Opole | Once upon a time in Paris

On 20 March 2020 at 7:00 p.m. the Józef Elsner Opole Philharmonic invites you to a symphonic concert entitled "Once upon a time in Paris". The Opole Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jakub Chrenowicz will perform Antoni Szałowski's Overture, Andrzej Panufnik's Sinfonia rustica and Concerto for organ, timpani and strings in G minor by Francis Poulenc. The organist Karol Mossakowski will perform as a soloist.

Before World War II, Szałowski went to study with the famous Nadia Boulanger. He remained in the French capital until the end of his life, and the neoclassical and bravura Overture was the last composition written under the guidance of the great professor. The Concerto for organ, timpani and strings by the Parisian Francis Poulenc was created two years earlier. It consists of seven fragments and presents references to the Baroque era. In 1938, when Poulenc composed his Organ Concerto, Andrzej Panufnik studied conducting in the same city. Soon, the young artist returned to Poland, where he spent World War II. When Poland was rising from the debris, commemorating the centenary of Chopin's death, he wrote Sinfonia rustica inspired by Kurpie folklore. The symmetry of Kurpie's cut-outs was reflected by the unprecedented arrangement of the orchestra on stage – this non-standard idea guarantees not only an unusual view, but also an interesting acoustic experience.

The concert is held as part of the „filharmonia / ostrożnie, wciąga!!!” programme co-organized by the Institute of Music and Dance.

Information on tickets at: https://filharmonia.opole.pl/wydarzenia/68-sezon-artystyczny-k-mossakowski-j-chrenowicz/