The triumpher of the 8th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition, Eugene Tzigane will conduct the Silesian Philharmonic Choir and Symphony Orchestra on November 21. This evening will become a musical meeting of two different sound worlds – the monumental romanticism of Johannes Brahms and the reflective sensitivity of Eugene Knapik.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. Brahms worked on the Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 for almost two decades. Often called “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony”, it is an expression of Brahms’s creative struggle with the legend of his great predecessor. For a long time, the composer could not escape comparisons to Beethoven, but this path resulted in a work with an exceptional power of expression. From the dramatic opening in C minor, through the tense counterpoints, to the triumphal finale in C major, in which we can hear echoes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” – this symphony is a masterful synthesis of monumental form and profound emotionality. Among the dramatic tensions, there are also intimate moments, warm and lyrical, making this work one of the most important milestones in the history of symphonic music.

As a counterpoint to Brahms’ powerful symphony, Eugeniusz Knapik’s Beauty Radiated in Eternity, full of subtlety, will sound. This work, created by one of the leading representatives of Polish contemporary music, impresses with its subtle orchestration and spacious sound. Delicate phrases, fuzzy timbres and a slowly unfolding narrative create a sonic meditation on the passage of time and the permanence of beauty. Knapik balances silence and sound with extraordinary sensitivity, inviting listeners to a moment of concentration and contemplation. The contrast between the drama of Brahms and the ethereal music of Knapik creates a program of extraordinary impact – an evening in which the monumentality of romantic expression will meet the contemplative silence.

PROGRAMME:

Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

Eugeniusz Knapik
Beauty Radiated in Eternity

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PERFORMERS:

Silesian Philharmonic Choir and Symphony Orchestra

Eugene Tzigane
conductor

Jaroslaw Wolanin
artistic director of the choir