Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

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The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra (Polish: Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej w Warszawie), one of Poland's premier musical institutions, was established in 1901 on the initiative of an assembly of Polish aristocrats and financiers, not to mention musicians. Between 1901 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939, a rollcall of virtuoso- and conductor-composers regularly performed their works with the orchestra, including Grieg, Honegger, Leoncavallo, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Richard Strauss, and Igor Stravinsky. Among the other luminaries who played with the Philharmonic were the pianists Paderewski and Rubinstein, the violinists Heifetz and Sarasate, and the cellist Casals. The Philharmonic has played host to the Chopin International Piano Competition since the contest began in 1927, and also appeared at the inaugural Wieniawski International Violin Competition (1935) and Universal Festival of Polish Art (1937).

World War II interrupted the Philharmonic's activity and robbed the orchestra of much of its prominence in European musical life. The orchestra lost half its members to the war, as well as its elegant building, which had been erected and modeled after the Paris Opera at the turn of the century by Karol Kozłowski. Although the orchestra resumed its regular season in 1947-48, it had to wait until 1955 for its home to be finally rebuilt, albeit in a new style. When the building was dedicated on February 21, the Philharmonic was proclaimed the National Orchestra of Poland.

The conductor Witold Rowicki was responsible for helping modernize the ensemble and ensuring the orchestra cultivated Polish music both old and recent, as represented by the works of Chopin, Górecki, and Lutosławski, without failing to refine its mastery of the world repertoire. At home, the orchestra performs in the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music besides accompanying the final rounds of the Chopin International Piano Competitions, while abroad it has toured the five continents to critical acclaim.

Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra has recorded music for several anime series, notable shows include Cowboy Bebop, Giant Robo: The Animation, Ah! My Goddess: The Movie, Vision of Escaflowne, Wolf's Rain, Hellsing (OVA).[1]and most recently Genesis of Aquarion.[2]

Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, along with The Hollywood Session Orchestra, has also has recorded music for the upcoming SEGA action-RPG; Phantasy Star Universe. The Orchesta also recorded music for Namco's Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.