Classicism from Different Sides

Though he was essentially self-taught, Karol Kurpiński became the most famous Warsaw conductor at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Under his baton, the young Chopin premiered his Piano Concerto in F minor. Kurpiński also left a rich compositional legacy, including operas such as his debut Two Cottages, from which only the overture has survived to this day. This overture showcases his extraordinary talent, with its rich instrumentation and excellent understanding of the orchestra.


At the same time, Domenico Dragonetti, perhaps the most famous double bassist of his time, was active in Venice. e was also a composer, although the Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in D major RECOncerto, which we will hear this evening, has a different author. It will be a reconstruction of Domenico Dragonetti's survived and very incomplete Allegro, based on a sketch found in the London library. Its author is Michał Bylina – a talented double bassist and composer, former member of our orchestra – who, as he himself admits, decided to give a second life to the sounds created by Dragonetti and build an entire three-part concert based on them. The piece is dedicated to his beloved son, Filip.

When Haydn arrived in London in 1791, he was treated like a superstar by English music lovers. There was fierce competition for seats at his concerts, and Oxford University awarded him an honorary doctorate in music. During the ceremony for this award, his Symphony No. 92 in G major was performed. Since then, it has been known as the <i>Oxford Symphony, although it was composed two years earlier in Paris. This work is from a mature composer, a true master of his craft, ideally in command of the musical material.

Excerpt from Haydn's Oxford Symphony performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Simon Rattle: