The essence of elegance

Gioachino Rossini once said, Give me a laundry list and I will set it to music. This evening at the Philharmonic proves that lightness does not exclude mastery. That brilliance can be just as demanding as seriousness. Three composers, three aesthetics, three takes on musical elegance-full of invention, wit, and perfectly balanced form.

Rossini was only 20 years old when he composed La scala di seta-a one-act comic farce built around romantic intrigues and the somewhat absurd complications of the titular “silken ladder.” Although the opera itself is rarely staged today, its overture has secured a permanent place in the concert repertoire. Few composers have managed to combine levity so effectively with structural discipline. Rossini was known for his lightning-fast composing speed-he wrote the overture to some operas, such as Il Signor Bruschino, on the day of the premiere. And yet, his music remains a model of elegance and lightness.

During his second visit to London, Haydn was at the height of his fame. The audience there expected both entertainment and artistry, and Haydn had a keen sense for that balance. The Sinfonia concertante in B-flat major was written with this in mind-a fascinating hybrid of symphony and concerto. The solo parts for four instruments-violin, cello, oboe, and bassoon-engage in a dialogue not only with the orchestra but also with each other. Haydn, a master of form, did not hesitate to infuse his works with humor and surprise, which makes this symphony not only dazzling but also deeply considered.

Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante, performed by Maria Machowska (violin), Aleksandra Ohar-Sprawka (cello), Aleksandra Rojek (oboe), Leszek Wachnik (bassoon), and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk:

The evening concludes with Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven-a piece Richard Wagner called “the apotheosis of dance.” It is one of the most rhythmically vibrant and dynamic works in the symphonic canon. From the triumphant introduction, through the famous Allegretto-often performed on its own-to the electrifying final Allegro con brio, Beethoven crafts a work that is spirited and brimming with pulsating energy. The symphony premiered in 1813 at a charity concert for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Hanau. It was immediately recognized as one of the composer’s most moving works.

You don’t need grand themes to create great music. Rossini, Haydn, and Beethoven show that true mastery can be expressed through lightness, refined structure, and theatrical flair.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer:

The Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Jakub Przybycień – one of the most promising Polish conductors of the young generation, a finalist of the prestigious Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award 2025, who in the coming seasons will lead some of Europe’s leading orchestras. The solo parts will be performed by members of the orchestra: concertmaster Paweł Maślanka (violin), Izabela Kokosińska (oboe), Edyta_Moroz (bassoon), and Yesong_Lee (cello).