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In 1981 (or 1982) Wojciech Rajski created an orchestra from talented young string players of his country, to which he gave the name Polnische Kammerphilharmonie (Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra = PKP). After careful rehearsal period, this string orchestra gave its debut at the Warsaw Philharmonie. Since then the ensemble has won a regular place in German Musical life. Its special sound has been repeatedly and unanimously praised by critics for its fire, precision, and mastery of technical difficulties - or in other words, vitality, discipline and elegance. These are the hallmarks of its playing style. Thereupon the PKP undertook expanded tours to BRD/FRG, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the USA, China and several countries of Eastern Europe.
In 1984 the conductor extended the originally pure string orchestra to its current form as a classical orchestra. In this extended form the orchestra has appeared with renowned soloists, such as Mstislav Rostropovich, David Oistrakh, Krystian Zimerman, Szeryng, Frantz, David Geringas and Christoph Eschenbach, in almost all important music centres: Kennedy-Center, Musikverein Wien, Saal Playel, Paris, Teatro Reale, Madrid; Leningrader Philharmonie, Berliner Philharmonie, Gasteig in Munich, Musikhalle in Hamburg, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, etc. The orchestra has also appeared with big success at most important music festivals: Festival in Montpellier, Europäische Musikwochen, Passau, Prager Frühling, Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival. Warschauer Herbst, Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele, Festival de Musica de Canaria, Gran Canaria, Tivoli Music Festival, Copenhagen, etc.
Already in 1983 the PKP played with the clarinet virtuoso Sabine and Wolfgang Meyer. In 1996 they gave together series of concerts in Germany, Austria and in Switzerland under the title "Sabine Meyer meets to Benny Goodman", in which they played works by J. Ptaszyn-Wróblewski, M. Amold and A. Copinad. In July 1997 the PKP appeared with the two soloists in a concert, in which EMI Classics celebrated its 100 anniversary. The orchestra was guest in the USA in 1987 and 1999 and gave concerts in New Jersy, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Radford, New York - Metropolitan Museum, Washington - J.F. Kennedy Center. In 1990 the orchestra was on an exotic tour in China. In the same year they gave in Germany series of concerts with the young pianist a Kevin Kenner, who became winner of the F. Chopin competition. In 1997 they were again on a tour abroad, this time in Japan and played in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nagoya and other cities.
The PKP has made over 30 CD's for the labels as Claves, Le Chand du Monde, EMI, Thorofon, Midas, and Wifon. |
