On 4 November 2015, the last, unknown composition of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, who died five years ago, will have its world premiere in Kraków. The performance of "Sanctus Adalbertus" will crown the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of PWM Edition.

The first performance of this monumental work, devoted to the figure of the first patron of Poland, St. Adalbert, has long been discussed. Henryk Mikołaj Górecki wrote it already in 1997 for the thousandth anniversary of the martyrdom of the bishop from Prague. The oratory was to be performed during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland and was supposed to be dedicated to the Polish Pope. However, the first performance did not take place. The oratory would come up time and again in the successive years, giving music lovers hope for hearing it, especially as Górecki rarely composed at that time and struggled with health issues. Unfortunately, the work has never been presented in public. Górecki died in November 2010, leaving the question about the premiere of "Sanctus Adalbertus" unanswered.

After his death, his son, Mikołaj Górecki, found the complete oratory. With the consent of the family, the world premiere of the work written by one of the greatest Polish composers of the 20th century will take place five years after his death and will crown the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of PWM Edition. The event has a symbolic character, as Górecki published his first pieces in PWM Edition and had been associated with this publishing house throughout his artistic life.  

The concert will be held on 4 November 2015, at 8:00 p.m., at the ICE Congress Centre in Kraków (ul. Marii Konopnickiej 17). Apart from the world premiere of "Sanctus Adalbertus" Op. 71 by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra, we will also hear the celebratory "Fanfara" by Paweł Mykietyn, composed especially for this occasion, and "Eternal Songs" Op. 10 by Mieczysław Karłowicz.

Performers: Wioletta Chodowicz - soprano, Artur Ruciński - baritone, Polish Radio Choir and the Kraków Philharmonic Choir, as well as the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra with Jacek Kaspszyk as conductor.

70th ANNIVERSARY of PWM Edition

The greatest Polish composers of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, the most outstanding figures of classical, film and jazz music, infinite history of Polish editing: these are the pages in the history of music in which PWM Edition has made its particular mark. The oldest and the greatest music publishing house in Poland. Established in 1945, over 70 years it has managed to build a significant musical output, starting from musical scores by old and contemporary music composers, through important texst and books on the history and theory of music, to audiobooks and educational publications. And its vast archives, accomplishments and achievements encompass not only the history of Polish music, but also an important part of Polish, European and world culture. PWM Edition published the first music scores by Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Grażyna Bacewicz, or Wojciech Kilar. Today, the circle of young contemporary composers collaborating with PWM Edition consists of such great names, as Paweł Mykietyn, Agata Zubel, Marcel Chyrzyński, Mikołaj Górecki or Paweł Łukaszewski. The most valuable collections of the publisher are e.g. the "Masterpieces of Polish Music of the 20th Century", which comprises scores by most outstanding Polish composers: Mieczysław Karłowicz, Karol Szymanowski, Grażyna Bacewicz, Witold Lutosławski, Tadeusz Baird, Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki or Wojciech Kilar. The first in the world comprehensive collection of the works of Fryderyk Chopin and Karol Szymanowski, published by PWM Edition, is also worth mentioning. Vast resources of PWM Edition's musical scores are used by ensembles, orchestras and philharmonic halls around the world. It is this part of PWM Edition's activity that allows Polish music to be heard both in Poland and abroad. PWM Edition is also a patron and promotor of contemporary music, organising the Tadeusz Ochlewski Composers' Competition. The competition is addressed to the youngest composers and is held in memory of the first PWM Edition's director.

The series of events celebrating the 70th anniversary of PWM Edition will start at the beginning of November 2015. The programme encompasses e.g. the premiere of the PWM monograph by Małgorzata Gąsiorowska, scientific conference, as well as an official concert in Kraków, with the world premiere of "Sanctus Adalbertus" oratory by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.

The concert will be repeated on 11th November in the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice.

The celebrations of the PWM Edition's anniversary are organised under the Honorary Auspices of the President of the Republic of Poland.