Friday, 30th of June 2023
| The Night with a soul “Soul” is a new concert project by Stanislaw Soyka and the Grott Orchestra, which has arisen from the Grott Orchestra’s fascination with the work of Stanislaw Soyka – one of the most outstanding contemporary singers and composers. This Night’s repertoire will include a selection of compositions by this exceptional artist, both hits such as “Tolerancja” or “Kiedy jesteś taka bliska” and less popular but beautiful pieces by the Master. And all this in intimate arrangements, prepared especially for this evening. The Artist will be accompanied by the eleven-member Grott Orchestra – a family ensemble founded by siblings: oboist Kama Grott-Tomaszek and bassist and composer Michał Grott. Songs by Soyka which are well-known to the public in their original versions, here arranged for the Grott Orchestra by Michał Grott. This fresh new take is an added value in itself. |
Saturday, 1st of July 2023
| Master recital He is only 19 years old, but during last year’s 16th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznań, when he was the only Pole to qualify for the second stage, he focused the eyes and ears of the whole of Poland on himself, becoming its national musical treasure. Immense talent, great musicality, excellent technique – all this we will be able to admire during Wojciech Niedziółka’s recital. Accompanied by the pianist Krzysztof Stanienda, he will perform virtuoso works by Henryk Wieniawski and two wonderful violin sonatas: Johannes Brahms’ Sonata in A Major, Op. 100, considered the most lyrical of the composer’s three violin sonatas, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in C Minor, the only four-movement in the whole Opus No. 30. |
Sunday, 2nd of July 2023
| The Soldier’s Tale Igor Stravinsky’s famous work, The Soldier’s Tale, is a composition written after the horrors of the Great War and is a fable about a soldier who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a book of prophecies of the future. The work – created in collaboration with Swiss writer Charles Ramuz and telling the story of a reckless soldier who failed to heed the warning, “Woe to him who desires too much…” – can apply to any of us. The Soldier of the title can be a greedy businessman, a foolish politician, an ordinary person…. A wonderful cast will immerse you in Stravinsky’s extraordinary musical world. The concert programme will be complemented by the latest composition by Mikołaj Majkusiak, commissioned by the Festival: “Octet” intended for almost the same set of instruments as “Soldier’s Tale”. This Night is sure to be a real musical rollercoaster! |
Friday, 7th of July 2023
| The Seasons Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons needs no special introduction. The same is true of Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Cuatro estaciones porteñas), since, along with Ravel’s Bolero, they are probably the most popular pieces of classical music. The two cycles are often juxtaposed, as Piazzolla wittily quotes the work of the Red Priest in his dances. Vivaldi begins his cycle with Spring, Piazzolla with Spring ends, but both paint before the listener all the colours, smells and sounds of the different seasons… This year, we will hear these masterpieces in the phenomenal interpretation of Roksana Kwaśnikowska – this year’s winner of the FRYDERYK award in the ‘Solo Music’ category for her CD ‘Rode: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin’. |
Saturday, 8th of July 2023
| Fado The Bastarda Trio, together with João de Sousa, referring to traditional fado songs, have created a new and original musical story. The artists’ contemporary, original arrangements and adaptations of these unusual, melancholic songs gave them the opportunity for free expression and musical creation and allowed them to convey a sincere, emotional message. The fruit of this encounter is the album ‘Fado’, which was released in spring 2021 on the Audio Cave label. The repertoire is ironclad fado classics: songs by Alain Oulman, Alfredo Marceneiro or Amália Rodrigues sound authentic and contemporary, combining Portuguese tradition with their own original musical idiom. The wonderfully artistic quartet makes it possible to languish, forget, abyss with this music. |
Sunday, 9th of July 2023
| A classical finale Can anyone imagine the Arsenal Nights without at least one piece by Mozart? Neither can we, so for the finale as many as two of his compositions! One charming Divertimento written by the less than sixteen-year-old Wolfgang and his Violin Concerto performed by Daniel Stabrawa and, after the interval, the crème de la crème: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58. Called ‘The Lark’ Concerto from the piano introduction, which gives the impression of improvisation, but it is also full of typical Beethovenian solemnity. The soloist will be the German pianist, Stainway Artist and winner of the Beethoven Competition in Bonn – Hinrich Alpers. Classics for the finale? Oh, yes! |