Witold Rowicki during 7th Chopin Competition, Warsaw, 1965
Grave of Witold Rowicki at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.

Witold Rowicki (born Witold Kałka, 26 February 1914 in Taganrog, Russian Empire – 1 October 1989 in Warsaw) was a Polish conductor. He held principal conducting positions with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra[1] and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Witold Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra was dedicated to him.

Biography

Rowicki arrived in Poland in 1923, attending schools in Żywiec and Nowy Sącz before matriculating at the conservatory in Kraków. He studied violin under Artur Malawski and theory under director Michał Piotrowski and made his conducting debut, while still a student, in 1933. Graduating in 1938, he was appointed professor of violin at the conservatory and spent the occupation years in Kraków. After the Soviet expulsion of the Nazis from Poland, Rowicki revived the defunct Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, which had disbanded during the war, in Katowice. Between 1950 and 1955, and again between 1958 and 1977, Rowicki was the director of the Warsaw Philharmonic, leading the orchestra on multiple foreign tours and receiving several decorations from the Polish government. He later moved to West Germany and directed the Bamberg Symphony from 1983 to 1985.

Discography

Rowicki was most strongly associated with the Warsaw Philharmonic, but he also made recordings as a guest conductor with orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (all in London), the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, and the Wiener Symphoniker. His recordings include:

References

  1. ^ Searle, Humphrey, "Reports from Abroad: Warsaw Contemporary Music Festival" (1959). The Musical Times, 100 (1401): 614.
  2. ^ Anderson, Robert, Review of Dvořák Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 & 4 (1971). The Musical Times, 112 (1545): p. 1077.
  3. ^ Samson, Jim, Reviews of recordings of Bolesław Szabelski and Wojciech Kilar (1989). Tempo (New Ser.), 169: p. 52.
  4. ^ Banks, Paul, "Karłowicz Riches" (1989). The Musical Times, 130 (1762): p. 753.
  5. ^ Polskie Nagrania Muza XL 0006
  6. ^ Macdonald, Hugh, Review of Szymanowski Stabat Mater Op. 53/Symphony No. 3 Op. 27 (1981). The Musical Times, 122 (1656): p. 113.
  7. ^ Dunnett, Roderic, "The Review Section: Records - Szymanowski" (November 1990). The Musical Times, 131 (1773): pp. 603-604.

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Cultural offices Preceded by[orchestra defunct under wartime occupation] Music Director, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra 1945–1947 Succeeded byGrzegorz Fitelberg Preceded byWładysław Raczkowski Music Director, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra 1950–1955 Succeeded byBohdan Wodiczko Preceded byBohdan Wodiczko Music Director, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra 1958–1977 Succeeded byKazimierz Kord Preceded byJames Loughran Chief Conductor, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra 1983–1985 Succeeded byHorst Stein
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