Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra in Łódź
The origins of the Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra in Łódź date back to the inaugural concert of the Łódź Symphony Orchestra, held on 17 February 1915 at the now-defunct Grand Theatre on Konstantynowska Street in Łódź. The Łódź Symphony Orchestra was the second permanent symphony orchestra established in the territory of the former Russian Partition, following the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.
Over its more than 110-year history, the orchestra has performed under the baton of many distinguished conductors, including Henryk Czyż, Grzegorz Fitelberg, Paweł Klecki, Jan Krenz, Andrzej Markowski, Emil Młynarski and Zdzisław Szostak. In later years, the ensemble was also led by Łukasz Borowicz, José Maria Florêncio, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Krzysztof Penderecki and Marek Pijarowski.
The orchestra’s prestige has likewise been enhanced by collaborations with eminent soloists such as Arthur Rubinstein, David and Igor Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Grażyna Bacewicz, Wanda Wiłkomirska and Krystian Zimerman, as well as, more recently, Lang Lang, Piotr Anderszewski, Ivo Pogorelić, Rafał Blechacz, Garrick Ohlsson, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka and Iwona Sobotka.
The orchestra has given numerous Polish premieres of major musical works. On 1 November 1957, under the baton of Henryk Czyż, it presented the Polish premiere of Arthur Honegger’s oratorio King David, featuring the choir of the State Philharmonic in Łódź and a distinguished cast of soloists. On 14 September 1984, only one year after its world premiere in New York, Andrzej Markowski conducted the Polish premiere of Witold Lutosławski’s Symphony No. 3.
The orchestra’s artistic achievements also include a number of world premieres, among them Tomasz Kiesewetter’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Kaddish. To the Łódź Abrameks Who Wanted to Live, and to the Poles Who Saved Jews, composed to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liquidation of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, and the long-forgotten ballet score Lumières by Alexandre Tansman.
Composers who have written works for the orchestra include Krzysztof Meyer, Paweł Mykietyn, Artur Zagajewski, Andrzej Kwieciński and Ignacy Zalewski.
An important part of the orchestra’s artistic legacy consists of numerous recordings for Polish and international record labels, particularly those made under the direction of Henryk Czyż and Zdzisław Szostak. These include recordings of Karol Szymanowski’s Symphony No. 2 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.
In 2015, the orchestra recorded Witold Lutosławski’s works for voice and orchestra under the direction of Daniel Raiskin. The album received a Fryderyk Award nomination. Five years later, under Paweł Przytocki, the orchestra earned two further Fryderyk nominations for recordings of piano concertos by Alexandre Tansman and Grażyna Bacewicz with pianist Julia Kociuban, and violin concertos by Emil Młynarski with violinist Piotr Pławner. The latter recording won the Fryderyk Award for Album of the Year – Concerto Music.
In 2025, another album conducted by Paweł Przytocki received a Fryderyk nomination. Recorded with violinist Wojciech Niedziółka, the highest-ranked Polish participant in the 16th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition, it features Zygmunt Noskowski’s Symphony No. 2 “Elegiac” and Henryk Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
The orchestra has undertaken numerous international tours, performing in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Italy. It has appeared in prestigious venues including the Tonhalle Zürich, Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp, Cologne Philharmonie, Verdi Hall at the Milan Conservatory and De Doelen in Rotterdam.
In February 2017, under the direction of Paweł Przytocki, the orchestra performed in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. The success of this concert and the enthusiastic response of the international audience led to his appointment as Artistic Director of the Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra in Łódź beginning with the 2017/2018 season, a position he continues to hold today.
In 2015, the orchestra was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. During the 2024/2025 artistic season, the ensemble celebrated the 110th anniversary of its founding.
photo by Dariusz Kulesza
Over its more than 110-year history, the orchestra has performed under the baton of many distinguished conductors, including Henryk Czyż, Grzegorz Fitelberg, Paweł Klecki, Jan Krenz, Andrzej Markowski, Emil Młynarski and Zdzisław Szostak. In later years, the ensemble was also led by Łukasz Borowicz, José Maria Florêncio, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Krzysztof Penderecki and Marek Pijarowski.
The orchestra’s prestige has likewise been enhanced by collaborations with eminent soloists such as Arthur Rubinstein, David and Igor Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Grażyna Bacewicz, Wanda Wiłkomirska and Krystian Zimerman, as well as, more recently, Lang Lang, Piotr Anderszewski, Ivo Pogorelić, Rafał Blechacz, Garrick Ohlsson, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka and Iwona Sobotka.
The orchestra has given numerous Polish premieres of major musical works. On 1 November 1957, under the baton of Henryk Czyż, it presented the Polish premiere of Arthur Honegger’s oratorio King David, featuring the choir of the State Philharmonic in Łódź and a distinguished cast of soloists. On 14 September 1984, only one year after its world premiere in New York, Andrzej Markowski conducted the Polish premiere of Witold Lutosławski’s Symphony No. 3.
The orchestra’s artistic achievements also include a number of world premieres, among them Tomasz Kiesewetter’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Kaddish. To the Łódź Abrameks Who Wanted to Live, and to the Poles Who Saved Jews, composed to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liquidation of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, and the long-forgotten ballet score Lumières by Alexandre Tansman.
Composers who have written works for the orchestra include Krzysztof Meyer, Paweł Mykietyn, Artur Zagajewski, Andrzej Kwieciński and Ignacy Zalewski.
An important part of the orchestra’s artistic legacy consists of numerous recordings for Polish and international record labels, particularly those made under the direction of Henryk Czyż and Zdzisław Szostak. These include recordings of Karol Szymanowski’s Symphony No. 2 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.
In 2015, the orchestra recorded Witold Lutosławski’s works for voice and orchestra under the direction of Daniel Raiskin. The album received a Fryderyk Award nomination. Five years later, under Paweł Przytocki, the orchestra earned two further Fryderyk nominations for recordings of piano concertos by Alexandre Tansman and Grażyna Bacewicz with pianist Julia Kociuban, and violin concertos by Emil Młynarski with violinist Piotr Pławner. The latter recording won the Fryderyk Award for Album of the Year – Concerto Music.
In 2025, another album conducted by Paweł Przytocki received a Fryderyk nomination. Recorded with violinist Wojciech Niedziółka, the highest-ranked Polish participant in the 16th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition, it features Zygmunt Noskowski’s Symphony No. 2 “Elegiac” and Henryk Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
The orchestra has undertaken numerous international tours, performing in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Italy. It has appeared in prestigious venues including the Tonhalle Zürich, Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp, Cologne Philharmonie, Verdi Hall at the Milan Conservatory and De Doelen in Rotterdam.
In February 2017, under the direction of Paweł Przytocki, the orchestra performed in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. The success of this concert and the enthusiastic response of the international audience led to his appointment as Artistic Director of the Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra in Łódź beginning with the 2017/2018 season, a position he continues to hold today.
In 2015, the orchestra was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. During the 2024/2025 artistic season, the ensemble celebrated the 110th anniversary of its founding.
photo by Dariusz Kulesza
