New concert season at Krakow Philharmonic

The Krakow Philharmonic opened its 63rd concert season last weekend. Following tradition, the music was devoted to Polish contemporary composers – Karol Szymanowski, Antoni Szalowski and Artur Malawski.

The inaugural concert began with the neoclassical Overture by – Symphony No. 4 by Szymanowski. This last symphony in the composer’s output is deeply rooted in the folklore of the mountainous Tatra region in southern Poland and the highlanders’ music. The concert was concluded by Malawski’s ballet-pantomime Wierchy.

The Orchestra of the Krakow Philharmonic was conducted by its artistic director, Jan Krenz. The coming season will be strongly marked with the presence of music by Szymanowski, especially during the autumn months. It is connected with the celebration, as announced by the Polish Parliament, of The Year of Karol Szymanowski, on the 70th anniversary of his death.

The composer is a patron of the Krakow Philharmonic and had a special connection to the city. In 1930 Szymanowski was awarded an honorary doctorate from Jagiellonian University. After his death, Szymanowski was buried in a crypt under the famous Krakow church “On The Rock.”

In addition to the music by Szymanowski, music lovers this season can also expect outstanding works by other European composers. The Orchestra and Choir will perform Mass in B minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, Elijah by Mendelssohn, Ein Deutsches Requiem by Brahms, Lied von der Erde by Mahler and the works of Grieg, Rimsky-Korsakov, Sibelius and Messiaen, to name only the most important ones.

Among the most significant artistic events are two remarkable premieres: a new symphony by one of the greatest Polish contemporary composers, Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, and Requiem by Jan Krenz. On September 30, the Philharmonic Hall will host the New Chamber Orchestra from Warsaw with the renowned conductor Christopher Hogwood. More information is available on the web site www.filharmonia.krakow.pl.