The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, based in the medieval city of Lviv, was officially established on September 27, 1902. During its first season, the orchestra performed nearly 115 concerts and included Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, and Mieczyslaw Karlowicz among its guest conductors. In 1933, the orchestra became incorporated as the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine. Many of the world’s greatest musicians have performed with the orchestra, including Sviatoslav Richter, Heinrich and Stanislav Neuhaus, Emil Gilels, Maria Yudina, David and Igor Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Gidon Kremer, Leonid Kogan, Natalia Gutman, Oleksandr Slobodyanyk, and Oleh Krysa. After two seasons as the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor, Theodore Kuchar was appointed the Principal Conductor of the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in 2022.
