Weekend at the Lutosławski Studio

“(…) Led by Gabriel Chmura, Sinfonia Iuventus performed a concert without any soloists. The programme consisted of two Symphonies No. 5: by Mieczysław Wajnberg and by Sergei Prokofiev. The first one dates back to 1962, whereas the second one – to 1944, and it is difficult to find other two works that differ so greatly in terms of mood. Wajnberg’s work is extremely powerful and specific, it speaks the language of grief, which is so characteristic of the composer, however, without pathos. Rather, as if the speaker turned into stone or was reduced to ashes. Such music puts enormous emotional burden on a performer, and that is one of the basic difficulties it poses. Prokofiev’s work, in turn, is rather cheerful. Although it was composed while the last chords of World War II still resounded, the message it conveys is optimistic. It holds loads of lyricism, which we can recall from the pre-war ballet Romeo and Juliet, but the finale also displays this specific nerve, mischievousness, and a shade of sarcasm. And this feature, as it turns out, also is demanding in terms of expression. The conductor worked with the ensemble for two weeks. They also recorded a CD together, which is to be ready in a month (…).”

Source: “Polityka” Dorota Szwarcman’s blog

Author: Dorota Szwarcman

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