2011-10-26

On November 5, 2011 The National Philharmonic will celebrate 110 years of artistic activity. It is the oldest institution of its kind in Poland, which over the years has played a huge role in promoting musical culture in Warsaw, presenting consistently high artistic level. Sincere congratulations for this beautiful Jubilee! Its opening in 1901 as the Warsaw Philharmonic was a great cultural event, which was widely written about in the press. The famous critic Aleksander Poliński wrote in "Kurier Warszawski":
“Does the collective soul of the community sense the cultural importance of the new temple to art and support its goals? The near future will inform us whether or not the Philharmonic will respond worthily to its task. At the moment we can only predict that the new institution will have a hard task to accomplish, because injecting aesthetic culture and refining the nature of society with high artistic sensitivities in general is not easy. (...) There is already a magnificent building, there is a choice orchestra, and also an abundantly stocked library; the concert programmes announce the performance of major works, including the participation of first rate artists.”

Getting tickets for the opening concert was so difficult, that - as Danuta Jackiewicz writes - "the week before the concert many major celebrities still had no invitation, never mind ordinary music lovers. No wonder that the press circulated this verse:

Filharmonia – nie maruda / Ogłosiła już swe cuda:
Śród koncertów (to nie figa!) / Będzie miała nawet Griega!
Filharmonio! Pełna mocy! / Czcić cię będziem w dzień i w nocy!
Wielbić będziem cię na wylet / Ale daj nam także bilet”.

(“Philharmonic - no time to lose / already tells of wonders:
Among the concerts (not a fig!) / They will have even Grieg!
Filharmonio! Full power! / We’ll worship you day and night!
We’ll praise thee in our crowds / But give us too a ticket.”)

However, Włodzimierz Kalicki wrote with interesting detail about the inaugural concert: "The ‘whole of Warsaw’ was spinning and chatting in the foyer. Attention was drawn to the famous inventor Jan Szczepanik, called the "Polish Edison", the famous novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz and especially to the guest of honour of the occasion - the world-renowned virtuoso Ignacy Paderewski. The combined Lutnia choirs of Warsaw and Łódź, sang a cantata specially composed for the occasion “Żyj pieśni” by Władysław Żeleński. Or-Ot, the popular Warsaw poet Artur Oppman also wrote about the occasion. After the cantata, the "Symphony in D minor" by the young pianist and composer Zygmunt Stojowski living in Paris was played. The first part of the concert ended with Moniuszko’s concert overture, „Bajka”. The acoustics of the hall are stunning. In the last row of chairs the rustling of page turns in the music can be heard. After the break Paderewski himself performed. He played his own "Piano Concerto in A Minor". Then Zygmunt Noskowski’s symphonic poem "Steppe". When Paderewski reappeared, the audience got up from their seats and rewarded him with frenetic applause. The Master played works by Chopin and didn’t scrimp on encores. At the end, the delighted and amazed listeners claimed that it was already past midnight” (Gazeta Wyborcza, „Nasycili ducha w Filharmonii Warszawskiej”).

The Warsaw Philharmonic (from 1955 - National) has hosted the most outstanding Polish composers and performers over the years. It has given countless premieres; it was here that such works as Karol Szymanowski's two symphonies and his "Stabat Mater", Mieczysław Karłowicz’s four symphonic poems and Zygmunt Noskowski’s Symphony were first heard. As it turned out, Poliński’s expectations were confirmed, who wrote 110 years ago: "Let us hope that in undertaking this great task that the near future will be dignified, that with its activities it will sustain the honour of Polish arts and its work will have a redeeming impact on the nation.”

During Saturday's concert November 5, 2011 the Choir of the National Philharmonic (which in two years’ time will celebrate sixty years of its activity) will perform the cantata "Żyj pieśni". Soloist Dang Tai Son - winner of the Chopin Competition in 1980 will also appear as a soloist