Jacek Kaspszyk was born in Poland and studied at the Warsaw Academy of Music. In 1976 he made his début at the Düsseldorf Opera and the following year was appointed as principal conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony. He became its music director in 1980.

In 1978 he had gained top prize at the Karajan Competition and made his New York début. He has appeared regularly with all of the London orchestras and with the Hallé, RSNO, RLPO, Bournemouth Symphony, BBC NOW and BBC SSO.

Elsewhere in Europe he has conducted such orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, Bayerischer Rundfunk, RSO Berlin, Orchestra National de Paris, Vienna Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Danish National Radio Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Operatic appearances include productions at Detroit, Lyon, Bordeaux, Opéra Comique, Royal Stockholm, English National Opera, Opera North and Scottish Opera.

In 1994 he became principal guest conductor of the Polish National Philharmonic and in 1998 took the position of artistic director of the National Opera. In 2006 he became music director at the National Opera in Lithuania.