A musical celebration of Polish Independence

By Julia Jędrzejczak, 29 January 2018

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Reviewed at Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, Warsaw on 27 January 2018

Szabelski, Toccata

Szymanowski, Violin Concerto no. 2, Op.61

Bach, Air on a G String, from Orchestral Suite BWV1068

Debussy, La Mer

Lutosławski, Symphony no. 4

Isabelle van Keulen, Viola

Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

Jacek Kaspszyk, Conductor

Tristan triumphs but Isolde languishes in Warsaw

Jonathan Sutherland, 4th June

Given the spate of visually distracting, if not irksome productions which seem to blight the opera world these days, there is something to be said for concert performances.

****1

Warsaw Philharmonic in Szymanowski and Beethoven

Renée Reitsma, 20th May

The Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra offered a program of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Their performance at Cadogan Hall had outstanding moments but overall felt unremarkable.

***11

Prom 55: The Warsaw Philharmonic's Proms debut celebrates Lutosławski centenary

Carla Finesilver, 23rd August

Surprisingly, this was the Warsaw Philharmonic’s first visit to the Proms, invited as part of this year’s focus on Polish music. About time too, one might say, and particularly so with it being both Lutosławski’s centenary year (and almost Panufnik’s too, shy by a year), and this the farewell concert of outgoing Artistic Director of twelve years, Antoni Wit.

***11

Warsaw Philharmonic at Leeds Town Hall

Richard Wilcocks, 19th November

This concert by Poland’s national orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, attracted a near-capacity audience which had in it a fair sprinkling of members of the local Polish community, judging from overheard conversations and some shouts of “Jeszcze raz!” (“More!”) at the end.

Youngster brilliert

Christine Arnold, 13th October

Der Youngster Jan Lisiecki läuft den alten Hasen der Warschauer Philharmoniker in Essen den Rang ab.

***11

A Byzantine affair: Szymanowski's Król Roger in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 12th November

After more than 40 years, Szymanowski's Król Roger returned to Berlin with the Poznań Opera Orchestra and Jacek Kaspszyk on the podium - but the result was not exactly ecstatic.

**111

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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 musical celebration of Polish Independence by the Warsaw Philharmonic