Songs that continue | Daroch | Chrenowicz | Opole Philharmonic Orchestra

Performers: Opole Philharmonic Orchestra

Tomasz Daroch — cello

Jakub Chrenowicz — conductor

Program: Antonín Dvořák — Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — 5 interludes to the drama “Thamos, King of Egypt” KV 345

Mieczysław Karłowicz — “Eternal Songs” Op. 10

One of the most beautiful cello concertos in the history of music, Mozart's dramatic tale set in ancient Egypt and a monumental symphonic poem by Mieczysław Karłowicz. The concert “Songs that last” will bring together three works in which emotions take on extremely diverse musical forms. We will hear both the lyrical and virtuosic melodies of Antonín Dvořák, as well as the theatrical tensions present in Mozart's music and the philosophical depth of the “Eternal Songs”, which is a composition that raises questions about love, transience and the place of man in the world.

The evening will open with Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104 — one of the most outstanding works in cello literature, composed between 1894 and 1895 during the composer's stay in the United States. The work combines symphonic momentum with the extraordinary lyricism of the solo part, in which virtuosic passages are intertwined with moments full of reverie and longing. Particularly personal is the finale of the concert, in which Dvořák evokes the melody of his own song Kéž duch můj (“Let me alone”), related to the memory of Josefina Čermáková, a person close to him who died while working on the work. The solo part will be performed by Tomasz Daroch — an outstanding cellist, winner of international competitions, including Grand Prix and 1st prize winner of the Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition.

In the second part of the concert, five interludes to the drama “Thamos, King of Egypt” KV 345 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will sound. The music was created for a theatrical performance set in the realities of ancient Egypt, telling about the struggle for power, love and moral choices. Here Mozart uses the possibilities of the orchestra to build tension and emphasize the dramatic nature of events. Varied dynamics, striking contrasts and rich instrumental colors give the individual fragments an almost stage character, showing a lesser-known face of the composer, going beyond the traditional forms of classical music.

The finale of the evening will be “Eternal Songs” Op. 10 by Mieczysław Karłowicz, one of the most important Polish symphonic poems of the early 20th century. The composition consists of three parts: Song of eternal longing, Song of love and death and Song of omnipresence. In them, Karłowicz takes up the topic of human existence, transience and the relationship of man with nature and the world around him. Extensive melodic phrases, rich instrumentation and increasing climaxes create a musical tale of a distinctly philosophical nature. Of particular importance is the final Song of Omniscience, in which earlier tensions give way to a sense of unity and inner solace. The work is one of the most characteristic achievements of Polish Late Romanticism, combining emotional intensity with symphonic momentum.

The Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra will perform on the stage of the Opole Philharmonic Orchestra — an ensemble with many years of tradition, performing on prestigious stages of Europe and the world, including the Vienna Musikverein. The orchestra will be conducted by Jakub Chrenowicz — first conductor and deputy director of the Opole Philharmonic, winner of the Jan Kiepura Theater Music Award.