The contemporary Polish composer Henryk Mikołaj Górecki was one of the admirers of Wagner's work. The drama about the history of legendary lovers is reflected in one of his last, unfinished compositions: Two Tristan Postludes and Chorale, Op. 82, which will be performed on 27 February 2021 at 6.00 p.m. at the Warsaw Philharmonic.
Similar to several other unfinished compositions, the work was prepared for concert performance by the composer's son, Mikołaj Górecki. The postludes allude to Tristan, as if stopping, stretching in time, reflecting and subtly transfiguring a few selected motifs. The first postlude is based on a fragment of the poignant complaint of the twice-betrayed King Mark from Act II, the second – among others, on themes of the famous Vorspiel.
After his involvement in the events of the May Revolution in Dresden in 1849, Richard Wagner and his wife Minna had to seek refuge in Switzerland, where they were hosted by Otto Wesendonck, a merchant and patron of the composer. The host's wife, Mathilde, was also admirer of the musician's talent, and soon a tender affection developed between them. Wagner rarely resorted to texts other than his own – the exceptions are the poems by Mathilde Wesendonck, arranged by him in 1857-58. Great attention was devoted to what extent this difficult relationship influenced the final shape of the music drama Tristan and Isolde, which was being created at the same time. Wagner himself admitted that writing these songs was a kind of compositional study for Tristan, which was reflected in Im Treibhaus and Träume. The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Thomas Rösner and soprano Ewa Vesin will present the songs in chamber arrangement by Ronald Kornfeil.
Franz Schreker was valued by his contemporaries especially as a composer of operas, but he created works of various genres, and among his orchestral compositions, the grateful Chamber Symphony from 1916 gained special and relatively lasting popularity. One-movement (but composed of several segments, similar to cyclical forms), the work for 23 performers delights with its rich texture and colour, and a special, dreamlike aura, especially in the introductory episode.
Piotr Maculewicz
More information at: http://www.filharmonia.pl/koncerty-i-bilety/repertuar/koncert-symfoniczny270