The ensemble’s history dates back to 1935 and is inextricably linked with the figure of Grzegorz Fitelberg, who was entrusted with the task of creating Poland’s first independent radio symphony orchestra. The ensemble made its broadcast debut on October 2, 1935, and has been a constant presence on the airwaves of Polish Radio ever since. After World War II, the orchestra was reactivated in Katowice, and its rebuilding was entrusted to Witold Rowicki in 1945.
In subsequent decades, the ensemble successively strengthened its international reputation, performing in the world’s most important concert halls and collaborating with the greatest artists of our time, including Leonard Bernstein, Martha Argerich, and Artur Rubinstein. World premieres of their works were entrusted to the orchestra by figures such as Witold Lutosławski, Wojciech Kilar, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and Krzysztof Penderecki, and NOSPR’s albums were released by renowned labels. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by outstanding conductors, including Jan Krenz, Kazimierz Kord, Tadeusz Strugała, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Antoni Wit, Gabriel Chmura, Jacek Kaspszyk, Alexander Liebreich, and Lawrence Foster.
Currently, the rich musical traditions of the ensemble are cultivated under the leadership of artistic director Marin Alsop.
On August 21, Adam Balas received his appointment as Director of the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Marta Cienkowska. The five-year term of the new director began on September 1, 2025.
A constant element of NOSPR’s identity at every stage of its history has been its link with technology. In the late 1960s, thanks to the artistic director at the time, Bohdan Wodiczko, the orchestra entered into a multi-year collaboration with television, and today the Internet plays an increasingly vital role in building relationships with the audience.
The home of NOSPR is a modern building designed by the Konior Studio architectural firm, housing a concert hall, a chamber hall, and numerous workshop and educational spaces. In January 2023, one of the largest pipe organs in European musical centers—built by the Anton Škrabl company from Slovenia—was played for the first time in the concert hall, which features outstanding acoustics overseen by Nagata Acoustics. The extraordinary capabilities of this venue are widely acclaimed by audiences, artists, and the musical community, as evidenced by NOSPR’s admission into the ECHO organization, which groups the most prestigious concert halls in Europe.
NOSPR is the organizer of the Festival of World Premieres / New Polish Music, the Katowice Culture Nature Festival, and the Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition, which covers five categories: piano, violin, voice, string quartet, and composition. More information can be found at: szymanowski-competition.com.
One of the most important Polish symphony orchestras, as well as a comprehensively active cultural institution. The ensemble was established in 1935 in Warsaw by Grzegorz Fitelberg, who led it until the outbreak of World War II. In 1945, the orchestra was reactivated in Katowice by Witold Rowicki, and in 1947, Grzegorz Fitelberg assumed artistic direction once again.
The ensemble has performed in the most famous concert halls and collaborated with the most eminent artists, including Leonard Bernstein, Martha Argerich, Plácido Domingo, and Artur Rubinstein. World premieres of their works were entrusted to the orchestra by figures such as Witold Lutosławski, Wojciech Kilar, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and Krzysztof Penderecki, and NOSPR’s albums were released by renowned labels. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by outstanding conductors, including Jan Krenz, Kazimierz Kord, Tadeusz Strugała, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Antoni Wit, Gabriel Chmura, Jacek Kaspszyk, Alexander Liebreich, and Lawrence Foster. Currently, the rich musical traditions of the ensemble are cultivated under the leadership of artistic director Marin Alsop, while Ewa Bogusz-Moore serves as managing and programming director. The home of NOSPR is a modern building designed by Konior Studio. In 2023, the concert hall—with outstanding acoustics overseen by Nagata Acoustics—will be enriched with a pipe organ. The extraordinary capabilities of this venue are widely acclaimed by audiences, artists, and the musical community, as evidenced by NOSPR’s admission into the ECHO organization, which groups the most prestigious concert halls in Europe.