Kulka | Strahl | Jabłoński

In Poland, musical life or rather one filled with competition and music, is marked by two great events of international importance: the Chopin Competition and the Wieniawski Competition. These peculiar "olympics" for pianists and violinists arouse in music lovers almost sporting emotions, especially in recent times thanks to social media and easy access to the broadcasts of the auditions. During the competition, for a month or so, each listener – regardless of their own musical experience – becomes a specialist in the music of Fryderyk Chopin and Henryk Wieniawski.

In the five-year break between these events, it is worth recalling the music of both patrons of the musical trials. To the atmosphere of the competitions listeners will certainly be transferred by two polonaises: A-flat major Op. 53 by Chopin and Polonaise de Concert in D major Op. 4 by Wieniawski, two flagship performances by contestants.

In the interpretation by Konstanty Andrzej Kulka (violin), Tomasz Strahl (cello) and Krzysztof Jabłoński (piano), a less known intimate view of Chopin's work will be presented. His Piano Trio in G minor Op. 8 is still a youthful composition from 1829, and its numerous fragments were written in the village of Antonin, located in present-day Lesser Poland Province, during his stay with Prince Antoni Radziwiłł – the addressee of the dedication. The creation of the Introduction and the Polonaise in C major Op. 3 for piano and cello is also connected with Radziwiłł, an amateur cellist. Although this piece was ultimately dedicated by Chopin to the excellent cellist Joseph Merck from Vienna, he made his first sketches in Antonin where he played with the prince.

Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 65 for piano and cello, a late cello work by Chopin written during his exile in 1846-1847, was also created having a wonderful virtuoso for this instrument, August Franchomme, in mind. The four-movement composition is an example of the fully formed mature style of the composer, announcing late-romantic solutions, especially in terms of harmony, and in highly contrasted movements carrying a strong emotional charge.