Voices from afar

The programme for this evening focuses on Polish choral music of the 20th century, which is varied in style, form, and function. Sacred and secular pieces will be performed, drawing from folklore and liturgy, ranging from compact structures to more elaborate narratives.

The central piece is Stabat Mater by Roman Padlewski, the longest and most complex work of the evening. Composed in 1939, it combines the classical Latin sequence with the expressive language of 20th-century music. Its dense texture, strong dynamic contrasts, and emotional intensity make it not only a religious work but also a testament to a dramatic moment in history. Two Motets, written the same year, are shorter but stylistically consistent, forming part of the same unfinished story.

The second focus of the programme is the Kurpie folk songs, interpreted by Roman Maciejewski, Stanisław Moryto, and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. Although they all draw from the same source, their compositional approaches differ clearly: Maciejewski favors simplicity and subtlety, Moryto embraces narrative power, and Górecki offers condensed, lapidary expression. Shared roots lead to three unique perspectives on tradition.

Promotional video for the Simultaneo Vocal Octet: