News - NOSPR

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) today announces MarinAlsop as its new Artistic Director and Chief Conductor. Alsop’s directorship will begin with the 2023/24 season and will see her work closely with NOSPR’s General and Programme Director, Ewa Bogusz-Moore,to shape the Orchestra’s programme and develop its national and international reputation.

Alsop made her debut with the Orchestra in February 2021 and has since conducted 15 concerts, toured it to Japan and led three conducting masterclasses with NOSPR. Her directorship will see her build on this relationship and conduct seven symphonic concerts in the 2023/24 season, including 2nd edition of Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition and the recording Krzysztof Penderecki’s opera the Black Mask.

During a visit to Katowice in March 2023, Alsop led a masterclass and short performance with young Ukrainian conductors as part of the SPLOT–UA Residency programme for Ukrainian creatives. They presented a piece by Polish composer Agata Zubel and the ensemble included musicians from the NOSPR Academy. Alsop’s masterclasses in Katowice have been a successful launching pad for the participating young conductors which included two protégés of the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship who were invited to join by NOSPR.

Marin Alsop, incoming Artistic Director of NOSPR, said:
“I’m thrilled to accept this appointment and excited to continue our already thriving relationship. Our Japan tour last September and our ongoing recording and concert projects are part of a new vision for the 21st century orchestra. Together with Director, Ewa Bogusz-Moore, I look forward to innovative projects such as Penderecki’s rarely performed Black Mask and recording the music of wonderful composers like Grazyna Bacewicz and Agata Zubel. NOSPR’s existing commitment to mentoring the next generations of musicians and conductors also aligns with my personal commitment to the future of classical music.”

Ewa Bogusz-Moore, NOSPR General and Programme Director, said:
“We have had the pleasure of getting to know Marin Alsop over the past two years and we are delighted that she is now joining us as Artistic Director. Marin is a trailblazer who has initiated positive change within the industry and her work reflects NOSPR’s commitment to identify and address social inequalities. Our musicians greatly enjoy working with Marin, whose conducting technique and diligent work ethic always ensures musical excellence, and we all look forward to working closely with her over the coming years.”

Alsop continues as Chief Conductor with the RSO.

Dating back to 1935, NOSPR was Poland’s first independent radio symphony orchestra and has been based in the city of Katowice since the 1940s. Having collaborated with the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Martha Argerich, and premiered works by major composers including Witold Lutosławski and Krzysztof Penderecki, NOSPR is a vital organ of Poland’s cultural landscape.

In the upcoming 2023/24 season, NOSPR will explore musical stories told by women, largely through conductors such as Valentina Peleggi, Zoi Tsokanou and rising star Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, in addition to its new Artistic Director Marin Alsop.The season also features other world-class visiting conductors such as Christian Arming, Paul McCreesh and Leonard Slatkin, with programmes ranging from classical masterpieces such as Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 (performed by Garrick Ohlsson) to hidden gems like Weber’s Concertino for Horn and Orchestra. NOSPR has also programmed contemporary music such as Joan Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman, the first and most popular of which is dedicated to Alsop. The season celebrates important anniversaries of key Polish musicians who are central to Poland’s musical legacy, including composers WitoldLutosławski (110 years since his birth) and HenrykGórecki (90 years since his birth), and the 80th birthdays of conductor AntoniWit and composer MartaPtaszyńska.