Name: Sinfonietta Cracovia
Established: 1990
Location: Poland
Spheres: music
Function at the European Agora: Concert Oratorio "Return " (The Agora of Artists)

Sinfonietta Cracovia is characterized by outstanding impetuousness and exceptional professionalism, they are one of the most renowned orchestras in Poland and Europe and have received acclaim by both reviewers and music lovers. This high commendation is due to Sinfonietta’s artistic potential, youth, openness to all dimensions of music along with great flexibility in terms of its repertoire, and furthermore their ability to adapt styles from both from chamber music to classical symphonies.

Sinfonietta emerged from an initiative of young musicians who progressed through Academy of Music in Krakow. After Robert Kabara took on the artistic leadership of the orchestra in 1992, it took two years of arduous work to transform it from a group of inexperienced musicians into a professional ensemble, who were defined by their distinctive artistic image. Sinfonietta Cracovia was formally established in 1994, thanks to Kabara’s efforts and support from prominent figures such as Elżbieta and Krzysztof Penderecki, as well as a lending hand from the Krakow city council. The Mayor of Cracow granted further blessing by providing the Sinfonietta with the title, Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Cracow.

Right from the beginning of its concert activity, Sinfonietta Cracovia won the favour of critics and the public alike, the orchestra promoted its unconventional interpretation of the classical repertoire, introducing innovative compositions including medleys of classical, electronic and even jazz music.

Sinfonietta Cracovia has proved to be an exceptionally vital ensemble within the global arts world. Their artistic achievements have opened doors to collaboration with the most remarkable personages. The orchestra cooperates with such famous conductors as Krzysztof Penderecki, Antoni Wit, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Christoph Eschenbach, Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev and even John Axelrod who incidentally was the first Principal Guest Director of the orchestra in the years 2001 - 2003.

The achievements of the orchestra, has culminated in the Sinfonietta’s collaboration with world-renowned soloists such as: Rudolf Buchbinder, Mischa Maisky, Pieter Wispelwey, Ilya Gringolts, Kaja Danczowska, Irene Grafenauer, Barry Douglas, Tabea Zimmermann, Grigori Zhyslin.

One of the biggest accomplishments of the orchestra is having performed on the most coveted stages in Europe. Warmly welcomed by the public and critics, the Sinfonietta gives concerts in well-known venues such as in Sankt Petersburg  (the Music Conservatory and Mariinsky Theatre), Germany (the Philharmonic Hall and Konzerthaus in Berlin, Herkules Saal in Munich), Switzerland (Casino Hall in Basel and Tonnhalle in Zurich), France (Mogador Theatre in Paris and Palais des Festivals in Cannes), Spain (Auditorio Nacional in Madrid), Italy (theatres in Brescia, Naples and Parma), and the Philharmonic Hall in Istambul.

Another success of the orchestra that brought international recognition were several performances during prestigious festivals in Germany (Schleswig Holstein Music Festival), France (Festival International de Colmar) and Sankt Petersburg (White Nights Festival). Sinfonietta Cracovia also gave concerts during Polish festivals, such as Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, Sacrum – Profanum and Misteria Paschalia in Cracow.

Among numerous recordings made by Sinfonietta Cracovia, the most important are TV productions for the BBC Classical Music Television, French TV ARTE, Polish Television TVP, as well as albums recorded for prestigious record labels as Arion from France, Channel Classic from the Netherlands, as well as Dux and CD Accord from Poland. The orchestra’s recordings feature a number of distinguished soloists such as: Konstanty Kulka, Francois Leleux, Isabelle Moretti, Janusz Olejniczak, Pieter Wispelwey, Piotr Pławner, Radovan Vlatković and Robert Kabara.