Witold Rowicki
Witold Rowicki was one of the leading Polish conductors of his generation and probably best known as the founder and longtime conductor of the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. He also revived the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra following World War II. On recordings Rowicki is often remembered for his collaborations with leading soloists, like pianists Martha Argerich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, and violinists, like David Oistrakh. But he was also a star in his own right, acclaimed for his interpretations of many standards in the repertory, in particular for the Dvorák symphonies. He was also highly regarded for his readings of the orchestral works of Polish composers like Szymanowski, Lutoslawski, Wojciech Kilar, and Grazyna Bacewicz. Rowicki conducted numerous orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas and made scores of recordings, many still available on DG, EMI, and Philips.
Witold Rowicki was born in Taganrog, Russia, on February 26, 1914. He studied music at the Krakow Conservatory, graduating in 1938 as a talented violinist and violist. During the war he played both those instruments in the Krakow Philharmonic and taught violin at the conservatory.
In March 1945, with the Nazis out of Poland, Rowicki revived the Polish National RSO. Following the war he was appointed the director of music at the Polish Radio in Katowice. He relocated to Warsaw in 1950 and founded the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, which drew some of its players from a predecessor ensemble whose membership was decimated by the war. Rowicki served as the orchestra's artistic director and conductor from 1950-1955 and from 1958-1977.
During his 25 years on the podium there, he established the orchestra as one of the finest in Eastern Europe, attracted major soloists, and made numerous acclaimed recordings. But Rowicki was also active during this time as a guest-conductor of such ensembles as the Royal Concertgebouw, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Berlin Staatskapelle, and many others.
Rowicki was also active in opera, conducting performances at the Teatr Wielki Opera Centre in Warsaw, from 1965. After retiring from his Warsaw National Philharmonic post in 1977, Rowicki remained active as a guest conductor and eventually accepted the position of principal conductor of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (1983-1985). Rowicki died in Warsaw on October 1, 1989. Among his most acclaimed recordings is his Dvorák symphony cycle (recorded from the late '60s to early '70s), with the London Symphony Orchestra, available from 2010 on a six-disc Decca set.
© TiVo
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Szymanowski: Stabat Mater & Symphonie No. 3 "Le chant de la nuit" (Mono Version)
Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Stefania Woytowicz, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Masterpieces: Sviatoslav Richter plays Sergei Prokofieff and Sergei Rachmaninoff (Sviatoslav Richter)
Sviatoslav Richter, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki, Stanislaw Wislocki
Musique concertante - Paru chez Jube Classic le 7 janv. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Szymanowski: Symphony No.3, Op. 27 (Mono Version)
Stefania Woytowicz, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej w Warszawie, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1900
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Wojciech Kilar - Exodus
Witold Rowicki, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez Olympia le 1 sept. 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fantasiestücke (Remastered 2010)
Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej w Warszawie, Sviatoslav Richter, Witold Rowicki
Classique - Paru chez Urania Records le 10 mai 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Szymanowski: Stabat Mater, Op. 53 (Mono Version)
Maria Kuninska, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Khachaturian: Danses de Gayaneh (Mono Version)
Het Residentie Orkest, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1900
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Suite de L'oiseau de feu - Khachaturian: Extraits des Suites de Gayaneh (Mono Version)
Het Residentie Orkest, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Moniuszko, Noskowski & Statkowski: Orkiestrowa Muzyka (Mono Version)
Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Krakowska Orkiestra Polskiego Radia, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1900
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Symphonie No. 1 "Classique" - Shostakovich: Symphonie No. 1 (Mono Version)
Witold Rowicki, Wiener Symphoniker
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Classique - Paru chez Altara le 1 janv. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Legend: Sergei Prokofiev, Vol. 4
Witold Rowicki, George Szell, Sviatoslav Richter, The Cleveland Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez Intense Media GmbH le 5 avr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo