Kola\u017c zdje\u0107 muzyk\u00f3w zespo\u0142u NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra

Artistic Director:
Alexander Sitkovetsky

Principal guest conductor:
Joseph Swensen

Founded in 1978, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra has collaborated with an impressive roster of renowned artists, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Daniel Hope, Richard Tognetti, Kolja Blacher, Julia Fischer, Timothy Ridout, Nils Mönkemeyer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Kian Soltani, Giovanni Sollima, Emmanuel Pahud, Radek Baborák, Sergei Nakariakov, Reinhard Goebel, Heinz Holliger, András Schiff, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Bartłomiej Nizioł, Krzysztof Jakowicz and Jakub Jakowicz, Piotr Anderszewski,and Jerzy Maksymiuk.

Over its nearly 50 years of activity, the orchestra has earned a significant reputation within the Polish music scene. Its musicians have been exposed to a variety of ensemble-leading methods and developed their own unique musical approach – one that combines emotional sound with textural clarity. These qualities are often praised by critics, who value the orchestra’s performances for their exceptional expressiveness.

From the very beginning, the ensemble has been led by outstanding violinists, including Karol Teutsch, Jan Stanienda and the long-time concertmaster Zbigniew Szufłat. Initially focusing heavily on Classical and even Baroque repertoire, the orchestra later expanded its scope to include 20th-century music. Under the direction of another distinguished artist, Ernst Kovacic, the ensemble began to explore lesser-known works from the 20th century. This mission has resulted in a number of acclaimed recordings in recent years, including albums featuring the music of Ernst Křenek (released by Capriccio and Toccata Classics) and Leoš Janáček (DUX), string arrangements of works by Alban Berg (Berg by Arrangement, Toccata Classics – named one of the year’s best recordings by The Sunday Times), and Bach’s Kunst der Fuge (CD Accord). The orchestra also received excellent reviews for two recent albums led by Christian Danowicz: Made in Poland (DUX) and Supernova (CD Accord), recorded in collaboration with Atom String Quartet and awarded the Fryderyk Awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, the ensemble released its first recording under the baton of Joseph Swensen, featuring works by Debussy and Tchaikovsky; this was nominated for a Fryderyk Award in 2021. From 2014 to 2017, the orchestra’s artistic director was violist and Berlin University of the Arts professor Hartmut Rohde, who focused on Romantic repertoire. Since September 2017, Joseph Swensen has served as artistic director, expanding the orchestra’s repertoire to include both classical and contemporary works. In September 2023, British violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky took over the role of artistic director. In March 2025, the orchestra performed on the stage of the National Forum of Music alongside artists from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, led by Richard Tognetti. The NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra is also the host of Leo Festival, launched in 2009 to mark the 30th anniversary of this Wrocław-based ensemble.

The orchestra has performed in some of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Barbican Centre in London, Philharmonie, Konzerthaus and Schauspielhaus in Berlin, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, and Teatro Victoria Eugenia in San Sebastián. It has also appeared at leading European festivals, such as Muziekfestival West-Brabant (Netherlands), Bodenseefestival and Weilburger Schlosskonzerte (Germany), Echternach Festival (Luxembourg), Pablo Casals Festival and Festival du Périgord Noir (France), Festival Estoril Lisboa (Portugal) and Flanders Festival Ghent and Europalia (Belgium), as well as Poland’s own International Festival Wratislavia Cantans, Musica Polonica Nova, Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, and the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music.


Commissions for the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra by the National Forum of Music include:

  • Giovanni Sollima, Cello Chronicles for the Polish Cello Quartet and NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra (2025)
  • Valentin Silvestrov, Moments of Memory VI (2025) – a joint commission by the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Scottish Ensemble
  • Paweł Mykietyn, Krzyki for string orchestra (2002)
  • Hanna Kulenty-Majoor, Concerto rosso for string quartet and string orchestra (2017)
  • Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil, ICE-LAND: Rainbow Bridges over Dettifoss for chamber orchestra (2012) and ...el condor... for two marimbas and string orchestra (1996) – both prepared for the Musica Polonica Nova festival.
Bizet Carmen Suite
NFM Lepoldinum Orchestra at Edinburgh International Festival
10.08
Sun.
7:30 PM
Great Britain, Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Benedetti’s and Sitkovetsky’s Tribute to Menuhin
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum na Festiwalu w Edynburgu
11.08
Mon.
7:30 PM
Great Britain, Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Ferrández & Soltani

Better Together

NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
26.09
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
1920s, 1930s
Podorska / Danowicz / Leopoldinum
18.10
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
In Conversation with Schubert
Sergey Malov / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
08.11
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Moments of Memory
Dmitry Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
29.11
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Baroque revisited

Better together

Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
13.12
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
L’Orangerie
Baborák / Goldscheider / Leopoldinum
20.12
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
But First the Young 2.0
Christian Danowicz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchrestra
11.01
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Jan Vogler & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra

Better together

 
17.01
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Marcin Kydryński Presents SIESTA on the Road: a Totally Bossa Gala
 
07.02
Sat.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Zoom & Zip

Better together

Collins / Barragán / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
21.02
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Equilibrium
Antje Weithaas / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
07.03
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Silent Woods

Better together

Sitkovetsky Trio / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
21.03
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
1788
Joseph Swensen / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
11.04
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Sources of Memory
Svahy / Leopoldinum
19.04
Sun.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Aheym
Jacques Forestier / Karolina Podorska
25.04
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
An Italian Night
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
09.05
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Yulianna Avdeeva & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra

Better together

 
12.06
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Alexander Sitkovetsky
Artistic Director of NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra

Alexander Sitkovetsky was born into a family with a well-established musical tradition. He made his concerto debut at the age of eight, and the same year moved to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he is now an Associate Artist. Lord Menuhin was his inspiration throughout his school years, and they performed together on several occasions.

NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra at Boswiler Sommer
Boswil Summer
05.07.2025
Sat.
8:00 PM
Switzerland, Boswil, Alte Kirche Boswil
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Switzerland
Boswil Summer
04.07.2025
Fri.
8:00 PM
Switzerland, Boswil, Alte Kirche Boswil
Giovanni Sollima & Cello Chronicles
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra Season Finale
13.06.2025
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Istambul
 
04.06.2025
Wed.
8:00 PM
Türkiye, Istambul, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – a Born Musician
Christian Danowicz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
01.06.2025
Sun.
4:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Hosting Leo
Musicians of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
31.05.2025
Sat.
7:00 PM
Wrocław, private homes
For Seasons
Bastarda Trio / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
29.05.2025
Thu.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall, reversed stage
Instincts
 
25.05.2025
Sun.
3:00 PM
Topacz Castle
Nature and Technology
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
25.05.2025
Sun.
7:00 PM
Topacz Castle
Eine kleine Nachtmusik
 
11.05.2025
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Seven Last Words from the Cross
Andrzej Kosendiak / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
16.04.2025
Wed.
7:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Metamorphoses
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
05.04.2025
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Gratitude
Joseph Swensen / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
29.03.2025
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Australian Chamber Orchestra & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
 
16.03.2025
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Kilar Rediscovered
PWM Edition 80th Anniversary Celebrations
08.03.2025
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall, reversed stage
A Simple Symphony
Timothy Ridout / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
22.02.2025
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Atom String Quartet & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
 
16.02.2025
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, ORLEN Main Hall
Nigun
Elena Bashkirova / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
25.01.2025
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Mozart and Kraggerud
Henning Kraggerud / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
10.01.2025
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
New Year's Eve Concert
Mosalini / Danowicz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
31.12.2024
Tue.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
New Year's Eve Concert
Mosalini / Danowicz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
30.12.2024
Mon.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Saint Nicolas Cantata
15th Anniversary of the NFM Boys' Choir
06.12.2024
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
The Cello Effect
Andreas Brantelid / NFM Leopoldium Orchestra
01.12.2024
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Musical Puzzles
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
17.11.2024
Sun.
10:00 AM
NFM, Main Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Montenegro
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
11.11.2024
Mon.
7:00 PM
Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegrin Music Center
Orawa
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
08.11.2024
Fri.
7:30 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Emmanuel Pahud & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra Season Opening
19.10.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Emigrants, displaced persons, refugees
Sułkowska-Migoń / Kubas-Kruk / Leopoldinum
07.09.2024
Sat.
7:00 PM
Wrocław, Aula Leopoldina
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Warsaw
24th Ryszard Kubiak “Musical Gardens” Festival
04.07.2024
Thu.
7:00 PM
Warszawa, Dziedziniec Wielki Zamku Królewskiego
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Denmark
Vendsyssel Festival
02.07.2024
Tue.
7:30 PM
Denmark, Hjørring, Sct. Catharinæ Church
Kian Soltani & NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra Season Finale
15.06.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Virtuoso Strings
Joseph Swensen / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
02.06.2024
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
In the Right Place, at the Right Time
Danowicz / Masecki / Nisinman
19.05.2024
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Mobility Is Reality
Music in Wrocław city spaces
18.05.2024
Sat.
1:30 PM
Wrocław city space
Blind Test
Surprise concert with audience participation
18.05.2024
Sat.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Migrating Composers
 
16.05.2024
Thu.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Bielsko-Biała
Alexander Sitkovetsky
21.04.2024
Sun.
7:00 PM
Bielsko-Biała, Cavatina Hall
Four Seasons Recomposed
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
19.04.2024
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Homage to Viola
Maxim Rysanov / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
06.04.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Warsaw
A concert of the 28th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival
25.03.2024
Mon.
7:30 PM
Warsaw Philharmonic, ul. Jasna 5, Warsaw
Moz-Art à la Haydn
Sitkovetsky / Danowicz / Leopoldinum
24.03.2024
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
But First, Young Musicians
Christian Danowicz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
09.03.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Müller-Schott Plays Haydn
Wilson Hermanto / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
24.02.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Welcome to Our Fairy Tale
Mr Blot's Academy
04.02.2024
Sun.
10:00 AM
NFM, Main Hall
Welcome to Our Fairy Tale
Mr Blot's Academy
04.02.2024
Sun.
12:30 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Baeva Plays Mendelssohn
Magdalena Ziarkowska-Kołacka
20.01.2024
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
L.U.C. & Rebel Babel Film Orchestra
Soundtrack from The Peasants
14.01.2024
Sun.
4:30 PM
NFM, Main Hall
L.U.C. & Rebel Babel Film Orchestra
Soundtrack from The Peasants
14.01.2024
Sun.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
New Year's Gala – Janoska style
Janoska Ensemble / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
05.01.2024
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Plato's Symposium
Kolja Blacher / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
09.12.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Voces intimae
Joseph Swensen / Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk
02.12.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Krzysztof Meyer's Anniversary
Christian Danowicz / Gośka Isphording / Jan Krzeszowiec
12.11.2023
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Tribute to Stan Getz
Piotr Baron / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
21.10.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Inauguration of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra Season
Ceremony of the 47th Kulturpreis Schlesien des Landes Niedersachsen
07.10.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Les Folles Journées – NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Warsaw
 
23.09.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
Warszawa, Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa, Sala Mars (zascenie)
Les Folles Journées – NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Warsaw
 
22.09.2023
Fri.
9:00 PM
Warszawa, Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa, Sala Moniuszki
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum in Lusławice
Opening of the 11th EMANACJE Festival
02.07.2023
Sun.
6:00 PM
Lusławice, The Krzysztof Penderecki European Center for Music
Trilogy. Closing of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra and NFM Choir Season
Joseph Swensen / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
17.06.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Stories for Children
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
04.06.2023
Sun.
5:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Hosting Leo
Musicians of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
02.06.2023
Fri.
6:00 PM
Wrocław, private homes
Things change as time goes by…
Ernst Kovacic / Christian Danowicz
01.06.2023
Thu.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
…como el sol y la mar…
Łukasz Długosz / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
29.04.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Ad absurdum
Sergei Nakariakov / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
16.04.2023
Sun.
5:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Austria – Imago Dei Festival
 
31.03.2023
Fri.
7:30 PM
Klangraum Krems Minoritenkirche
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Austria
 
30.03.2023
Thu.
7:30 PM
Kunsthaus Muerz
Goldberg Variations
Alexander Sitkovetsky / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
25.03.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Organ & Strings
Mari Fukumoto / NFM Leopodlinum Orchestra
12.03.2023
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Violoncelles, vibrez!
Jonathan Swensen / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
25.02.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall, reversed stage
Never Ending Transience
Francesco Bottigliero / Alessandro Deljavan
11.02.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Chamber Hall
Partita. Witold Lutosławski World Days
Richard Tognetti / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
28.01.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Great Fugue
Roman Rabinovich & NFM Leopoldium Orchestra
21.01.2023
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Death and the Maiden
Joseph Swensen / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
10.12.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Poème
Tedi Papavrami / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
03.12.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Lives Uncompleted – concert on the 80th anniversary of Norwegian Jews’ transportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau
 
26.11.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
Warszawa, Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Switzerland
 
15.11.2022
Tue.
8:00 PM
Vevey, Switzerland, Salle de Castillo
Eroica
Radek Baborák / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
12.11.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Roads to Classicism
Andrzej Kosendiak / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
29.10.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Concertino. Opening of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra Season
Daniel Hope / Waldemar Żarów
15.10.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Warsaw
65th Warsaw Autumn
22.09.2022
Thu.
7:30 PM
Warszawa, Uniwersytet Muzyczny im. F. Chopina, Sala Koncertowa F. Chopina
Mahler in Love
Agata Zubel / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
16.09.2022
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Mahler in Manhattan
Closing of the NFM Lepoldinum Orchestra season
12.06.2022
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Listen, That Far is Our Horizon!
Atom String Quartet / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
05.06.2022
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Songs of Theremin
Ernst Kovacic / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
04.06.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Connected in Our Music
Olena Korolenko / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
02.06.2022
Thu.
7:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Strings
Festival finale
29.05.2022
Sun.
8:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
My Little Symphony
Adam Golka / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
23.04.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Masterpieces of Romanticism
Andrej Bielow / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
10.04.2022
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Equinox
R.de Bouw / Leopoldinum
26.03.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Verklärte Nacht
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
12.03.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Seven Last Words
J. Swensen / Leopoldinum
05.03.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
In Old Style
 
19.02.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Appassionato italiano
J. Swensen / Leopoldinum
29.01.2022
Sat.
6:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
 
Filharmonia Pana Kleksa
Chóry Dziecięce NFM / NFM Orkiestra Leoopoldinum
Debussy / Tchaikovsky
Joseph Swensen / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
Światło zimowej nocy
Chór NFM / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum / Chór Chłopiecy NFM
Moniuszko inaczej śpiewany
Chóry Akademii Chóralnej / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
Supernova
NFM Orkiestra Leoopldinum / Atom String Quartet
Made in Poland
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum, Atom String Quartet
Berg by Arrangement – Music for Strings
Ernst Kovacic / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
The Art Of Fugue
Ernst Kovacic / NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
Beethoven, Schoenberg
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
Ubi caritas
Witold Lutosławski | Opera Omnia 03
Ernst Kovacic, NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum
Leoš Janáček. Chamber works
Ernst Kovacic / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Videos
Joseph Swensen / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Andrzej Kosendiak / NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Tomasz Daroch
Grand Tango
Christian Danowicz / Capriccio Beltz
Marcin Misiak / Alfredo Piatti Twelve Caprices for cello solo, Op. 25
Contact
Agata Adamczyk
Manager of NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
NFM Wrocław Philharmonic
Wrocław Baroque Orchestra
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
West Side Sinfonietta
NFM Choir
NFM Boys' Choir
NFM Girls' Choir
Lutosławski Quartet
LutosAir Quintet
Polish Cello Quartet
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