Orchestra

The beginnings of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra can be traced back to year 1954, when National Symphonic Orchestra was founded in Białystok. The Orchestra’s Musicians did not have their own seat back then—rehearsals and concerts took place, among others, in Aleksander Węgierko Dramatic Theatre or the Guest Palace in Białystok. After twenty years of their artistic activity, the Orchestra was granted status of philharmonic and has moved to concert hall at Podleśna street. Throughout the over 60-year history of the Orchestra, it was managed by the following general directors: K. Złocki, L. Hanek, J. Kulaszewicz, T. Chachaj, M.J. Błaszczyk, M. Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, R. Skolmowski, and, currently, D. Tajanewski. The musical directors of the ensemble were J. Salwarowski, J. Chrenowicz, M. Klauza, P. Kotla, and, currently, M.J. Błaszczyk. The Philharmonic stage saw prominent conductors, soloists, composers, such as P. Anderszewski, E. Auer, K. Danczowska, N. Goerner, H.M. Górecki, L. Grychtołówna, K. Jakowicz, J. Kaspszyk, J. Katlewicz, W. Kilar, K. Kord, J. Krenz, K.A. Kulka, W. Lutosławski, J. Maksymiuk, W. Michniewski, S. Mintz, G. Ohlsson, P. Paleczny, K. Penderecki, M. Pijarowski, Ś. Richter, R. Smendzianka, T. Strugała, W. Wiłkomirska, A. Wit, T. Wojciechowski, M. Zilm. The group performs home and abroad (e.g. Austria, Belgium, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Norway, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, Great Britain, Italy). In 1995, the Orchestra under the baton of M.J. Błaszczyk gave concerts in the New York’s Carnegie Hall. For its phonographic accomplishments, the Orchestra was awarded numerous prizes, e.g. Polish Phonographic Industry Awards–“Fryderyk”: for the CD “Paderewski—Piano Concerto, Polish Fantasy” featuring K. Kenner under the baton of M. Nałęcz-Niesiołowski (2012), for P. Łukaszewski’s “Symphony of Providence,” with the participation of soloists: A. Mikołajczyk-Niewiedział, A. Rehlis, J. Bręk, and the Kraków Polish Radio Choir, under the baton of M. Nałęcz-Niesiołowski (2016), and for Łukaszewski’s “Symphony on the Mercy of God” with the participation of soloists: A. Mikolajczyk-Niewiedział and M. Nerkowski, and with Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir and Children’s Choir, under the baton of W. Michniewski (2017). The Orchestra’s repertoire consists of the greatest pieces of world symphonic art, as well as contemporary music. Since 2012 the Orchestra is seated in the new building of Podlasie Opera, due to which the group’s repertoire has become more varied and was supplemented with, among others, operas and musicals. The Orchestra performs in operas: S. Moniuszko’s “The Haunted Manor,” G. Verdi’s “Traviata,” W.A. Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” G. Bizet’s “Carmen,” and G. Puccini’s “La Bohème” and “Turandot,” as well as musicals: Ch. Williams’ “Korczak,” J. Bock’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” A. Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” L. Simon’s “Doctor Zhivago”, and in a J. Strauss’s operetta “Die Fledermaus.” In 2016 the Orchestra together with Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Children’s Choir as a Polish premiere performed C. Matthew’s “Pluto, the Renewer” under the baton of P. Kotla. Together with Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir and Children’s Choir, the Orchestra was also the first ensemble to ever perform P. Łukaszewski’s “Symphony on the Mercy of God” under the baton of W. Michniewski. In April 2021, musicians from the OiFP Orchestra took part in the Easter concert Miracle of Life at Warsaw’s Ufficio Primo, with world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli as a special guest. In April 2022, they performed with Spanish tenor José Carreras during the Miracle of Life 2 concert. Both events were broadcast on TVP1. In September 2022, the orchestra was invited to the Michał Kleofas Ogiński International Music Festival in Plungė, Lithuania. In September and October 2023, the OiFP Orchestra (together with the choir and soloists) performed at concerts at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Jasna Góra and at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Sacrament in Sokółka. Paweł Łukaszewski’s oratorio Vespers of Our Lady of Jasna Góra, Queen of Poland was performed there. In December 2023, the artists of the OiFP Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, performed at the prestigious Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome during a concert of thanksgiving for the blessed Ulma family. In January 2024, they took part in the Psalms of Peace and Reconciliation concert at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw.

DISCOGRAPHY:
Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (1995)
Robert Schumann / Edvard Grieg, Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 / Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 – live concert (1995)
Pyotr Tchaikovsky / Stanisław Moniuszko, Concert Suite No. 2 / Concert Overture ‘Fairy Tale’ (1998)
Camille Saint-Saëns / Paul Dukas / Georges Bizet Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 / Symphonic Scherzo ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ / Suites Nos. 1 and 3 from the opera Carmen (1999)
Verdi – Kałudi Kałudow (2000)
Le Manoir de Rosemonde… Chausson, Duparc, Canteloube (2001)
Strauss (2002)
Franz Liszt, Piano Works (2003)
Aleksander Tansman, Works for Orchestra (2006)
Zygmunt Stojowski, Cantata Le printemps for mixed choir and orchestra, Op. 1, Cantata Prayer For Poland for soprano, baritone, mixed choir, orchestra and organ, Op. 40 (2008)
Krzysztof Baculewski, Works for opera (2009)
Grażyna Bacewicz / Mieczysław Karłowicz, Violin Concerto No. 3 / Eternal Songs, Op. 10 (2009)
Włodek Pawlik Trio/ Randy Brecker, Jazz Suite Tykocin (2010)
Marcin Gumiela, Sacred Works (2010)
Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Piano Concerto, Polish Fantasy (2011)
The Best of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Bialystok (2011)
Krzysztof Penderecki, Powiało na mnie morze snów (A Sea of Dreams Blew Over Me) (2014)
Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony No. 4 on Divine Mercy (2016)
Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony of Providence (2016)
Wojciech Kilar, Missa pro pace (2017)
Stanisław Moniuszko, Verbum nobile (2021)
Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphonies Nos. 3 and 6 (2021)
Gary Guthman, Harp Concerto, Trumpet Concerto, Margarita (2022)
Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphoniae Sacrae 1 (Symphonies No. 1 and No. 2) (2023)
Paweł Łukaszewski, Joasz, King of Judah (2024)

AWARDS:
Fryderyk 2012: Paderewski, Piano Concerto, Polish Fantasy
Fryderyk 2016: Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony of Providence
Fryderyk 2017: Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony No. 4 – Symphony of Divine Mercy
Fryderyk 2022: Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 6
FENIKS 2022: Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 6
Fryderyk 2024: Paweł Łukaszewski, Symphoniae Sacrae 1