International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra

“A great work of art is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty” – the legendary mentor of musicians Nadia Boulanger once said. Indeed, the extraordinary relationship between master and disciple is one of the most important bonds in classical music, and it is this relationship that this concert explores. It was from Rimsky-Korsakov’s famous composition class that both Sergei Rachmaninoff and Witold Maliszewski emerged, and the latter became the venerated master of one of the greatest Polish composers of the 20th century – Witold Lutosławski. From Rachmaninoff’s famous Symphonic Dances, through Maliszewski’s virtuoso Kuyavian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra to Lutosławski’s Little Suite – all these pieces also explore the theme of dance, which each of them approaches in a completely different way.

"It’s impressive how good a youth orchestra can sound" wrote a critic of Tagespiegel after the Berlin performance of the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra. Famous for its interpretations full of youthful energy, the ensemble is one of only a few international youth orchestras in Europe. Its line-up is made of the most talented young classical musicians from around the world, selected during annual auditions from hundreds of applications. ILYO has been playing continuously since 2013. It has performed on such prestigious stages as: the Berlin Konzerthaus (2022) during the Young Euro Classic Festival (this concert was broadcast by the Deutschlandfunk Kultur radio), in the National Forum of Music in Wrocław (2023) and the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice (2024). In all these venues it was rewarded by the audience with an enthusiastic applause and critic’s acclaim. The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra will be led by maestro Przemysław Neumann – director and chief conductor of the Szczecin Philharmonic, which is the organizer of the project. Aleksandra Świgut will appear as soloist. Winner of prestigious piano competitions, including the Grieg Competition in Bergen and the Chopin Competition on Period Instruments in Warsaw, Świgut is one the most talented Polish pianists of her generation.

A short documentary about the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra: