Violinissimo. Pearls of contemporary music

Violinissimo. Pearls of contemporary music is an opportunity to get to know the repertoire of violin chamber music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Grażyna Bacewicz's Caprys Polski for solo violin from 1949 is one of the most popular and virtuosic works in the composer's oeuvre, while her String Quartet for four violins is distinguished above all by a perfect sense of violin texture and clear form. As a violinist, Bacewicz wrote the parts in a way that perfectly exposed the sound qualities of the instruments. Another work that will be performed during the concert is Cadenza for solo violin by Krzysztof Penderecki. The composition was originally created as a complement and decoration of the Concerto for viola and orchestra, subsequently becoming an independent, demanding concert piece. The work represents the composer's mature neo-romantic style, moving away from early sonoristic experiments. We will also hear a miniature masterpiece by Béla Bartók — a selection of several duets from the collection 44 Duets for two violins. The work was created in 1931, and although it was originally intended for schoolchildren, it quickly gained the status of a unique, mature concert literature, in which folklore is combined with modern harmony. In addition, two rare works of violin literature will be performed during the evening: Adagio and Toccata for two violins by Waldemar Wróblewski and Trio for three violins by American composer Paul Trapkus.