The Jerzy Semkow Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra will perform on 16 October 2021 at 7 p.m. at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw under the baton of Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, a member of the orchestra's Arts Council. We will hear works by Giuseppe Verdi, Saverio Mercadante and Piotr Tchaikovsky. The concert is co-organised by the National Institute of Music and Dance within the framework of the "Conductor-in-residence" programme.

The Italian Saverio Mercadante, of a generation close to Rossini, was a prominent opera creator in his time. His rich oeuvre remains largely forgotten today, with the exception of the work of the only eighteen-year-old composer – Flute Concerto No. 2 in E minor, loved especially for the final Rondo russo, one of the great hits of classical music, eagerly performed by flutists as an encore. During the October concert, the work will be performed by Łukasz Długosz, one of the most versatile and highly-regarded flutists of his generation.

The Italian part of the programme also includes the overture to the opera The Force of Destiny by Giuseppe Verdi, pulsating with emotions, full of beautiful melodies. What does this work have in common with Tchaikovsky's latest symphony? Both works premiered in St. Petersburg (Verdi's opera in 1862).

Due to its expressive aura, Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, probably as no other symphony in the history of music, deserved the name "Tragique", as Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer’s brother and confidant, suggested. Pyotr, however, preferred his second suggestion and right after the premiere, he added the subtitle "Pathetique", suggested by his brother, to the score. The composer died nine days after the premiere of the piece, most probably due to an acute cholera attack. He did not leave any programme or commentary to the symphony. All we can do is guess and, primarily, delight upon the piece characterised by great expression, the piece that is Romantic to the bone, filled with exaltation and unconventional elements.

Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, appointed resident conductor of the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra in the 2021/2022 season, participated in the preparation of the concert.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

More information: https://sinfoniaiuventus.pl/en/