International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra Final I BEETHOVEN 250

Witold Lutosławski, the patron of the international youth orchestra project, once confessed: I do not want to win hearts, but I want to find those who feel the same as I do. This approach has become a real inspiration for many initiatives around the world. Joint actions of people who think similarly also take place in our Philharmonic. Every year in August, several dozen students and teachers meet as part of the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra to work together on selected works. This year, we've moved our activities to virtual reality!

Bela Bartok could also become a patron of our project. At the age of 23, he became fascinated with folk music. Imagine a young boy who walks around the country taverns, huts and barns blushing and aims a big silver tube of a phonograph at singing peasants. In this way, he collected inspirations, which he then repeatedly used in his work. By the way, he also became a polyglot – fluent in Hungarian, German, French, English, Slovak, Romanian, Turkish and Arabic. He combined what was folk, local and authentic with what was open, multicultural and beautiful!

Schumann noted the following opinion about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: Some think it contains various literary genres, the first part is epic, the second is comedy, the third is lyric, and the fourth is drama. Others say that this work is so gigantic, colossal that it is comparable only to the Egyptian pyramids. Still, others say that it expresses the history of mankind – first chaos, then the divine words "Let there be light." We would like to remind you that it is a special piece for us – it was chosen by the residents of Szczecin for the concert program inaugurating our new headquarters. Together with the ILYO orchestra, choristers and outstanding soloists, we will not only bring back the memories of that moment but also pave the way for the future, because our path through Beethoven's work this season is just beginning!