‘Belgian National Orchestra’

Any traveler passing through Poland may realize that existence has long been strongly governed by religion. This cultural baggage has also strongly influenced the works of several musicians. Thus Paweł Łukaszewski composed Ego sum pastor bonus (« I am a good pastor »). Witold Lutoslawski, for his part, prefered to insert solemn tone in his Concerto for Orchestra. And finally, also Henryk Mikołaj Górecki was influenced by religion, composing Totus Tuus, or « Entirly yours (Maria) » in English.
In this concert, we will also hear a piece of Rachmaninov’s work, called The Bells. One of the composer’s students wrote him an anonymous letter, suggesting he set Edgar Allen Poe’s eponymous poem to music. The text describes the sound of different bells, from light, silver bells to a heavy cast-iron colossus, and is often interpreted as a metaphor of life. Rachmaninoff brings the sound of the bells to life in his composition. The conductor for this evening’s concert is Stanislav Kochanovski.

The a cappella choral works (Ego sum pastor bonus & Totus tuus) will be directed by Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny, choirmaster of the NFM Choir.