Polish Baltic Philharmonic – The Musical Heart of Gdańsk

The Polish Baltic Philharmonic, named after Fryderyk Chopin, in Gdańsk is a renowned cultural institution that emerged from the State Opera and Baltic Philharmonic established in the 1950s. Initially, it combined symphonic and operatic functions, and its development was led by Kazimierz Wiłkomirski and Tadeusz Rybowski. In the 1970s, to separate the symphonic activities, a new orchestra was created under the direction of Zygmunt Rychert.

The orchestra quickly gained international recognition, performing in prestigious European halls and winning awards, including at the Berlin Music Biennale. In the 1990s, it was decided to completely separate the philharmonic from the opera, and the new independent institution was led by Professor Roman Perucki from 1994.

In search of a suitable headquarters, the philharmonic moved to the revitalized power plant on Ołowianka Island in Gdańsk. The idea, inspired by a similar project in Norrköping, Sweden, was implemented by Marcin Kozikowski, and the project was supported by regional and EU funds. In 2007, a modern music center was opened, becoming an important cultural point of Gdańsk.