The concert programme features a combination of string quartets by early-nineteenth-century Polish composers and songs by Fryderyk Chopin in new arrangements by Tomasz Pokrzywiński.

This choice adheres to the principle of diversity underlying the then concert programmes. Selected movements of the String Quartets by Józef Elsner and Stanisław Moniuszko and the Fantasies by Franciszek Lessel and Karol Kurpiński are interspersed with Chopin’s songs, which, like an intimate diary, reflect various images of their creator.

PROGRAMME:

Józef Elsner (1769–1854)
Largo – Allegro (mov. I)
from the String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 8 No. 2 [7’]
(ok. 1799)

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849)
“Spring” from the cycle Songs, Op. 74 No. 2 [2’]
words: Stefan Witwicki (1801–1847)
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński (b. 1981)
(1838/2025)

Franciszek Lessel (1780–1838)
Fantasy [11’]
for string quartet
(the first half of the nineteenth century)

Fryderyk Chopin
“My Beloved” z cyklu Songs, Op. 74 No. 8 [3’]
words: Józef Bohdan Zaleski (1802–1886)
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1841/2025)

Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872)
Andantino (cz. II)
from the String Quartet No.1 in D minor [4′]
(1839)

Frederic Chopin
“Lithuanian Song” from the cycle Songs Op. 74 No. 16 [2’]
słowa: Ludwik Osiński (1775–1838)
aranżacja: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1831/2025)

Stanisław Moniuszko
Scherzo (mov. III)
from the String Quartet No. 1 in D minor [4′]
(1839)

Fryderyk Chopin
“Faded and Vanished” from the cycle Songs Op. 74 No. 13 [4’]
words: Józef Bohdan Zaleski
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1845/2025)

Stanisław Moniuszko
Finale. Allegro assai (Un ballo campestre e sue consequenze) (mov. IV)
from the String Quartet No. 1 in D minor [4′]
(1839)

Józef Elsner
Rondo. Allegro (mov. III – excerpt)
from the String Quartet in D minor, Op. 8 No. 3 [2′]
(ca. 1799)

Fryderyk Chopin
“A Fickle Maid” from the cycle Songs, Op. 74 No. 5 [1’]
words: Stefan Witwicki (1801–1847)
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(ca. 1829/2025)

Poseł z cyklu Pieśni op. 74 nr 7 [4’]
słowa: Stefan Witwicki
aranżacja: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1830/2025)

Józef Elsner
Rondo. Allegro (cz. III – fragment)
for string quartet d-moll op. 8 nr 3 [4’]
(ok. 1799)

Fryderyk Chopin
“The Lovers” from the cycle Songs Op. 74 No. 11 [3’]
words: Józef Bohdan Zaleski
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1845/2025)

Karol Kurpiński (1785–1857)
Fantasy C major [12’]
for string quartet
(1823)

Adagio
Fuga
Andante
Presto

Fryderyk Chopin
“A Maiden’s Wish” from the cycle Songs Op. 74 No. 1 [2’]
words: Stefan Witwicki
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1829?/2025)

_______

PERFORMERS:

Olga Pasiecznik
soprano

Equilibrium String Quartet:

Sulamita Ślubowska
violin

Małgorzata Malke
violin

Anna Nowak-Pokrzywińska
viola

Tomasz Pokrzywiński
cello