English
SlovenčinaPenderecki is another shining star in the constellation of the cultural year
He will not be the first world renowned personality to make Košice hearts beat faster this year, and to caress our ears with harmonious tones conjured by the masters of musical instruments. Lovers of good music can look forward to an exceptional concert, full of emotion and the virtuosity of artists under the baton of a composer who is one of the best in the world in contemporary classical music.
Music boom
“I’m very glad that Krzysztof Penderecki is coming to Košice in the year in which he will be celebrating his 80th birthday. He’s one of the brightest stars in contemporary music. At a time when his work calendar is literally packed with concerts all around the world, it’s literally a miracle that he’ll honour the Košice audience with his visit,” said the Director of the non-profit making organisation Košice 2013 – European Capital of Culture, Ján Sudzina, not hiding his excitement.
As he added, the second dimension is slightly personal. “I like listening to Polish contemporary music – by Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Górecki or Witold Lutoslawski. This will also fulfil my personal dream – to see him conduct live in Košice, although I have had the honour of seeing him once in Krakow.”
This year, Košice is enjoying a boom. “What we have achieved within the last decades was performances by composers such as Prokofiev, Bartók and Ysaÿe, which only happened over several years, but now we have several renowned musical personalities in one year. It can be compared to the time when Beethoven and Mozart came to Košice several centuries ago. Apart from the fact that Bent Sorensen has already been here, we will also host Toshio Hosokawa, Krzysztof Penderecki and Michael Jarrel, as well as almost one hundred contemporary composers during the autumn ISCM World New Music Days – the most significant worldwide presentation of contemporary classical music”, said the Director.
He is positive that this year will be written in the city’s history as a year when we had a concentration of excellent and renowned composers. It is almost unbelievable that this has been achieved. “This will certainly be of great significance for the city since composers living in Košice will have the opportunity to be compared with the current stars and have direct contact with them, which accelerates interest in music in Košice. It is an honour to attend such a concert.”
An oasis of freedom in arts
The Artistic Director of the residential ensemble, Barracks/Culture Park Quasars Ensemble, composer and piano virtuoso, Ivan Buffa, considers the arrival of the famous personality as the event of the year: “For me, he is one of the most prominent figures in Polish music, who symbolised an oasis in the freedom of arts to the whole of Europe, mainly via the Warsaw Autumn legendary festival, and was one of the inspirations and a rare opportunity for the whole region to encounter the ‘forbidden fruit’ of the West.”
The Polish composer is coming to St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral on 5th September to present his works personally. He will conduct pieces including Agnus Dei from the “Polish Requiem” (a version for a string orchestra – arr. Boris Pergamenschikow), Viola Concerto (version for the cello – arr. Boris Pergamenschikow), Sinfonietta per archi, Sinfonietta No. 3 (string quartet No. 3 – version for a string orchestra), Serenade for string orchestra, Ciaccona in memoriam John Paul II. for a string orchestra (from the “Polish Requiem”).
To enjoy a live concert from a unique composer, which Krzysztof Penderecki undoubtedly is, is the experience of a lifetime. It will be organised by the European Capital of Culture Košice 2013, which has prepared the concert in cooperation with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Tickets are available from TICKETPORTAL: http://www.ticketportal.sk/event.aspx?id=18552