On 4 November 2015, the last known composition of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, who died five years ago, will have its World Premiere in Kraków at the ICE Congress Centre. This premiere performance of Sanctus Adalbertus, as well as the celebratory Fanfara by Paweł Mykietyn that was composed especially for this occasion, will crown the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of PWM Edition. Performers for the concert will be: Wioletta Chodowicz – soprano, Artur Ruciński – baritone, the Polish Radio Choir and Kraków Philharmonic Choir, as well as the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra with Jacek Kaspszyk as conductor.
The first performance of this monumental work, devoted to the figure of the first patron of Poland, St. Adalbert, has long been discussed. Henryk Mikołaj Górecki wrote it already in 1997 for the thousandth anniversary of the martyrdom of the bishop from Prague. The oratory was to be performed during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland and was supposed to be dedicated to the Polish Pope. However, the first performance did not take place and, ultimately, the work was never presented in public. The oratory would come up time and again in the successive years, giving music lovers hope for hearing it, especially as Górecki rarely composed at that time and struggled with health issues. However, Górecki died in November 2010, leaving the question of the premiere of Sanctus Adalbertus unanswered.
After his death, his son Mikołaj Górecki found the complete oratory. With the consent of the family, the world premiere of the work written by one of the greatest Polish composers of the 20th century will take place five years after his death, and at the height of the celebrations of PWM Edition’s 70th anniversary. The event has a symbolic character, as Górecki published his first pieces with PWM Edition and was associated with this publishing house throughout his artistic life.
In addition to the world premiere of Sanctus Adalbertus Op. 71 for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra and Fanfara by Paweł Mykietyn, on November 4 the audience will also hear Eternal Songs Op. 10 by Mieczysław Karłowicz.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 | 8:00 p.m.
World Premiere of Górecki’s last work – Sanctus Adalbertus/PWM’s 70th Anniversary
ICE Congress Centre, ul. Marii Konopnickiej 17, Kraków
Tickets: www.eventim.pl.
[Sources: issuu.com, pwm.com.pl]