Szczecin Philharmonic
Szczecin Philharmonic, while the oldest philharmonic institution in the western part of Poland, is housed in one of the most modern concert buildings of its kind in Europe. Today, the Szczecin Philharmonic is an architectural icon of the city and one of the country’s most emblematic buildings. Since 1958, the institution has been named after Mieczysław Karłowicz, whose music regularly resounds in its concert halls, while promoting the works of its distinguished patron remains at the heart of its artistic mission.
Szczecin Philharmonic seen from above (Photo: Dariusz Gorajski)
The history of the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra dates back to 1948. In 2014, the ensemble moved into its new home in the heart of the city, at the intersection of Małopolska and Matejki Streets, exactly where the Konzerthaus Stettin stood before the Second World War. The building’s location is therefore as symbolically significant as its distinctive architectural form.
Today, Szczecin Philharmonic is a building of international renown, recognised as one of the most remarkable achievements in contemporary concert hall architecture. It has received the European Union’s most prestigious architectural distinction, the Mies van der Rohe Award. Its monumental exterior houses an interior conceived on an almost cathedral-like scale, with two concert halls: the symphony hall, seating 953, and the chamber hall, with 192 seats.
The building was designed by Spanish architects Fabrizio Barozzi and Alberto Veiga, with the organ serving as the inspiration for its strikingly original form.
The exterior façade is made of white glass and vertically arranged rectangular aluminium profiles, interrupted only by a small number of windows and entrance doors. The architects designed the building with a double-layered façade incorporating 25,000 LED light fixtures. The effect is particularly striking at night. The façade can also be illuminated in a range of colours, allowing different lighting scenarios to be created for special occasions and events.
Filharmonia Szczecin façade illuminated at night (Photo: Wojciech Grzędziński)
Szczecin Philharmonic façade illuminated at night (Photo: Olga Iwanow)
At the heart of Filharmonia Szczecin is its symphony hall, finished entirely with wood and wood-like materials. Its rich geometric forms, golden walls and ceilings covered with gold-coloured metal leaf create a space bathed in a warm, golden glow. This distinctive visual effect has earned the hall its nickname, the sun hall. The form and volume of the interior were designed to meet the highest acoustic standards, while its architectural proportions offer a contemporary reinterpretation of the classical concert hall.
The design of its acoustics was inspired by some of the world’s finest concert halls, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Symphony Hall in Boston and the Musikverein in Vienna.
Symphony hall at Szczecin Philharmonic (Photo: Bartek Barczyk)
Concert in the Symphony Hall at Szczecin Philharmonic, viewed from the balcony (Photo: Cezary Aszkiełowicz)
The building is also home to the art gallery known as Gallery Level 4, which regularly hosts exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. One of the most distinctive features of the Philharmonic’s main foyer is its unusual spiral staircase, connecting both concert halls with the exhibition spaces.
Szczecin Philharmonic foyer with its distinctive staircase (Photo: Bartek Barczyk)
Szczecin Philharmonic is fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Artists who have performed with the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra include Krystian Zimerman, Mischa Maisky, Kevin Kenner, Maurizio Pollini, Rafał Blechacz, Kaja Danczowska, Bruce Liu, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Bomsori Kim, Alena Baeva, Jan Lisiecki, Anastasia Kobekina, Yuliana Avdeeva, Seong-Jin Cho, Jakub Józef Orliński, Yeol Eum Son, Szymon Nehring, Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna, Gautier Capuçon, Ning Feng, Anastasia Kobekina, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Guy Braunstein, Nemanja Radulović, Isabelle Moretti and many more. The orchestra has also performed under the baton of distinguished conductors including Jerzy Maksymiuk, Antoni Wit, Krzysztof Penderecki, Stefan Asbury, Karol Teutsch, Leopold Hager, Agnieszka Duczmal, Wayne Marshall, Łukasz Borowicz, Andrzej Boreyko, Troy Miller, Tigran Akhnazarian and many others.
The Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra – resident ensemble of the beautiful golden concert hall – is made up of nearly one hundred talented musicians representing several generations. The orchestra performs both ambitious classical repertoire and innovative musical projects that cross genre boundaries. It also boasts an extensive discography, including a particularly important recording project for us: the complete symphonic works of Mieczysław Karłowicz, the Philharmonic’s patron, recorded across five CD albums.
Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Photo: Olga Iwanow)
Over its nearly 80-year history, the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at numerous prestigious concert venues. It has performed twice at the famous Herbert von Karajan Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie, several times at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, as well as on concert stages in Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands and France. In June 2026, the orchestra performed at the prestigious Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
Visit the Szczecin Philharmonic website HERE
