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’]
(ca. 1799)

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

Franciszek Lessel (1780–1838)
Fantazja / Fantasy [11’]
na kwartet smyczkowy / for string quartet
(I poł. XIX wieku) / (the first half of the nineteenth century)

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

*** intermission

Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872)
Andantino (mov. 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’]
words: Ludwik Osiński (1775–1838)
arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1831/2025)

Stanisław Moniuszko
Scherzo (cz. III) / (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)

*** intermission

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
(ok. 1829/2025) / (ca. 1829/2025)

Poseł z cyklu Pieśni op. 74 nr 7 / “The Messenger” from the cycle Songs, Op. 74 No. 7 [4’]
słowa / words: Stefan Witwicki
aranżacja / arranged by: Tomasz Pokrzywiński
(1830/2025)

Józef Elsner
Rondo. Allegro (mov. III – excerpt)
from the String Quartet in D minor, Op. 8 No. 3 [4’]
(ca. 1799)

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

*** intermission

Karol Kurpiński (1785–1857)
Fantazja C-dur / Fantasy in C major [12’]
na kwartet smyczkowy / 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
skrzypce / violin

Anna Nowak-Pokrzywińska
altówka / viola

Tomasz Pokrzywiński
cello