzegorz Fitelberg, who led it until the outbreak of World War II. In 1945, the orchestra was revived in Katowice by Witold Rowicki. In 1947, the post of artistic director was taken again by Fitelberg. After his death in 1953, the orchestra was headed in succession by Jan Krenz, Bohdan Wodiczko, Kazimierz Kord, Tadeusz Strugała, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Stanisław Wisłocki, Jacek Kaspszyk, Antoni Wit, Gabriel Chmura and, once again, by Jacek Kaspszyk. In September 2000, Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa became the institution's General and Programme Director. In August 2012, Alexander Liebreich became the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the NOSPR. Apart from making archival recordings for the Polish Radio, the orchestra has recorded more than 200 CD albums for Decca, EMI, Philips, Naxos, and Chandos. the NOSPR has been honoured with numerous awards for its phonographic achievements, including Diapason d'Or and Grand Prix du Disque de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque, the Cannes Classical Award and the MIDEM Classical Award. Many renowned conductors and soloists have performed with the NOSPR. the Orchestra has performed in nearly all the European countries, the Americas, as well as in Japan, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and in the Persian Gulf countries.

In the recent years, the NOSPR has implemented some spectacular projects, including the Marathon of Górecki's Works and two editions of Musical Sea Voyage. the NOSPR has been the host of the biennial Polish Modern Music Festival of World Premieres, and the Katowice Kultura Natura Festival.

In the 2015/16 season, the orchestra celebrated its 80th anniversary.