Dębice Roots: Penderecki 93

The world-famous Finnish cellist Arto Noras, the outstanding soprano Julia Malik and the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra named after Jerzy Semkow under the baton of Jurek Dybał will perform in Dębica during the Gala Concert “PENDERECKI 93”. The event, organized on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Prof. Krzysztof Penderecki, will take place on November 22, 2026 at 18:00 at the Mors Cultural Center. The concert will be one of the main events of the 5th edition of the International Festival “Dębickie Roots” Krzysztof Penderecki in memoriam.

This year's Gala Concert will be a musical tribute to the composer born in Dębica, whose work has permanently entered the history of world music. On the eve of the 93rd anniversary of the Master's birthday, which falls on November 23, the audience will hear a program combining the works of two outstanding composers: Krzysztof Penderecki and Jean Sibelius. The meeting of Polish and Finnish music will become an opportunity to present the diverse faces of European symphonic work.

The special guest of the concert will be Arto Noras, one of the most outstanding cellists of his generation. The Finnish artist, winner of the 2nd prize of the Peter Tchaikovsky International Cello Competition in Moscow, has been performing on the most prestigious stages of the world for more than six decades. He had many years of artistic cooperation with Krzysztof Penderecki. Noras performed the Master's compositions under his personal baton on four continents. In Dębica, he will present Penderecki's Largo for cello and orchestra — a work that is one of the highlights of the Gala Concert program.

The soprano part in the symphonic poem Luonnotator by Jean Sibelius will be performed by Julia Malik — an artist with international concert and opera activities, performing at festivals and stages in Europe and Asia. The soprano is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Krakow, and previously graduated from cello studies in Hamburg in the class of Prof. Arto Noras.

Behind the conductor's desk will be Jurek Dybał, a renowned conductor, musician of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and long-time collaborator of Krzysztof Penderecki. The artist conducted numerous performances and premieres of the composer's works, and also took over the musical direction of the staging of the opera Ubu Rex at the Silesian Opera. He is the originator and director of the Krzysztof Penderecki International Festival — Level 320 in Zabrze. During the Dębic concert, the audience will also hear a suite from the opera Ubu Rex, prepared by Jurek Dybał.

The Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra named after Jerzy Semkow will perform — an ensemble bringing together talented young instrumentalists, realizing a rich symphonic repertoire and cooperating with renowned artists of Polish and international shows.

The program of the “PENDERECKI 93” Gala Concert was built around the works of two outstanding composers whose music occupies an important place in European culture.

The evening will open Finland Op. 26 by Jean Sibelius — one of the composer's most recognizable symphonic poems, which is a musical symbol of Finnish national identity. Then there will be Luonop. 70, a symphonic poem for soprano and orchestra, inspired by Finnish mythology contained in the national epic of Kaleval.

The first part of the concert will culminate with Krzysztof Penderecki's Largo for cello and orchestra performed by Arto Noras.

After the break, Swan from Tuoneli from Jean Sibelius's Lemminkäinen suite op. 22 will be played, and the evening will be the finale of the evening with a suite from Krzysztof Penderecki's Ubu Rex opera by Jurek Dybał, showing the expressive, grotesque and theatrical imagination of the Master's work.

The International Festival “Dębickie Roots” Krzysztof Penderecki in memoriam has for five editions reminded of the musical heritage of one of the most outstanding contemporary composers, whose life and work will forever remain linked to his family Dębica.

The concert “PENDERECKI 93” will be a special expression of the memory of the Master, and at the same time a meeting with the artists who co-created the history of performances of his works on the world stages. It is also an opportunity to present symphonic music at the highest artistic level to the public of Dębica.

Organizers: City of Dębica and Municipal Cultural Centre in Dębica

The 5th edition of the International Festival “Dębickie Roots” — Krzysztof Penderecki in memoriam takes place under the Honorary Patronage of the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Władysław Ortyl.

The Gala Concert “PENDERECKI 93” takes place under the patronage of Dominika Penderecka.

The festival is co-financed by the Regional House of Culture in Rzeszów.

Partner of the concert is the International Festival Level 320 named after Prof. Krzysztof Penderecki in Zabrze.