CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS SWAP
On 27 December, Marek Woźniak, Marshall of the Wielkopolska Province, and Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of the Town of Poznań, signed at the Wielkopolska Province Marshall’s Office an agreements on transfer of institutions of culture between the Wielkopolska Province and the Poznań Municipality.
Following decisions of relevant self-government bodies, as at 1 January 2023, the self-government of the Town of Poznań becomes the founding institution of the Poznań Philharmonic, while the self-government of the Wielkopolska Province – this of the Archaeological Museum, as well as of the Wielkopolska Museum of Independence.
Marshall Woźniak also communicated the intention to set up Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising, a truly 21st century facility, while Mayor Jaśkowiak imparted the decision to locate the seat of the Poznań Philharmonic – intended to be the most beautiful and modern facility of the kind in Europe – in the grounds of Poznań International Fair.
Two concertos by Feliks Nowowiejski – piano in C Minor, Op. 60 (known as Slavonic), and cello, Op. 55 – are contained on the newest album recorded by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz, and featuring the pianist Jacek Kortus and cellist Bartosz Koziak.
Both pieces are phonographic premieres; although performing tradition does exist, to date the works have been presented only a handful of times.
Łukasz Borowicz, who took the effort of preparing and recording the pieces with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, writes in the album booklet:
…. orchestra material of the concertos has been thoroughly analysed and compared with the manuscripts which miraculously survived war-time desolation. These comparisons made it possible to refine instrumentation, tempo, and articulation details.
Since an alternative denouement of Cello Concerto exists in the manuscript, we decided to record both versions of the ending (throughout his entire life, Nowowiejski frequently altered already finished pieces, or left their alternative versions).
With Piano Concerto, we decided to use the edited version of the work developed by the composer’s son, Kazimierz Nowowiejski. The numerous abridgements made by the pianist significantly change the length of the composition and contribute to its formal cohesiveness, which (in our opinion) makes it more accessible to the listener.
As performers of the phonographic premiere, we harbour a profound conviction that both compositions will find a place on the concert circuit. It is something quite astounding that concertos by one of the most important Polish composers of the early-20th century should wait for their phonographic premiere for… eighty years.
The world phonographic premiere, the album, which was co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, has been released by DUX.
Things were solemn and moving, joyful and surprising…
To celebrate its jubilee, on Thursday night, the Poznań Philharmonic organised 75th Anniversary Concert. Staged traditionally at the University Auditorium, the event was held exactly 75 years after the first official concert by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. At the time, the ensemble played under the baton of its founder (and chief conductor in the decade to follow), Stanisław Wisłocki; now, it was led by the current chief conductor and music director of the Poznań Philharmonic, Łukasz Borowicz. Then, the outstanding, world-famous pianist Raul Koczalski was the star of the evening; today, it was another outstanding, world-famous pianist, Rafał Blechacz. The jubilee evening was hosted by Róża Światczyńska and Antoni Hoffmann.
Before, however, music was performed, Andrzej Dera, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland, presented Poznań Philharmonic‘s musicians and staff members with state distinctions awarded by the President of the Polish Republic.
Officer’s Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta have been awarded to Wojciech Nentwig (for meritorious service to Polish culture, as well as for outstanding achievements in organisational and social work), and to Łukasz Borowicz (for outstanding achievements in artistic and creative work, as well as for promoting musical culture), while Knight’s Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta – to Tomasz Gubański and Sławomir Jarmołowicz (for meritorious service to Polish culture). Musicians and staff members of the Poznań Philharmonic have also received gold, silver and bronze crosses of merit, as well as honorary decorations “For Meritorious Service to the Province of Wielkopolska”, which were presented by the Marshall of the Province, Marek Woźniak.
Several beautiful words of congratulations and gratitude for the entire staff of the Poznań Philharmonic were uttered from the stage on this unique evening, including Marshall Woźniak’s address, in which he recalled that since 1999 the Poznań Philharmonic had been an institution of culture of the Wielkopolska Province Self-Government, and added that as at January 2023, it would be taken over by the Municipality of Poznań. Jacek Jaśkowiak, the Mayor of Poznań, recognised the Philharmonic with the Silver Seal of the Town of Poznań (complete with a pledge to quickly complete construction of the institution’s own seat).
The musical part of the evening opened with Uwertura komediowa (Comedy Overture) by Tadeusz Szeligowski, the first director and patron of the Poznań Philharmonic, which was performed in the presence of the composer’s granddaughter Bogumiła Szeligowska-Wojtecka, and grandson Tadeusz Szeliga-Szeligowski.
After the overture, it was Rafał Blechacz who took to the stage, this time… with a microphone.
– How come you play in Poznań so often? – the pianist admitted such questions are by no means rare. But he answers them with a question: – And why are we always eager to return home? The Poznań Philharmonic has become my home, and if this home celebrates a jubilee, I just have to be here.
He added it was his tenth concert with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, and twelfth in Poznań.
And then the Piano Concerto in A minor by Robert Schumann sounded; there were, naturally, encores and standing ovations.
The latter part of the evening was devoted to Polish music: Rapsodia litewska (Lithuanian Rhapsody) by Mieczysław Karłowicz, and Kościelec 1909 by Wojciech Kilar.
Several-minute long standing ovations wrapped up the evening – this is how music-lovers thanked the musicians for the beautiful concert, and the entire team of the Poznań Philharmonic for their efforts.
The jubilee is over… Our institution has entered the seventy-sixth year of its operation. On Friday, another concert is coming…
photo: Piotr Skórnicki, Antoni Hoffmann
Album 75/75 or 75 Minutes of Music to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Poznań Philharmonic has been released to mark the occasion.
Besides fragments of archival and newest recordings by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, the album also features words from its conductors, incl. its founder, Stanisław Wisłocki.
The accompanying booklet recounts the history and the present day of the Poznań Philharmonic.
When did Poznań Philharmonic originate? Where have the Poznań Nightingales sing? Who was the Pro Sinfonika movement intended for? What is the phenomenon of the Poznań Concerts all about? Answers to these, as well as to several other questions can be found in the anniversary album. The publication also features archival photographs of the orchestra (of which the oldest comes from March 1948), as well as reminiscences of the famous violist Stefan Kamasa, who was a member of the Poznań Philharmonics’ original line-up, and of Marek Sewen, another violist, who played in our irchestra in the early-1950s.
The commemorative albums premieres today; it will be available at the 75th Anniversary Concert (University Auditorium, 7:00 p.m., 10 November 2022).
1. After the summer break the ticket office of the Poznan Philharmonic will reopen on the 5th of September 2022. In the 2022/2023 artistic season it will be open:
- in September: Monday to Friday between 1 pm and 5 pm,
- from October till June: Tuesday to Friday between 1 pm and 5 pm,
- on the days of concerts organized by the Poznan Philharmonic the ticket office will additionally open an hour before a concert and will not close until the end of the intermission.
2. Booked DL and SG season tickets can be purchased from the 5th of September.
3. Booked KP season tickets can be purchased from the 12th of September.
4. Booked MW season tickets can be purchased from the 26th of September.
5. We would like to inform the auditors holding season tickets in the 2021/2022 season that during the purchase of the new season tickets the electronic season tickets from the previous season are necessary. 6. Reservations for individual tickets, as well as any questions concerning the new season will be taken from the 5th of September either by e-mail: rezerwacje@filharmoniapoznanska.pl or by phone: (+48) 618-536-935 or (+48) 618-522-266. In September we are also at your disposal in the opening hours of the ticket office, though as to reservations alone we recommend the remote contact.
7. In case of an introduction of the pandemic alert and all the government’s guidelines related to it we reserve the right to modify the timetable of the sales of season tickets and individual tickets presented above, as well as changes in the concert schedule.
Tomorrow, on the 7th of June, at 8:03 pm on air of the prestigious national German radio Deu-tschlandfunk Kultur you can hear a retransmission of the concert held in the Poznan Philharmonic on the 27th of May. You are welcome to listen!
Performers:
Jacek KORTUS – piano
Bartosz KOZIAK – cello
Łukasz BOROWICZ – conductor
Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra
Program:
- Franz Xaver Scharwenka
König Witichis’s Werbung from the Opera Mataswintha - Feliks Nowowiejski
Cello Concert - Karol Szymanowski
Symphony No. 4 ‘Symphonie Concertante’ Op. 60 for Piano and Orchestra
For more information, see: www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de
‘As an artist, Piotr respects and applies the rules of art, seeking the beauty and the good. We can find the aestethic values in the belcanto fluency of phrases, aided with a fine and natural timbre of voice. We also spot the ethos of moral values in the respectful attitude towards his profession – marked by humility, perseverance and an unusual consequence in pursuing artistic perfection.’ This is an excerpt of an eulogy pronounced yesterday (on the 17th of May) by Prof. Jan Ballarin at the ceremony of awarding the title of honoris causa of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice to Piotr Beczała.
The most famous Polish singer, currently considered the best lyric tenor in the world, 30 years ago graduated from the academy mentioned above. Piotr Beczała divides his time between the most important opera stages of the world, including Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden and La Scala. He makes numerous records and receives prestigious awards and international distinctions.
With fondness and satisfaction we think back to the concert of Piotr Beczała in the Poznan Phil-harmonic on the 14th of April 2007. It was his first gala evening in Poland and in Europe. Ravishing and memorable! Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra was then led by Łukasz Borowicz. Since that moment both artists regularly cooperate on concert and opera stages, as well as record studios all over the world.
Maestro, dear Doctor, congratulations on receiving this honorable title!
Like every year, in the 2022/23 artistic season Poznan Philharmonic is planning to prepare for you musical evenings within the DL, SG and KP season tickets.
If you are interested in the purchase of season tickets for these concerts, please fill in the or-der form below and submit it in the ticket office of Poznan Philharmonic until the 24th of June 2022.
The estimated date of the collection of the tickets is September 2022. The details will be given later – please track the information on our website www.filharmoniapoznanska.pl.
Print the order form for DL | SG | KP season tickets (season 2022/23)
We inform that the ticket office of Poznan Philharmonic will be closed from the 29th of April till the 3rd of May.
We encourage you to purchase the tickets online.
We also remind that the ticket office of Poznan Philharmonic is open as follows:
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday: 1pm – 5pm
- Wednesday: 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday: 1pm – 5pm
- Friday: 1pm – 5pm or 1pm – 7pm (on the days when Poznan Philharmonic concert is held)
We would like to inform you that the box office will be closed from the 14th to the 18th of April.
We encourage to purchase tickets online.