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We would like to invite you to take part in the continuation of the unusual event based on the popular Q&A (questions and answers) formula. This time the responses to your inquiries will be given by Wojciech Pszoniak.

We all love his roles in such film as “The Wedding”, “The Promised Land”, “Danton” and “Korczak” by Andrzej Wajda, or “Austeria” by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, as well as countless theatre and cinema performances. However, in his teenage years the brilliant actor used to dream about becoming a musician. His family had musical traditions: his grandfather and mother played the violin. The actor himself began his musical education on that instrument. In music school in Bytom he attended the oboe class. In one of the interviews many years later Wojciech Pszoniak joked that he was to become the 2nd oboist in The Silesian Philharmonic, luckily it didn’t happen.

He played the clarinet in the military band in Gliwice. Then studies in the National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow began and acting, to which he dedicated his life. He didn’t give up music, though – the list of instruments he plays enriched itself in saxophone (he used that skill in films and theatre), while a few years ago he started learning to play cello.

He appeared a number of times on the stage of AMU Concert Hall, as well as the auditorium of National Philharmonic, during the concerts of Poznan Philharmonic, which he enriched with narration.

The questions can be sent by an internet form till the 8th of May: the form

The answers to the most interesting inquiries will appear on our website and Facebook profile on the 13th of May. We encourage you to pose questions!

We present you three pictures which received the majority of votes in the contest for music lovers: “Philharmonic…. In your photograph”.

1st place was given to the picture of smiling musicians of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and equally pleased Carl Davies – famous British conductor and composer who led our Orchestra for the 2nd time during one of the outdoor concerts which usually gather thousands of listeners.

2nd place was awarded to the photo entitled “Our Great Resident and My Son – His Big Fan”. The author of the picture captured the moment when one of our young music lovers (and at the same time an admirer of the remarkable composer’s talent) approaches Rafał Blechacz, artist-in-residence of Poznan Philharmonic, right after he finished playing a musical piece.

3rd place was given to the photograph of the pipe organ in AMU Concert Hall – beautiful auditorium built over a hundred years ago and known in Europe from its perfect acoustics, as well as splendid Neo-Renaissance architecture, in which Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra has the pleasure to perform for you – our music lovers.

We cordially congratulate the authors of the winning photographs and we all thank you for the sent pictures and for your full commitment in the voting.

On Friday, the 8th of May, at the next INTERNET CONCERT you will have an opportunity to listen to Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22 by Henryk Wieniawski performed by Bomsori Kim and Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as “Krzesany” by Wojciech Kilar in the interpretation of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. Both works were conducted by Maestro Marek Pijarowski. The concert was held in the Konzerthaus Berlin on the 23rd of October 2018 and it was broadcast by national German radio program Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

We encourage you to read the introduction to the program of the concert.

Henryk Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880), a violinist from Lublin educated in Paris, started his brilliant virtuoso career at the age of 11. Enthusiastically received in Europe and America, he was considered to be one of the most eminent performers and was admired by his excellent technique, passionate and energetic. Like other virtuosos of the era, Wieniawski also composed pieces he could perform himself. Though many of the works written by the others fell into oblivion, his artistic output survived to our day and appears in the repertoire of violinists all over the world. Out of two violin concertos by Wieniawski (probably his best works) Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22 is performed more frequently and regarded as more mature and more original. Other famous works of this composer are: Légende, Scherzo-Tarantelle, Kujawiak, Polonaises in D Major and A Major, mazurkas “Obertas” and “Dudziarz”, as well as Études-Caprices which are equivalent to Niccolo Paganini’s Caprices. The works of Wieniawski were published in almost 80 publishing houses in Europe and the United States, and the total number of issues reaches 600!

Wojciech Kilar: Krzesany

“Krzesany” by Wojciech Kilar (1932-2013) is an entrancing hit popular on all the continents. The word “krzesany” means a group of dance steps characteristic for highlander dances that includes striking one’s heels while jumping. The piece, written in 1974, was a real breakthrough in Wojciech Kilar’s artistic output, as his prior works were more avant-garde – mostly composed in the movement of sonorism. Wojciech Kilar, however, was greatly inspired by the whole range of elements deriving from highlander folk music, thus after “Krzesany” also other pieces influenced by this region appeared: “Kościelec 1909”, “Grey Mist”, “Orawa”. As the composer himself said about the piece, ‘the advantage of “Krzesany” is that it defends oneself from bad interpretations. They can’t harm it much, as it has a kind of multi-circuit security system found in cars or planes: even if one effect fails, we still have many more, etc. Luckily this work, which requires a large orchestral apparatus, is performed by excellent orchestras…’

Justyna Kroschel

(excerpt of the program of the concert in Konzerthaus Berlin, 23rd of October 2018)

We invite you to listen to the musical surprise prepared by our musicians: Marcin Suszycki, concertmaster of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Michał Francuz, who has been cooperating with our ensemble for many years now. On the 250th birthday anniversary of the maestro from Bonn the musicians will perform his Romance in F major.

We would like to thank Wojciech Jeliński for video editing and Eryk Kozłowski for audio editing.

On Sunday, 3rd of May at 6 p.m., we invite you for another musical surprise prepared for the music lovers by the musicians of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and the artists who cooperate with it. This time on our website we will give you an opportunity to listen to the violinist Marcin Suszycki, concertmaster of Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Michał Francuz, who has been cooperating with our ensemble for many years. On the 250th birthday anniversary of the maestro from Bonn the musicians will perform his Romance in F major.

Romance in F Major No. 2, Op. 50 is one of the two works of this type written by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was originally arranged for violin with the accompaniment of an orchestra composed of a flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two French horns and strings. This roughly 10-minute-long piece is known for numerous arrangements for different instruments, but the most popular version is the one for violin and piano. There is no need to convince anybody of the beauty of that miniature. Although Romance in F Major for Violin and Piano was composed by Beethoven approximately three years before the famous “Spring” Sonata for Violin and Piano (also in F Major) – isn’t Romance like a flower in a May bouquet?

The musicians of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, missing the contact with the audience, would like to share with the music lovers the joy of music-making, though not yet in the orchestral form.

We welcome you to listen to Szymon Guzowski, the double bass player and soloist of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, who plays a self-composed cadence to the Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra No. 2 by Karl Ditter von Dittersdorf.

The virtuoso cadence in the instrumental concerts of the 18th century, which existed mainly in the form of the coda of the first, fast movement, was the moment for the solo performer to show his skills. Initially the cadences were improvised, then – written down by the virtuosos of particular instruments.

The Concerto for Double Bass composed by the 18th century Austrian composer Karl Ditter von Dittersdorf (1739-1799) is one of more than 20 concerts he wrote for solo instruments and orchestra. Von Dittersdorf, being an active violinist himself, also left behind over 40 operas and 100 symphonies. He is also one of the most important authors of singspiel (one of his works, “Doktor und Apotheker”, is staged until now). What’s the most characteristic in the composer’s style is the transition from baroque to classicistic style – the evolving figurations are replaced by distinctly diversified melodic sections.

We would like to invite you to take part in the continuation of the unusual event based on the popular Q&A (questions and answers) formula. This time the responses to your inquiries will be given by Daniel Stabrawa.

When the young, 28-year-old Polish violinist Daniel Stabrawa began his job in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983, he thought that the dream of his lifetime was fulfilled. However, that was only the beginning – three years later he became first concertmaster of this ensemble, which is one of the most excellent and most famous orchestras in the world, and this choice was made personally by the then chef of the orchestra – Herbert von Karajan.

And he has been holding the post of the first concertmaster and soloist until today. Music lovers from Poznan know him as an eminent violinist and conductor, for the musician feels comfortable both with the group of violins – in the orchestra and as a soloist – and with the baton. We could admire both of these talents during the concerts of Daniel Stabrawa with Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra.

The arist led the Chamber Orchestra of Berliner Philharmoniker on numerous occasions in the most prestigious concert halls in the world. He is also the first violinist of Philharmonia Quartet Berlin, which has rapidly gained global recognition and renown. The critics count him among the world’s elite of this kind of ensembles, as one of the American reviewers even wrote: ‘it assigns the international artistic standard of quartets’.

The questions can be sent by an internet form till the 1st of May: the form

The answers to the most interesting inquiries will appear on our website and Facebook profile on the 6th of May.

We encourage you to pose questions!

Next Friday, on the 24th of April at 7 p.m. during the subsequent INTERNET CONCERT you will have an opportunity to listen to Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 by Ludwig van Beethoven performed by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra led by Tadeusz Strugała. The concert, which marked the 60th anniversary of Tadeusz Strugała’s artistic work, was held on the 18th of December 2015 in AMU Concert Hall in Poznan. The film recording was done by INEA company.

We encourage you to read the introduction to the program of the concert.

Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60

Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 by Ludwig van Beethoven, which was completed in 1806 and performed for the first time a year later in Vienna, contrasts significantly with two revolutionary symphonies of the composer written in the same period – Symphony No. 3 in E flat major Eroica and Symphony No. 5 in C minor. It is hard to seek hidden serious, nonmusical content referring to grand ideas in this unusually cheerful and bright Symphony, as opposed to the two aforementioned works. This piece is indicated as a Haydn-type Symphony, with a characteristic longer introduction before the first movement, classical symmetry, well-balanced sound of all the instrumental sections, as well as the typical four-movement form involving sonata-allegro, slow movement, minuet (it is worth mentioning that in the previous symphonies Beethoven replaced it with scherzo) and Finale in the form of a rondo.

First movement, although it opens with a somber Adagio introduction, not consistent with the rest of the piece (some point it out as an example of Beethoven’s musical irony), soon clears up in Allegro vivace. Two joyful and classically contrasting themes are introduced here. The optimistic mood of the allegro will dominate till the end of the Symphony, including the second movement (Adagio). This part, however, due to its slower tempo is filled with more lyrical themes – it is worth to focus on the melodious clarinet theme. Third movement (Allegro vivace) enlivens the symphony after the soothing second movement. Though formally a minuet, it diverges from classical minuets by Joseph Haydn or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart owing to the agility of the themes and unique syncopated, slightly folk rhythmic. Finale – Allegro ma non troppo – is a rondo filled with musical joke, chiefly in the humourous parts played by woodwinds. The whole movement shows vigorous motility evoked by perpetually fragmented rhythm. At the end of the finale Beethoven unexpectedly turns the volume down in the whole orchestra in order to wittily introduce the tutti chords of the cadence.

Jakub Kasperski

(excerpt of the program of the concert, 18th of December 2015)

Double album of “Milda” & ”Nijoła” cantatas by Stanisław Moniuszko appeared on the May list of best CD album chosen by the prestigious British magazine devoted to classical music – Gramophone.

“Milda” and “Nijoła”, now almost unknown cantatas composed by Stanisław Moniuszko, were recorded by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra along with the soloists: Wioletta Chodowicz (soprano), Maria Jaskulska-Chrenowicz (soprano), Ewa Wolak (mezzosoprano), Sylwester Smulczyński (tenor), Robert Gierlach (baritone), Szymon Kobyliński (basso) and Opera and Philharmonic Choir prepared by Violetta Bielecka. The whole piece was conducted by Łukasz Borowicz. The album, which was the world phonographic premiere, was released by DUX label in October 2019.

Both cantatas refer to Lithuanian mythology and are based on “Witolorauda” – first part of the “Anafelias” epic poem by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, who also wrote the libretto for “Milda”.

The Gramophone list of ten CDs of May include such albums as “Górecki – String Quartet No. 3/ Sonata for Two Violins” performed by Tippett Quartet (Naxos) and “Adès – Piano Concerto. Totentanz” played by Kirill Gerstein (piano) and Boston Symphony Orchestra led by Thomas Adès (DG).  

More details here: The best new classical albums: Editor’s Choice, May 2020

Do you come to concerts? Do you go with Poznan Philharmonic Friends’ Club for concerts of its orchestra outside Poznan? Do you take your photo camera or use a smartphone? Not during concerts of course, as its strictly forbidden then. But maybe you succeeded in taking a photo shoot of an interesting (or funny?) moment connected with the performance, an unforgettable time of meeting your favourite artist, something that takes a special place in your memory – share it with us. Send us a photo (maximum two) with a one-sentence description informing what it depicts, and we will post it on our Facebook profile and ask music lovers to assess them. The authors of three photographs with the largest amount of “likes” will receive a musical surprise reward.

Please send the photos to the following address: sekretariat@filharmoniapoznanska.pl till the end of April. The results of the competition are on the 5th of May.