A century of independence marked in Szczecin

By Julia Jędrzejczak, 13 November 2018

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Reviewed at Philharmonic Hall, Szczecin on 11 November 2018

Penderecki, Fanfare for orchestra

Górecki, Symphony no. 3 “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”, Op.36

Elzbieta Szmytka, Soprano

Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra

Wojciech Michniewski, Conductor

Sumptuous Sheffield Chamber Music Festival finale

Phil Parker, 23rd May

Ensemble 360 and soprano Claire Booth test to the limits the definition of ‘chamber music’ in this richly orchestral closing concert of the 2026 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.

****1

More gold than corn: María Dueñas plays Korngold at the Barbican

Mark Pullinger, 22nd May

The young Spanish violinist proves an ardent advocate for a work originally dismissed as a “Hollywood Concerto” as the BBC Symphony Orchestra closes its Barbican season.

****1

Intimate colossus: Daniil Trifonov with the Rotterdam Philharmonic

Max Lima, 21st May

Late Brahms, early Schoenberg: under Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic draw tenderness from two monumental scores.

****1

Memorable Mendelssohn from Marek Janowski and the New York Phil

Susan Stempleski, 21st May

Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin plays Haydn before the esteemed German maestro conducts a vibrant Scottish Symphony.

****1

The ears have it: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas on the Cutty Sark

Mark Valencia, 21st May

Come away fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing! All board the Cutty Sark for a semi-staging of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.

****1

Heavenly Mahler – and Strauss – from Lucy Crowe and the LSO

Roy Westbrook, 21st May

Songs and symphonies from Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, concluding with a vision of “heavenly life” from Gustav Mahler.

****1

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Julia Jędrzejczak

Julia Jędrzejczak is a student of both music journalism and Asian studies in Lodz, Poland, and is currently based in Warsaw. Having been playing violin and piano since elementary school, now she enjoys occasionally performing with university orchestra. She is fond of instrumental music, especially the impressionist works of Debussy and modernist Satie, as well as Polish composers like Chopin and Lutosławski. However, her interests are not limited to classical music – she equally enjoys jazz and various genres of popular music.

A century of independence: Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs in Szczecin