The concert will begin with the famous
Heroic Overture by
Andrzej Panufnik (1914-1991). This piece was written shortly after the outbreak of World War II and is an expression of the composer's dream of Poland's victory in the fight against Germany in 1939, but also a tribute to the courage of the defenders of our homeland. The starting point for Panufnik was the theme from
Warszawianka, which was not only meant to reflect the patriotic spirit of Polish heroes, but also breathe optimism into the hearts of the audience.
Then, in the golden hall, we will hear the
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major by Franz Liszt, performed by the outstanding pianist
Theodosia Ntokou, an extremely talented virtuoso, protégé of the great Martha Argerich, with whom she recorded an album with Beethoven's music....
read more. Liszt's concerto in E flat major is iconic to the piano literature and is one of the most famous compositions of the Hungarian virtuoso. However, not many people know that it took him… 26 long years to complete the piece! Liszt created sketches of the main themes in 1830, when he was only 19 years old, while the official premiere of the work took place only in 1855. The composer himself sat behind the piano, and the orchestra was conducted by Hector Berlioz. Nevertheless, a year later, just before the publication of the piece, Liszt introduced further changes to the score. The final form of the concert was not published until 1856.
The second part of the evening will be filled with
Symphony No. 3 by Boris Lyatoshynsky (1894-1968), a Ukrainian composer, conductor and teacher. The last part of the work, completed in 1951, was entitled "Peace will defeat the war". And this exact title made Latoszyński's work come under the scrutiny of Soviet censorship. Forced to remove the title of the last part of the symphony and subjected to sharp criticism as a "bourgeois and anti-people" composer, Latoszyński struggled with depression for a long time. Today, his extraordinary Symphony No. 3 acquires additional meaning, becoming an extremely topical work.
The Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Maestro
Mikhail Agrest, known for his excellent interpretations of great symphonic and operatic works on the stages of, among others, the Metropolitan Opera, Mariinsky Theatre or the Royal Opera House in London...
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