Sinfonia Varsovia

It is one of Poland’s ‘export’ symphony orchestras. Polish music lovers fall into two categories: those who cherish NOSPR more than anything and those who lionise Sinfonia Varsovia. Ultimately, it is a choice between the marvellous and the phenomenal, just like the choice between the two magnificent countertenors Scholl and Jarousski, or – to speak in less lofty terms – Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Set up as a chamber orchestra, the ensemble was enlarged specifically for Yehudi Menuhin’s concert tour in Poland, and ever since 1984 has performed under the greatest maestri and with the most celebrated soloists in the world. Among the composers who wrote for Sinfonia Varsovia were Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Paweł Mykietyn, and John Adams. In 2024 the orchestra will finally receive a new concert hall worthy of its stature. In the meantime, as is the annual tradition, Warsaw’s greatest symphony orchestra will give a special concert at the Teatr Wielki.