Aleksander Tansman (1897-1986) is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding Polish composers of the 20th century, who remains relatively unknown in our country. This evening on our stage, you will hear his Piano Concerto No. 2, which premiered in the United States in 1927. This excellent piece will be performed by Ignacy Lisiecki – one of the leading Polish pianists, a regular guest at the National Philharmonic, the NOSPR in Katowice, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and the most prestigious concert halls in Japan.
However, the evening will begin with the symphonic poem Vyšehrad by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884). Composed as part of the cycle Má vlast (My Homeland),Vyšehrad is the first of six symphonic poems in the cycle. Each poem depicts some aspect of Smetana's homeland: landscapes, monuments, and legends of the Czech Republic. Vyšehrad is a beautiful musical tale about Vyšehrad Castle in Prague, which was the seat of the first Czech kings.
The last piece of the evening will be an extraordinary work – Béla Bartók's (1881-1945) Concerto for Orchestra. First performed on December 1, 1944, by the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, it immediately captured the audience's hearts. Musically, this work bridges two eras: rooted in the tradition of the first half of the 20th century and the avant-garde of the post-war period. It also features characteristic folk melodies, both Hungarian, Romanian, and Czech. Bartók also drew inspiration from American musical heritage, impressionistic works by Debussy and expressionistic compositions by Schoenberg.
Excerpt from Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra performed by the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Zander:
