The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, formerly known as the Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, is recognised as one of the most accomplished symphonic ensembles of the former Soviet Union and one of the greatest exponents of the Eastern European symphonic repertoire in the world today. Established in 1937, the orchestra's first chief conductor was Nathan Rachlin, who conducted the world première of Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony, and who remained in this position for the next 25 years, until 1962. His successors as music directors have included Stephan Truchak. Fyodor Glushchenko and Igor Blazhkov. In 1992 Theodore Kuchar was appointed Principal Guest Conductor; in 1994 the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine appointed him Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. Under Theodore Kuchar's direction, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine has today become the most frequently recorded orchestra of the former Soviet Union, with over forty compact discs for the Naxos and Marco Polo labels.
