15.03.2005 Tuesday 8.00 p.m.
Opening Concert
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Missa solemnis D-dur op. 123
Marina Mescheriakova - soprano
Cornelia Kallisch - mezzosoprano
Peter Galliard - tenor
Reinhard Hagen - bass
Bogdan Gola - choirmaster
Jacek Kaspszyk - conductor
Choir of the Grand Theatre
Orchestra of the Grand Theatre
Grand Theatre - National Opera
1 Teatralny Square
Missa Solemnis, the biggest vocal-instrumental piece by Beethoven was widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in 19th century religious music. George R. Marek, the author of famous Beethoven’s biography who labeled these years of Beethoven’s life as „a philisophical period” wrote: On the Ninth Symphony he signposts a route to the philosophy of everyday and social life, while in Missa Solemnis he tries to explore the ‘unexplored territory’ and tackles the question which everyone asks on their own. One piece concerns human behavior, while the other the aspiration of his soul. No distinct boundary between the philosophy of one and the other work needs to be drawn, however: in the Ninth we can hear of the Creator who lives under the stars and in the Mass of the almost realistic echos of wars which Beethoven had experienced”. Beethoven himself writes in the headline of the score: “From heart – may it find it’s way to heart.” For a long time the piece was considered to be very difficult to listen to as well as to perform it. The number of tough singing parts requires the artists of the highest quality. During tonight’s concert we will hear: Russian soprano Marina Mescheriakova one of the exciting opera voices, Cornelia Kallisch, presently the best German mezzosoprano and German bass Reinhard Hagen, regularly performing at the most prestigous European opera stages. They will be accompanied by Choir and Orchestra of the Grand Theatre under the baton of Jacek Kaspszyk, the director of the Grand Theatre – National Opera.
16.03.2005 Wednesday 5.00 p.m.
Piano recital
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata in D minor Op. 31/2
Piano Sonata in A minor Op. 101
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata in B- flat major D 960
Stephen Kovacevich - piano
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
The differences between the judge of Romanticism weren’t that visible like in the history of music in any other kind of the history of art. Some of the historians considered Romanticism as a current opposite to the Classicism while others saw the continuation and development of Classicism in it. Beethoven and Schubert met at the turn of these two epochs. Beethoven dies a year before Schubert. The first closes the era of Classicism, the latter opens Romanticism. They both practiced sonata form. How much of common musical contents do Beethoven’s and Schubert’s sonatas have? The distinctive feature of Schubert was lyricism while Beethoven’s – the drama of expression. But even in the music of the last great classic we can find lyricism. Let’s listen for instance to the Piano sonata “Tempest”. Or maybe Beethoven was yet the first great romantic.
16.03.2005 Wednesday 8.00 p.m.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Die Ruinen von Athen Op.113
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Finlandia op.26
Edward Grieg (1843-1907)
Piano concerto in A minor Op. 16
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony in D major No.104 „London”
Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Capriccio Espagnol op. 34
Peter Jablonski - piano
John Neal Axelrod - conductor
Sinfonietta Cracovia
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall
10 Sienkiewicza St.
The whole history of European art can be the proof of the penetration and swapping of the Northern and Southern elements.
In every phase of the history of music and on each territory of European culture these two “syndromes of features” were equally vital – either opposite to each other or unified. The history of music, were molded by the sagas of the North and the romances of the South, by the Dutch motets and Italian madrigals. The creators of the North were often fascinated with the South and those from the South were attracted by the North. In that way Beethoven composes Die Ruinen von Athen and Haydn his London Symphony. But first of all the composers composed music which expressed the atmosphere, the character and the spirit of its own “place in the world”. In this way many pieces were created, such as Finlandia by Sibelius or I Pini di Roma by Respighi.
17.03.2005 Thursday 8.00 p.m.
Alban Berg (1885-1935)
Sieben Frühe Lieder
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor
Christiane Iven - mezzo-soprano
Jonathan Nott - conductor
Bamberger Symphoniker
Grand Theatre - National Opera
1 Teatralny Square
Almost at the same time, when the scandal connected with the fact of the premiere of The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky broke out in Paris, there was a big fall out during the concert of Berg’s songs in Vienna. They were considered as shocking with radical music and obscene text. Mahler songs were also performed during the same concert. Because the music of those two Vienna composers combine well. That composers both are rape, radical, dense and very emotional. What else?
18.03.2005 Friday 5.00 p.m.
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
Herr, unser Herrscher SWV 27
O misericordissime Jesu SWV 309
O bone, o dulcis, o benigne Jesu SWV 53
Et ne despicias SWV 54
Exultavit cor meum SWV 258
Mein Sohn, warum hast du uns das getan SWV 401
Veni, sancte Spiritus SWV 475
Eile, mich, Gott, zu erretten SWV 282
Die mit Tränen säen SWV 378
Die Himmel erzählen SWV 386
Buccinate in neomenia tuba SWV 275
Jubilate Deo SWV 276
Vater unser SWV 411
Magnificat anima mea Dominum SWV 468
Hans Michael Beuerle - conductor
Anton-Webern-Chor Freiburg
Les Cornets Noirs Basel
Evangelic-Augsburg Church
1 Malachowskiego Square
„Oratio Harmoniae domina absolutissima” – “Speach is the absolute ruler of the Harmony” – said Claudio Monteverdi, one of the most distinguished composers of early Baroque. This sentence expresses the changes, which were done in music at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. Vocal music went always ahead instrumental music. Indeed the 17th century was the time of great emancipation of instrumental music, but in fact the singing was the reference point for all of musical creation in Baroque. Vocal pieces of that period have a deep meaning. Thanks to the text they became the most important expressive and dramatic tool of music. Especially in religious music, of which one of the main exponents of the epoch was the most notable German composer of the 18th century Heinrich Schütz. He wrote almost exclusively sacral pieces in which he used polyphonic choirs, like in Symphoniae Sacrae or Cantiones Sacrae. The music of Schütz is very emotional. It is mainly about to expressing the words in a very exact way, e.g. of psalm or gospel. He vocal music by Schütz from polyphonic to the concert style was an inspiration for the next generations of composers. Because thanks to the texts Schütz’s pieces are something more than just music.
18.03.2005 Friday 8.00 p.m.
Boris Pergamenschikow - in memoriam
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
String quartet No. 8 in C minor
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-)
Viola concerto cello version (transcription Boris Pergamenschikow)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 5 in E flat major op. 82
Claudio Bohórquez - cello
Krzysztof Penderecki - conductor
Bamberger Symphoniker
Grand Theatre - National Opera
1 Teatralny Square
Concert dedicated to the eminent cellist Boris Pergamenschikov who died last year and who was the first performer of Penderecki’s Viola concerto - cello version in 1994. That’s why we can find this piece in the programme of the evening opposite the symphonies by Shostakovich and Sibelius. The soloist, Claudio Bohórquez, one of the best contemporary young cello virtuosos, former pupil of Pergamenschikov, will perform with the famous for the last 60 years Bamberger Symphoniker orchestra and with the most distinguished contemporary Polish composer and a notable conductor Krzysztof Penderecki.
19.03.2005 Saturday 12.00 noon
Vocal recital
Edward Grieg (1843-1907)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Selected songs
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
4 Arietten Op. 82
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
Siete canciones populares espanolas
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
Olga Pasiecznik - soprano
Natalia Pasiecznik - piano
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
The song has always been the basic form of musical expression. It was known in the ancient Greece, where it was sung accompanied by the lyre. In the Middle Ages there appeared wandering musicians, who sang with the accompaniment of the lute. The song was widely practiced by the composers of Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. In the 2nd half of the 18th century in German environment solo song with piano accompaniment came into being. The pick of the song development was in Romanticism. The 20th century was the time of experimenting with articulation and expression in songs. Composers often group their songs in sets merging the songs having similar melodics and motives. In that way many song cycles were created such as German by Grieg, Spanish by de Falla or Greek by Ravel.
19.03.2005 Saturday 4.00 p.m.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto per archi in G minor RV 156
Concerto per violoncello in D minor
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Concerto Brandenburghese in D major No. 5, BWV 1050
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Sonata No. 12 in D minor „La Follia” a due violini e.b.c. Op. 1 RV 63
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Suite No. 2 in B minor BWV 1067
I Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
Bach and Vivaldi were almost the same age but yet their outputs are completely different musical worlds. What is the difference between them besides the fact, that one of them was created at the North while the other one at the South of the Old World? I Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca, one of the most famous early music ensembles in the world, performing the music on period instruments will tell us the story about that differences. Their CD with the Vivaldi’s string concertos and with Four Seasons was a bestseller and it is considered as an ideal interpretation by many experts and music lovers. This time we will hear light and vital Baroque music: the most famous Concerto Brandenburghese in D major No. 5 by Bach, his Suite B Minor which is full of humoristic moment not often seen in Bach’s music and energetic pieces by Vivaldi.
19.03.2005 Saturday 8.00 p.m.
Concert realised in collaboration with Bonn Beethoven Festival
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Corsair Overture Op. 21
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Piano Concerto in G major
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
Garrick Ohlsson - piano
Christoph von Dohnányi - conductor
Norddeutscher Rundfunk Orchester
Grand Theatre - National Opera
1 Teatralny Square
The dazzling career of Garrick Ohlsson actually began in Poland when in 1970 the artist
won the first prize at the 8th International Chopin Competition. Although that American pianist visits the country on the Vistula river quite often, his concerts there are always a great artistic event. This time in Warsaw we can also listen to: Christoph von Dohnányi, one of the best contemporary conductors, adding splendor to the biggest opera theatres and philharmonics in the world and the Norddeutscher Rundfunk Orchester (for the first time in Poland), whose musical paths have taken it to the best concert halls in the all five continents for at least the half of the century.
20.03.2005 Sunday 12.00 noon
Piano recital
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano sonata C minor op. 13 „Pathetic”
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Two Intermezzos Op. 118
Maurice Ravel (1811-1886)
Gaspard de la nuit
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Alma Brasileira
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Piano Sonata No 2. in B flat minor Op. 36
Cristina Ortiz - piano
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
Piano recitals have their own great charm. The chamber form of the recital fascinates – only the listener and the piano. The instrument itself charms – with the variety of colors, shades, the richness of the harmony and dynamics. And finally the performer charms, who can smile, be angry, hesitate, think, intrigue. And if we listen to the performer such as the Brazilian pianist Cristina Ortiz we can be sure, that we will be richer in the musical way but also that we will be more optimistic. That will be the influence of the passion and exuberance of the renditions of the pianist. Be optimistic, come to listen to the concert.
20.03.2005 Sunday 8.00 p.m.
Symphonic concert
Charles Ives (1874-1954)
The Unanswered Question
Bela Bartók (1881-1945)
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 7 in A major op. 92
Christoph von Dohnányi - conductor
Norddeutscher Rundfunk Orchester
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall
10 Sienkiewicza St.
Christoph von Dohnányi, one of the best conductors worldwide and the famous Norddeutscher Rundfunk Orchester are known for their sensational interpretations of great operatic and orchestral pieces. That’s why the evening with their performances of the three masterpieces of the symphonic music will be unforgettable. Because how to erase from the memory The unanswered question, a very mystic piece by Ives, which breaks down all the musical stereotypes and conventions, Music for string, percussion and celesta, where Bartok used various instrumentation, creating interesting space and color effects and finally Symphony No. 7 by Beethoven, which was called the “apotheosis of dance” by Richard Wagner?
21.03.2005 Monday 5.00 p.m.
Chamber concert
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
String Quartet in A minor No. 2 op. 13
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
String Quartet in E minor
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
String quartet in A minor op. 132
Leipziger Streichquartett
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
Amidst the 15 symphonic concerts within one festival the afternoon with the chamber music is almost a necessary rest for ear. Those who want wants hot musical emotions, won’t be disappointed as Leipziger Streichquartett is one the best contemporary string quartets. It specializes in the performances of the famous chamber music by Beethoven. Famous, because the composer revolutionized the form of the quartet, improving its structure, facture, the meanings, dynamics, creating completely new colors from the homogenous sound of the quartet. The quartets by Mendelssohn and Verdi, the great opera creator are much less known. But these composers also have a lot to say as far as string quartets.
21.03.2005 Monday 8.00 p.m.
Concert for the 50th Anniversary of Creative
Work of Tadeusz Strugała
Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909)
Lithuanian Rhapsody op. 11
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Triple Concerto in C major op. 56
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor op. 68
Akiko Suwanai - violin
David Geringas - cello
Ian Fountain - piano
Tadeusz Strugała - conductor
Sinfonia Varsovia
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall
10 Sienkiewicza St.
The concert to mark the 50 anniversary of the career of the great Polish conductor, renowned for his promotion of Polish music in the world Tadeusz Strugała will bring many unforgettable artistic emotions. Remarkably talented violinist Akiko Suwanai, the youngest winner of the famous International Tchaikovsky Competition (1990) in the history of that contest will perform in Poland for the first time during Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival. The Polish audience will also have a chance to hear for the first time the notable cellist David Geringas who is the winner of Tchaikovsky Competition as well. In the Triple concerto by Beethoven they will play together with Ian Fountain, the great pianist and many years associate of David Geringas. The soloists will be accompanied by the famous worldwide Polish orchestra Sinfonia Varsovia under the baton of Tadeusz Strugała. Besides Beethoven we can hear the music painted with dark colors – Lithuanian Rhapsody by Karłowicz and Symphony No. 1 by Brahms. It is going to be dim, extraordinary evening...
22.03.2005 Tuesday 5.00 p.m.
Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)
Trio in D major op.14 No. 4
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Suite in A major
Gideon Klein (1919-1945)
Trio (Theresienstadt)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Serenade in D major op.8
Deutsches Streichtrio
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
Sometimes three instrumentalists can tell more about music than a big symphony orchestra. Deutsches Streichtrio has been convincing the audience about it for at least 25 years now. This time the ensemble will show us the development of the string trio ranging from Classicism - Boccherini, through late Romanticism – Sibelius to the modern time – unusual, full of experimental microtonal harmony music by Klein. The concert tops the piece by Beethoven, whose chamber output was the inspiration for almost every later composer.
22.03.2005 Tuesday 8.00 p.m.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Overture to the ballet The Creatures of Prometheus Op. 43
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symfony E minor No 44
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Havanaise op. 83
Introduction et rondo capriccioso op. 28
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
The Swan of Tuonela op. 22/2
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1813-1847)
Violin concerto E minor op. 64
Wojciech Pławner - violin
So-Ock Kim - violin
Paweł Przytocki - conductor
Beethoven Academy Orchestra
Royal Castle - Grand Hall
4 Zamkowy Square
The concert presents young artists preforming at the best concert halls for a long time. At the age of nine So -Ock Kim appeared on BBC TV playing Mozart sonata and the following year she made her Royal Festival Hall debut, playing the finale of the Tchaikovsky concerto. Wojciech Pławner has been awarded the Publikums Prize at Internationales Kärntner Sparkasse Musikstipendium in Austria and a special award for the best performance of a contemporary music piece at the 11th International Johannes Brahms competition in Pörtschach in Austria. Paweł Przytocki has collaborated with Krakow Philharmonic, the Grand Opera Theatre in Lodz, the Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra in Gdańsk (where he has served as the Conductor and Music Director) and with many Polish and international orchestras. His recording of Rachmaninoff`s First Symphony has been appreciated by the American "La Folia Music Review Magazine" in a very special way. Beethoven Academy Orchestra is the new name of the orchestra created in 2003 and consisting of the most talented students from Kraków Music Academy. The orchestra has given concerts in Poland and abroad and has collaborated with the best Polish conductors of the young generation. As an initiative of Mrs. Elżbieta Penderecka the orchestra has recently been given the name “Beethoven Academy Orchestra” and it has become a part of the future project – Beethoven Academy, which will be constituted to help young and talented musicians.
23.03.2005 Wednesday 8.00 p.m.
Oratorio concert
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Mass in C minor KV 427
Completed by professor Robert Levin
Performings: New York, Stuttgart, Warsaw, Vienna
Simone Nold - soprano I
Stella Doufexis - soprano II
Woo-Kyung Kim - tenor
Markus Marquardt - bass
Helmuth Rilling - conductor
Gächinger Kantorei and Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall
10 Sienkiewicza St.
This exceptional project of the presentation of a new completion of Mass C Minor by Mozart prepared by professor Robert Levin commissioned by Carnegie Hall Choral Workshop in New York with the association of the famous orchestra Bachakademie Stuttgart and distinguished conductor and specialist at early music performances Helmut Rilling. The first concert will be held in Carnegie Hall in January 2005. The next concerts are in Stuttgart, in Poland – at Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival and in Musickverein in Vienna. In the Warsaw preformance we will hear soprano Simone Nold, a member of Deutsche Staatsoper in Berlin and soprano Juliane Banse, tenor Woo-Kyung Kim and bass Markus Marquardt as well as Gächinger Kantorei Chor and BachAkademie Stuttgart conducted by its founder Helmut Rilling.
24.03.2005 Thursday 5.00 p.m.
Chamber cocncert
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Divertimento in B-flat major KV 137
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Lachrymae Op. 48
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Suite No. 9 from Bachianas brasileiras
Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Andante cantabile Op. 11
Serenade C Major Op. 48
Yuri Bashmet - conductor, soloist
Vilnius Festival Orchestra
National Theatre
3 Teatralny Square
One concert – three journeys: to the North of Europe with Lachrymae by Britten, to the Central Europe with Divertimento by Mozart and to Brazil with Bachianas Brasilerias by Villa-Lobos. We will be taken there by: Yuri Bashmet, one of the best contemporary viola players, who performs with the best world orchestras as a soloist and conductor and Vilnus Festival Orchestra, the ensemble representing the best traditions of Lithuanian string school. The musicians are renowned for their expressive performances. So when they start to light fires with English, Austrian and Brazilian music, the sky above Warsaw will be lit...
24.03.2005 Thursday 8.00 p.m.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano concerto No. 1 in D minor Op. 15
Piano concerto No. 2 in B-flat major Op. 83
Rudolf Buchbinder - piano
Antoni Wit - conductor
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall
10 Sienkiewicza St.
Brahms, one of the most popular composer of the 19th century used to say that he was born to late as a composer. In that way he expressed his attachment to tradition, his fondness of to Baroque and classicistic forms and styles. He derived from Bach and Beethoven instead of following programmatic current presents in the music of the 2nd half of the 19th century. The effect was melancholic, dark music and very tense type of sounding. His piano concerts sound monumental, they have symphonic character. The piano became the fully fit partner for the orchestra in those pieces. For his contemporaries Brahms was traditional. And what does his music sound looking at it from the perspective of the 21st century? Let’s check.
25.03.2005 Friday 8.00 p.m.
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Stabat Mater
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
War Requiem op. 66
Bożena Harasimowicz-Haas - soprano
Agnieszka Rehlis - mezzo-soprano
Wojciech Drabowicz - baritone
Gweneth-Ann Jeffers - soprano
Daniel Norman - tenor
Wojciech Drabowicz - baritone
Gabriel Chmura - conductor
Henryk Wojnarowski - choirmaster
Krzysztof Kusiel-Moroz - choirmaster
Warsaw Boys' Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Grand Theatre - National Opera
1 Teatralny Square
In Stabat Mater and Requiem the most beautiful thing is something which is the simpliest: the expression of the feelings of the suffering man. Good Friday is a great time to concentrate, to pray, to think about music and its meaning and about its text. Let’s consider the words of Stabat Mater by Szymanowski. Instead of Latin text the composer used its Polish translation. Let’s listen to the text of Missa pro defunctis and to the poems by Wilfred Owen in Requiem by Britten, who opposes the war in this piece. Let’s flow with the severe harmonics, ascetic melodic, simple facture and transparent form. Such music surely awake our sensitivity.
Accompanying events
14.03.2005 Monday 12.00 noon
Inauguration of manuscripts exhibition
Beethoven between the Music of North and South
Curator: Agnieszka Mietelska-Ciepierska
Design: Lech Dziewulski
Open on: 15-18 March, 10:00-17:00
19 March, 10:00-15:00
Free admission
Jagiellonian Library
Mickiewicza 22 Street, Kraków
Since its first edition Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival has been famous for an exhibition of musicalia that are one of the treasures of the world’s cultural heritage. The audience could see priceless autographs of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Haydn, Mozart, Schumann, Szymanowski from the collections of National Library in Warsaw, Jagiellon Library in Cracow and Prussian Library, which exhibits are stored at Jagiellon Library. The history of this Prussian Library collection, mysterious for many years, dates back to the times of Friedrich Wilhelm who founded Prussian Library in the 17th century in Berlin. The attack of the Allies on Berlin during the Second World War forced German librarians to evacuate the collection. The most precious exhibits went to Lower Silesia. Finally, after many vicissitudes it ended up at Jagiellonian Library.
14.03.2005 Monday 2.00 p.m.
Concert for the exhibition
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata for cello and piano in A Major, Op. 69
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
Suite populaire espagnole
Arvo Part (1935 -)
“Spiegel im Spiegel” for cello and piano (1978)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata in E minor for cello and piano, Op. 38
Jeremy Findlay - cello
Elena Braslavsky - piano
Prussian Homage Hall in Sukiennice
Main Market Square, Kraków
For 10 years Findlay – Braslavsky Duo has performed classical music repertoire as well as contemporary music for cello and piano. This time the artists have chosen the repertoire which would lead the listener for a journey through tree epochs and four different styles being born in the Northern Europe (Beethoven, Brahms, Pärt) and in the South of the continent (de Falla). Classical Sonata for cello and piano in A Major, op. 69 by Beethoven proves his fondness of chamber forms. The Sonata was written in 1808, the time of great spur of symphony creation of the composer. That’s why we can hear in the piece the big volume of sound and colors. Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt is a very often performed piece and shows very original style of the composer such as transparent and consonant chords, severe sound and intime expression. Brahms, who closes the concert was one of the most popular composers of the 19th century. His popularity mainly concerns his symphonic music. But his chamber pieces are a real source of sounds and themes. Brahms was the master of melody line drawing and an admirer of dark sound, especially of such instruments as cello. His Sonata in E minor for cello and piano proves that perfectly.
17.03.2005 Thursday 5.00 p.m.
Inauguration of the exhibition Batons from the collection of Monika and Tadeusz Strugała - Dirigentis Instrumentum
Curator: Andrzej Sołtan
Design: Krzysztof Burnatowicz
Open 17 March-30 May
Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 – 18:00,
Wednesday and Friday 10:00 – 15:30,
Saturday and Sunday 10:30 – 16:30
Accompanying concert
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
String quartet E flat Major Op. 74 „Harp”
Royal String Quartet
Historic Museum of Warsaw,
Old Town Square 28/42, Warsaw
The collection of historical antique batons being in the hand of Monika and Tadeusz Strugała has been collected during last 40 years. Its probably the only collection of batons in Poland and one of the few in Europe.
Till today there has been presented three exhibits of the collection containing over 50 exhibits. In March 2005 during the 9th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival the collection will be presented in Historic Museum of Warsaw. The set is now increased by new, never shown exhibits such as the baton signed by one of the most famous conductor of the 20th century Arturo Toscanini.
The collection shows the development of baton – the attribute of conductor but also the baton’s makers care of the beauty of baton of its esthetics and appearance which help conductors to create the magical world of sounds.
21-22.03.2005 Monday-Tuesday 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
9th International Symposium
Beethoven between the Music of North and South
Chairperson - Prof. Mieczysław Tomaszewski
Participants - Joanna Biermann, Rainer Cadenbach, Marcin Gmys, Robert Hapten, Helmut Loos, Lina Navickaite, Wolfgang Osthoff, Glenn Stanley, Eero Tarasti
Zacheta - National Art. Gallery
3 Małachowski Square
Although the title of each year edition is different all of them are based on a fixed formula: solo, chamber, symphony and oratorio concerts are accompanied by an exhibition of sketches, manuscripts and first editions at the Jagiellonian Library. The whole is completed by International Musicological Symposium giving musical, scientific and humanistic view of Beethoven’s music and its influence on the art of other composers. The fruits of symposium are academic books documenting sessions reports (1st book contains reports from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2nd – from 2000, 2001, 2002) and published in two language versions: Polish and German.
22.03.2005 Tuesday 7.00 p.m.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor op. 13
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
String Quartet in E minor
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
String Quartet in A minor op. 132
Leipziger Streichquartett
Frederic Chopin Polish Baltic Philharmonic Hall
Gdańsk, Ołowianka 1 Street
Leipziger Streichquartett is one the best contemporary string quartets. It specializes in the performances of the famous chamber music by Beethoven. Famous, because the composer revolutionized the form of the quartet, improving its structure, facture, the meanings, dynamics, creating completely new colors from the homogenous sound of the quartet. The quartets by Mendelssohn and Verdi, the great opera creator are much less known. But these composers also have a lot to say as far as string quartets.
23.03.2005 Wednesday 7.00 p.m.
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Suite No. 9 from Bachianas Brasileiras
Gintaras Sodeika (1961 - )
Maranata
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Two Portraits
Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Andante cantabile Op. 11
Serenada C-dur Op. 48
Yuri Bashmet - conductor, soloist
Vilnius Festival Orchestra
Frederic Chopin Polish Baltic Philharmonic Hall
Gdańsk, Ołowianka 1 Street
One concert – three journeys: to the North of Europe with Two Portraits by Britten Maranata by Sodeika, to the East Europe with Andante cantabile and Serenada by Tchaikovsky and to Brazil with Bachianas Brasilerias by Villa-Lobos. We will be taken there by: Yuri Bashmet, one of the best contemporary viola players, who performs with the best world orchestras as a soloist and conductor and Vilnus Festival Orchestra, the ensemble representing the best traditions of Lithuanian string school. The musicians are renowned for their expressive performances. So when they start to light fires with English, Austrian and Brazilian music, the sky above Gdańsk will be lit...
