KISIELEWSKI | STRAUSS

Among the musical works of Stefan Kisielewski, we have selected for you one of the four most famous of his orchestral compositions. The Concerto for chamber orchestra from 1949 is a typically neoclassical work in which, like in other works, one can feel the specific idiom of the composer – a mocker, critic with a cut pen and an unusual individualist.


Stefan "Kisiel" Kisielewski came from a family where the skill of using words belonged to the tradition of several generations, hence perhaps the initial reserve with which little Stefan's parents approached their son's musical tendencies. Wrong. As it turned out later, he preferred literary work over musical work. I would write it quickly – just to start – Kisiel sighed, not finding time to work on the next piece.

Czesław Miłosz referred to him as a dear red monkey. During Stalinism, he joined the Party of Crazy Liberals founded by Leopold Tyrmand. After he was dismissed from work in 1953, he was offered to create an amateur orchestra in a psychiatric institution (as the last offer from People's Poland). He hasn't given up his whole life. Striving is more important than achievement because achievement is movement; achievement is stagnation. And he wrote – novels, texts, columns, articles. At first about music, then – about many things. Also, and perhaps above all, about Poland.

So when you listen to his Concerto for chamber orchestra, think that it was written by one of the most colourful people in our modern history. Today, Kisiel can become an inspiration for each of us. As he wrote: You can only act as long as you have dreams.