Wiener Philharmoniker, i.e. Vienna Philharmonic (30 May 2016)
This ensemble is perhaps the most exciting of the guests invited to the first artistic season of the National Music Forum. The orchestra, who always ranks in the top three best world symphonies (next to the Berliners) and who, for more than 170 years in the music business, has developed a unique, almost velvety sound. For many critics, they are the best ensemble of this type in the world and a refuge of tradition and conservatism at the same time. The first woman to be allowed to play in the ranks of the Vienna Philharmonic, was a harpist Anne Lelkes and this happened only in 1997! Today, there are nine women, including one concertmistress. But the statistics is quite modest compared to other major world orchestras.
Nevertheless, fans love the Viennese, because the orchestra has numerous advantages. Like many millions of viewers from 90 countries around the world, Poles watch live the New Year concert in the gilded hall of the Musikverein and then buy a recording of the event. For music lovers, recordings of the Viennese have a unique advantage - whether in terms of instrumental music or vocal-instrumental. Recordings of symphonies, instrumental concertos and operas under the baton of great masters are masterpieces!
In Wroclaw, the Vienna Philharmonic will play in May 2016, under the baton of Semion Bychkov, and the program will include Schubert's Eighth Symphony, 'Unfinished,' and a symphonic poem 'A Hero's Life' by Richard Strauss.
Lang Lang (18 February 2016)
Lang Lang / photo: Felix Broede/Deutsche Grammophon
The name of the Chinese pianist is known today not only to music connoisseurs, but also to all those who enjoy outdoor concerts (as the BBC Proms) as well as films (he recorded the soundtrack for 'The Painted Veil' starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts). Born in 1982 into a musical family (his father, Guo-ren Lang plays the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument), Lang Lang was a typical prodigy and before 17th birthday, lived to see his name as an entry in an encyclopaedia. He is perhaps the first Chinese pianist who made his international career on a unprecedented scale so far. Seeing remarkable technical performance and undoubtedly a great sense of style, the critics were sceptical towards him at first, and some even prophesied his fame to be short-lived. In the end it turned out that Lang Lang, by skillfully choosing the conductors with whom he worked, and a sophisticated repertoire, has become one of the most interesting soloists, not only Asian! Today, this superstar lives in a $ 3 million apartment in New York and at the same time is an ambitious and extremely hard-working artist. He plays not only the classics; he graced the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, established himself as a fan of Metallica, and eagerly plays in a variety of genres.
The National Music Forum will play with the US National Orchestra under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach on 18 February 2016.
Krzysztof Penderecki (16 December 2015)
Krzysztof Penderecki/photo: Tomasz Walków
This outstanding composer, who is also a conductor, needs no introduction. He came to Wroclaw many times, for the Wratislavia Cantans Festival, the Congress of Polish Culture (where his songs sounded in addition to those composed by a devotee - Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead), and finally in the Wroclaw Philharmonic, where the Master has recently celebrated the 80th birthday. Finally, the great-grandfather of the composer, Jan Berger, was Wroclaw born. The author is now an institution; he created not only works that are fundamental to musical literature of the twentieth century, but also the European Centre in Lutosławice, where promising musicians and composers are educated. Extremely hard-working, Penderecki is adored by many prominent artists for whom he composed (including the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the late cellist Mścisław Rostropowicz). Film enthusiasts will appreciate his film music, e.g. to 'The Saragossa Manuscript' by Wojciech Jerzy Has.
He will perform in Wroclaw on December 16 this year, conducting the NFM Leopoldinum.
London Symphony Orchestra ( 25 May 2016)
London Symphony Orchestra/photo: Alberto Venzago
It is known that the London Symphony Orchestra will play under the baton of conductor Antonio Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. The London ensemble is one of the top world orchestras ('Gramophone' magazine ranked them right behind the Wiener Philharmoniker). Created in 1904 and now run by a Russian Valery Gergiev, the ensemble contributes not only to the history of performing great symphonic works, but the quality of performing film music as well. It was the LSO who recorded music for the key blockbusters of recent years, 'Star Wars,' 'Braveheart' and 'Harry Potter'. The services of the Symphony were also used by Agnieszka Holland in 'Copying Beethoven' (music by Anthony Łazarkiewicz). The programme of their Wroclaw performance will include Gustav Mahler's Fourth Symphony.
