NOSPR's 90th Anniversary: World Premiere of "The Annunciation" by Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa

To mark its 90th anniversary, NOSPR commissioned a piece from Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, an honorary member of the Polish Composers' Union. During the concert "Among Peaks and Clouds", which will take place on June 11, 2026, at 7.30 pm, the world premiere of her latest work, The Annunciation (Zwiastowanie), will be performed. The composition is set to the words of the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, and scored for countertenor, symphony orchestra, and period instruments. The premiere will be performed by Valer Sabadus (countertenor), NOSPR, and the Oh!Essence ensemble, conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk.

The 90th anniversary of NOSPR is a truly special occasion, which is why the 2025/26 season features the world premiere of a work by a Polish composer. And it would be hard to find anyone more closely tied to this orchestra and institution than Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, who held the position of NOSPR's general manager for 18 years before dedicating herself entirely to creative work. During the concert, the audience will hear the premiere of her piece The Annunciation, set to the words of Rilke. The composition features the poem Verkündung—a monologue by the Archangel Gabriel, who, after a long journey, reveals to Mary that she will become the Mother of God. This poetic vision will be reflected in the music through the unique ensemble of performers. The symphony orchestra will evoke the vastness of the cosmos, the early music ensemble will transport listeners into Mary’s small chamber, and the countertenor will impersonate the Archangel Gabriel.

The second part of the concert will continue with following the path of program music. Richard Strauss's An Alpine Symphony is a story about the beauty of nature, remarkable for its vividness in painting the natural world through music.

The partner of the event and the publisher of Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa's works is PWM Edition.

Julia Broniowska

More information: https://nospr.org.pl/pl/kalendarz/nospr-kaspszyk-sabadus