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.
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Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Prokofiev: Scythian Suite
Witold Rowicki, Otmar Suitner, Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden
Klassiek - Released by Corona Classics Collection on 10 mrt. 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann: Piano Concerto; Introduction & Allegro appassionato; Waldszenen
Sviatoslav Richter, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislaw Wislocki, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonin Dvorak: Complete Symphonies, Overtures
London Symphony Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2010
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5; Piano Sonata No. 8
Sviatoslav Richter, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1. Op. 15 (Live Recording, Lausanne 1978)
Claudio Arrau, Orchestre National de France, Witold Rowicki
Concertmuziek - Released by Claves Records on 1 mei 2020
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Tschaikowsky: Schwanensee Suite, Dornröschen Suite & Polonaise aus Eugen Onegin (Stereo Version)
Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
In Love with Chopin
Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra Warsaw, Vaclav Smetacek, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Profil on 15 mei 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Works (Remastered 2022)
Witold Rowicki, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Klassiek - Released by SWR Classic on 11 mrt. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Masterpieces: Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11 & Polonaises
Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Jube Classic on 17 mei 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki, Berliner Philharmoniker, Ferdinand Leitner
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 5
Samson François, Witold Rowicki, Philharmonia Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 2 okt. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphonies Nos 1 & 3
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Altara on 1 jan. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: The Late Symphonies; Legends
London Symphony Orchestra, Witold Rowicki, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 In D Minor, Op. 47 / Tchaikovsky: Francesca Da Rimini, Op. 32
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5 by Sviatoslav Richter (2023 Remastered, Studio 1959)
Sviatoslav Richter, Witold Rowicki, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording on 29 sep. 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann: Concerto pour piano, Konzertstück, Novellette & Toccata (Mono Version)
Sviatoslav Richter, Orchestre symphonique national de la radio polonaise, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Robert Schumann: Works for Piano (Recordings 1956-1959)
Sviatoslav Richter, Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej w Warszawie, Witold Rowicki, Stanisław Wisłocki
Concertmuziek - Released by Urania Records on 30 nov. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.3 - "Polish"
London Symphony Orchestra, Igor Markevitch, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 26
Ingrid Haebler, London Symphony Orchestra, Witold Rowicki
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Szymanowski: Stabat Mater & Symphonie No. 3 "Le chant de la nuit" (Mono Version)
Stefania Woytowicz, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Suites de ballets & Polonaise extraite d'Eugène Onéguine (Mono Version)
Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej, Witold Rowicki
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo