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On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Silesian Philharmonic’s very first concert, a spectacular event will take place – the Grand Jubilee Gala.
On May 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM, at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the Silesian Chamber Orchestra, and choirs from the Silesian Voivodeship will perform works by Gustav Mahler and Wojciech Kilar, enhanced with industrial sounds and multimedia presentations. More than 1,000 artists will take part!
Audiences will hear some of the most iconic film themes, including music from Pan Tadeusz, The Promised Land, The Leper, The Shadow Line, and Salt of the Black Earth. Also featured will be the energetic Orawa, inspired by folk music – highlander rhythms and dances from the Podhale region.
Wojciech Kilar’s Piano Concerto No. 2 will be performed by the outstanding pianist Piotr Sałajczyk, accompanied by the Silesian Chamber Orchestra.
The program will also include Sinfonia industrialna by Adam Wesołowski – a piece composed for the 150th anniversary of the city of Chorzów, where the natural sounds of classical instruments merge with the raw sounds of industrial machinery.
The evening will culminate in a performance by the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Yaroslav Shemet, joined by the Silesian Philharmonic Choir and combined choirs from the Silesian region to perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major. For the first time in Poland, this monumental work will be performed by 1,000 artists! Often referred to as the “Symphony of a Thousand,” this piece is largely a celebration of life, faith in eternal love, and spiritual renewal. As Mahler himself described it, the symphony was meant to be “a gift to the nation” and “a great giver of joy.”
Funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund, as part of the "Music" program implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
The concert is co-organized by the National Institute of Music and Dance as part of the “Musician-in-Residence” program, financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Ticket information: https://filharmonia-slaska.eu/production/wielka-gala-jubileuszowa-kilar-industrialnie-mahler-symfonia-tysiaca/
