Bronisław Huberman Częstochowa Philharmonic

The Bronisław Huberman Częstochowa Philharmonic (Filharmonia Częstochowska) is located at ul. Wilsona 16, in a modernist building from 1955-1965 constructed on the foundations of the New Synagogue. It has two concert halls and a rehearsal hall, and its main hall is valued for its acoustics. The institution organises festivals, symphonic and chamber concerts, and series for children and young people.

The building on Wilsona Street

The building was raised on the site of the New Synagogue, which was burned down on 25 December 1939. The design of the modernist building, by Józef Tadeusz Gawłowski, assumed the use of the surviving parts of the synagogue's foundations and facade. The acoustics of both halls were designed by Witold Straszewicz.

The orchestra moved into the new seat in September 1965, after twenty years in the building at ul. Dąbrowskiego 16. The building was made possible by the contributions of the town's residents, and efforts to obtain a concert hall had been under way since 1954. The main hall seats 825 and the chamber hall 156. Some experts regard the main hall as the fourth best in Poland in terms of acoustic properties.

From March 2010 the Philharmonic was renovated and extended with funds from the European Regional Development Fund. Activity in the building after modernisation was inaugurated on 3 October 2012. A rehearsal hall has also operated since 2012, and the institution received the name of its patron.

Where Huberman's name comes from

Bronisław Huberman was born in Częstochowa. He was a violinist, educator, writer and public figure, and the Philharmonic keeps his memory alive by organising the International Violin Festival named after him. The first edition took place in 1997, and the festival continues two earlier ones: the Grażyna Bacewicz Violin Festival and Jeunesses Musicales.

Also connected with the history of Częstochowa's Jewish community is the Częstochowa Ghetto, about 1.6 km from the Philharmonic.

The orchestra and programme

The first official symphonic concert took place on 2 March 1945 in the Częstochowa Municipal Theatre. After the Częstochowa Voivodeship was created in 1976, the orchestra gained the rank of a philharmonic. In 2012 the professional Częstochowa Philharmonic Choir “Collegium Cantorum” began its work. In 2023 the Symphony Orchestra received the City of Częstochowa Culture Award in the category “Music and Dance”.

The Philharmonic co-organises opera, operetta and ballet productions, and in 1998-2002 an Opera and Operetta Stage operated at it. Its regular events include the traditional jazz festival Hot Jazz Spring, organised since 2002, and the Jan, Edward and Józefina Reszke Vocal Competition. The institution also takes part in organising the International Festival of Sacred Music “Gaude Mater”. Vernissages and exhibitions are also held in the building.

An important area is education: the “Philharmonic for Children” sessions, school concerts and “Sunday Mornings with the Philharmonic”.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Tomasza Wilsona 16, Częstochowa.
• You will find the programme, tickets and box office hours on the Philharmonic's website. The website also offers a virtual walk around the building.
• It is about 600 m from here to the Archcathedral Basilica of the Holy Family.
• It is about 1.8 km to Jasna Góra Monastery.