The Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra or the Symphony Orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic (Polish: Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii im. Karola Szymanowskiego) is a professional symphony orchestra based in Kraków, Poland. The national status of the orchestra is reflected in its program of events, including weekly symphonic concerts in the Wawel Royal Castle, or at the Jagiellonian University famous Collegium Novum, and prominent Kraków churches. The company is more active professionally than any other philharmonic orchestra in the country.[1][2]
Although the attempts to create the first modern-type symphony orchestra in the city go back to the 18th century under Austrian rule, the professional team was assembled in Kraków only during the imminent collapse of Austria-Hungary (1909), on the initiative of patriotic composer and music director Feliks Nowowiejski (b.1877).[2][3]
Soon after the return of Poland's sovereignty at the end of World War One, the company was reinstated, with an inaugural concert held on May 18, 1919, for the centennial anniversary of Stanisław Moniuszko's birthday, featuring 80 musicians. In 1931 a brand new concert hall(pictured) was built at Zwierzyniecka Street. The resident orchestra was active there until the Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland, with the last performance held on May 21, 1939, under the direction of Bronisław Wolfstahl.[2][3]
Teatr Wielki (2004). "Zygmunt Latoszewski". Ludzie (The People) (in Polish). Opera Narodowa (National Opera). Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
Elżbieta Marlikowska (2012-05-31). "Orkiestra Filharmonii Krakowskiej". Filharmonia im. Karola Szymanowskiego w Krakowie (in Polish). Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Małopolskiego. Archived from the original on 2007-02-24. Retrieved February 7, 2013.