News
The world premiere of Paul Lukaszewski's Requiem in Krakow
2014-10-29
On the 31st of October in Kraków the Orchestra and Choir of the Kraków Philharmonic, directed by Michał Dworzyński and conducted by Teresa Majka-Pacanek, with the following soloists: Maria Boberska (soprano), and Jarosław Bręk (bass) premièred a symphony version of Requiem – an opus whose version for chamber orchestra was enthusiastically received by the audience during its first performance in Presteigne in August of this year.
Requiem was also presented by Hertford College Choir&Orchestra directed by Nick Graham. The composition took place in Hertford College Chapel Sunday the 9th of November 2014, 5,45 PM
We do not know the time for the consummation of the earth and of humanity, nor do we know how all things will be transformed. As deformed by sin, the shape of this world will pass away; but we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide, and whose blessedness will answer and surpass all the longings for peace which spring up in the human heart. Then, with death overcome, the sons of God will be raised up in Christ. (citation from : Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium Et Spes, promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965)
Requiem for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra (2013-2014) is the second link of the Officium defunctorum cycle and a continuation of the funeral theme taken up in Vesperae pro defunctis (1995) and Salve Regina (2010).
This about 55 minute long opus comprises of ten parts: Requiem aeternam, Kyrie, Psalm 23, Alleluia, Pie Jesu, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Lux aeterna, In paradisum and Libera me.
Almost every part is dedicated to recently deceased people who, for various reasons, were close to me, among whom I would like to mention Wojciech Kilar, John Tavener, Wiesława Krodkiewska, Cardinal Józef Glemp, Otto Stock and family members: Leszek Łukaszewski, Andrzej Patrzyk and Michalina and Zenon Michalski.
During funeral rites the dead are commended to God's keeping, the hope of the living is strengthened, the belief that all the baptised will be resurrected with Christ is declared, the prayers for the departed to cross death into life are recited. Therefore the message behind the funeral liturgy is the hope of eternal life, the profession of the belief in the resurrection and another encounter in the Kingdom of Heaven. From the heavenly Jerusalem angels will come to meet the soul and they will lead them to Paradise, where they will be greeted by the martyrs to the accompaniment of angelic choirs.
My Requiem is an attempt to introduce the greatest mystery of our faith.
Paweł Łukaszewski
Most popular:
It’ s like a game. The memory game, thanks to which you can look at a very ordinary family from an extraordinary perspective. ALBUM RODZINNY [Family album] – an opera by Jerzy Kornowicz with a libretto by Michał Rusinek – is another premiere of the ANAKLASIS label this year. This time, the record brand is expanding its audience to include the youngest listeners. The album will be released on 21st June.
Time passes constantly, changing the world and its soundscape around us. The title IL TEMPO PASSA may be both a reflection on the impermanence of life, world and things and a piece of advice to enjoy the moment. The latest album by ANAKLASIS presents Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa’s cameral and symphonic works from recent years. Premiere on 28 May 2024, on the composer’s 75th birthday.
It is a musical-literary tale about a quest for identity, truth, and for what makes us human. The new stage work by Aleksander Nowak – which is, at the same time, Radek Rak’s operatic debut – explores the sources of good and evil, fusing reality with mythology and steering towards ‘the left-hand side of the world’. The authors spin a tale about the dual human nature. THE TALE OF THE HEART. FAVOLA IN MUSICA – the album that presents their joint project – will go on sale on 6th October.
Spectacularly successful as Ludomir Różycki’s music was in his lifetime, it is seldom programmed nowadays. All the same, such remarkable art could hardly fall into utter oblivion. It has attracted and fascinated excellent jazz pianist Kuba Stankiewicz, who has translated it into the language of jazz. The effects have been recorded and released on ANAKLASIS label’s most recent album, INSPIRED BY LUDOMIR RÓŻYCKI, which goes on sale as of 28th August.
PWM Edition is entering the execution phase of the revitalisation of its Warsaw department. With the commencement of the renovation and the implementation of the assumptions of the architectural design, the Hire Department and the editorial office of “Ruch Muzyczny” are moving to a temporary headquarters at 19 Wiejska Street, Warsaw.
This is by no means a piece about the centuries-long Polish-German conflict. It is, instead, a tale of impossible love, of tragic conflict between personal happiness and the common good.
PWM Edition resumes cooperation with the Italian publishing house Ricordi, as well as with its international partners forming Universal Music Publishing Classics & Screen. This means that rentals of orchestral materials from the catalogues of all publishing houses belonging to Classics & Screen is carried out in Poland by Dział Zbiorów Nutowych (Sheet Music Department) of PWM.
The most fascinating phenomena in contemporary music; a wide range of genres; outstanding works, excellent composers and performers – are the trademarks of the record label ANAKLASIS, launched by PWM Edition. ANAKLASIS is now celebrating its third birthday. It continues to grow at a dizzying pace and maintains the high artistic standards of its releases.
When asked to attempt a definition of her music, she called it lyrical expressionism. The choice of this term says much about the emotional intensity of Elżbieta Sikora’s music, which may reflect the experience of her two home countries, Poland and France, but is also a consequence of her artistic maturation in an age when two powerful trends – the avant-garde and neo-Classicism – were vying for the palm. Such a label may also result from the artist’s focus on the listener as her target, whom she invariably attempts to surprise, shock, or bewilder.