The Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Honor Conductor – Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk

1st Guest Conductor – Daniel Oren

The orchestra began its artistic activity with a concert on the 26th of May 1945 as the State Philharmonic in Katowice. Since that event, its level of performance and numerous achievements have assured it a leading position among Polish symphonic ensembles. It has also become an unchanging reason for the participation of the philharmonic’s artists in many international, renown festivals. The orchestra’s vast repertoire encompasses the classics of orchestral music, and contemporary pieces alike.

The Orchestra have participated, on numerous occasions, in the international Warsaw Autumn Festival, which is more than 50 years old. Their first appearance at the La Chaise-Dieu festival was made twenty five years ago, and they have also performed at Wrocław’s Vratislavia Cantans, the great oratorio-cantata festival. The incessant invitations from the most acknowledged concert halls (both in Poland and abroad) are a living proof of the high esteem the Silesian Philharmonic enjoys. Since its first tours around the former Czechoslovakia in 1958, the orchestra has given concerts in all Europe. The orchestra has also promoted Polish culture outside of its home continent, in such places as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. The Symphonic Orchestra gave almost 550 concerts in 25 countries outside Poland. Since its very foundation, the Silesian Philharmonic has been hosting such top artists from Leopold Stokowski, Gennady Rozdyestwiensky or Fou Ts’onga, to Krystian Zimerman, Ida Haendel, Victoria de los Angeles, or Montserrat Caballé.

The artistic director of the Silesian Philharmonic is Yaroslav Shemet, Daniel Oren is its 1st Guest Conductor, and Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, the former Ist Conductor of the Orchestra, is currently the Honor Conductor.

SILESIAN PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA