The Polish National Radio Orchestra is a classical music ensemble based in Katowice, Poland. It was founded in 1935 as the Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Warsaw, and has since become one of the most renowned orchestras in Poland and Europe. The orchestra's founding was a response to the growing popularity of radio broadcasting in Poland in the 1930s. The Polish Radio decided to create its own orchestra to provide live music for its programs, and to promote Polish classical music to a wider audience. The first conductor of the orchestra was Grzegorz Fitelberg, a prominent Polish composer and conductor who had previously worked with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Over the years, the Polish National Radio Orchestra has had many distinguished conductors and soloists. Some of the most notable conductors include Witold Rowicki, Bohdan Wodiczko, Tadeusz Strugała, Antoni Wit, and Alexander Liebreich. The orchestra has also collaborated with many famous soloists, such as pianists Martha Argerich and Krystian Zimerman, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. One of the highlights of the orchestra's history was its performance at the 1956 International Festival of Contemporary Music in Venice, where it premiered Witold Lutosławski's Concerto for Orchestra. This piece has since become one of the most famous works of 20th-century classical music, and is often performed by orchestras around the world. Another notable performance by the Polish National Radio Orchestra was its concert at the 1998 Salzburg Festival, where it played works by Polish composers Karol Szymanowski and Henryk Górecki. The concert was conducted by Antoni Wit, and featured soloists Krystian Zimerman and Anne-Sophie Mutter. The performance was widely praised by critics, and helped to raise the profile of Polish classical music on the international stage. In addition to its performances, the Polish National Radio Orchestra has also won many awards and accolades over the years. In 2000, it was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for its recording of Górecki's Symphony No. 3, conducted by Antoni Wit. The orchestra has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards, and has won numerous awards from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Today, the Polish National Radio Orchestra continues to be one of the most important classical music ensembles in Poland and Europe. It performs regularly at the National Radio Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall in Katowice, and also tours extensively throughout Poland and abroad. The orchestra's repertoire includes works by both Polish and international composers, and it is known for its high level of technical skill and musical sensitivity.

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