Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra Gdańsk
The Symphony Orchestra was established together with the Baltic Philharmonic in 1945. Today, the Gdańsk Philharmonic musicians rank among Poland’s leading orchestras, while the Polish Baltic Philharmonic in Gdańsk has become a vibrant musical centre and a venue for major artistic events of both national and international significance.
Over the years, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic has welcomed and collaborated with many distinguished orchestras, conductors and soloists from around the world. Among them are the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Bamberger Symphoniker, Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonietta Cracovia, the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra and The King’s Singers. The Philharmonic has also worked with renowned artists including Sir Neville Marriner, Valery Gergiev, Riccardo Chailly, Paavo Järvi, Jonathan Nott, Jesús López Cobos, Yuri Simonov, Herbert Blomstedt, Maxim Vengerov, Roman Kofman, Krzysztof Penderecki, Marc Minkowski, Jerzy Semkow, Witold Rowicki, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Kazimierz Kord, Gabriel Chmura, José Maria Florêncio, Franco Ferrara, Enoch zu Guttenberg, Felix Carrasco, Juozas Domarkas, Krystian Zimerman, Cyprien Katsaris, Nigel Kennedy, Shlomo Mintz, Arto Noras, Ivan Monighetti, Leonidas Kavakos, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Rafał Blechacz, Edward Auer, Piotr Paleczny, Ann Murray, Lucia Aliberti and Helen Bickers.
The orchestra has participated in numerous music festivals across Poland and Europe. Among the most significant artistic events of recent decades were Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert at the Gdańsk Shipyard marking the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement and the signing of the August Agreements (2005); the world premiere of Jan A.P. Kaczmarek’s Cantata of Freedom during the anniversary celebrations of August ’80 (2006); the participation of the orchestra’s brass section in a performance of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Seven Gates of Jerusalem conducted by the composer himself on the occasion of his 75th birthday (2008); and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem conducted by Sir Neville Marriner during the Solidarity of Arts Festival (2009). The latter concert commemorated both the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in Central Europe.
In 2014, the orchestra toured China, performing seven concerts in the country’s leading concert halls, including two appearances in Shanghai and a performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. In January 2016, the orchestra embarked on the longest tour in its history, visiting the United States.
The orchestra has made numerous radio, television and commercial recordings. Notable releases include Britten’s War Requiem conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, which received a Fryderyk Award nomination in 2011; Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Violin Concerto conducted by Maxim Vengerov; the world premiere recording of Paweł Mykietyn’s VIVO XXX (2010); the cantata Genesis conducted by Ernst van Tiel (2012); A Musical Portrait of Gershwin with conductor Vladimir Kiradjiev and pianist Ludmil Angelov; Outstanding Polish Composers: Henryk Wieniawski featuring Maxim Vengerov; and Bacewicz / Shostakovich with violinist Alena Baeva, one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation.
photo by Paweł Jaremczuk
Over the years, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic has welcomed and collaborated with many distinguished orchestras, conductors and soloists from around the world. Among them are the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Bamberger Symphoniker, Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonietta Cracovia, the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra and The King’s Singers. The Philharmonic has also worked with renowned artists including Sir Neville Marriner, Valery Gergiev, Riccardo Chailly, Paavo Järvi, Jonathan Nott, Jesús López Cobos, Yuri Simonov, Herbert Blomstedt, Maxim Vengerov, Roman Kofman, Krzysztof Penderecki, Marc Minkowski, Jerzy Semkow, Witold Rowicki, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Kazimierz Kord, Gabriel Chmura, José Maria Florêncio, Franco Ferrara, Enoch zu Guttenberg, Felix Carrasco, Juozas Domarkas, Krystian Zimerman, Cyprien Katsaris, Nigel Kennedy, Shlomo Mintz, Arto Noras, Ivan Monighetti, Leonidas Kavakos, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Rafał Blechacz, Edward Auer, Piotr Paleczny, Ann Murray, Lucia Aliberti and Helen Bickers.
The orchestra has participated in numerous music festivals across Poland and Europe. Among the most significant artistic events of recent decades were Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert at the Gdańsk Shipyard marking the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement and the signing of the August Agreements (2005); the world premiere of Jan A.P. Kaczmarek’s Cantata of Freedom during the anniversary celebrations of August ’80 (2006); the participation of the orchestra’s brass section in a performance of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Seven Gates of Jerusalem conducted by the composer himself on the occasion of his 75th birthday (2008); and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem conducted by Sir Neville Marriner during the Solidarity of Arts Festival (2009). The latter concert commemorated both the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in Central Europe.
In 2014, the orchestra toured China, performing seven concerts in the country’s leading concert halls, including two appearances in Shanghai and a performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. In January 2016, the orchestra embarked on the longest tour in its history, visiting the United States.
The orchestra has made numerous radio, television and commercial recordings. Notable releases include Britten’s War Requiem conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, which received a Fryderyk Award nomination in 2011; Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Violin Concerto conducted by Maxim Vengerov; the world premiere recording of Paweł Mykietyn’s VIVO XXX (2010); the cantata Genesis conducted by Ernst van Tiel (2012); A Musical Portrait of Gershwin with conductor Vladimir Kiradjiev and pianist Ludmil Angelov; Outstanding Polish Composers: Henryk Wieniawski featuring Maxim Vengerov; and Bacewicz / Shostakovich with violinist Alena Baeva, one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation.
photo by Paweł Jaremczuk
