Time 19:00
The Royal Theatre in the Old Orangery in the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw
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The richness of literary forms of the Psalms of David as well as their moving and universal message constantly inspire artists of various traditions and eras. The wisdom and beauty hidden in the biblical texts were particularly visible in the works of Renaissance and Baroque composers: both those associated with the Italian musical culture and early Polish ones left behind numerous outstanding works that contributed to the centuries-old psalmodic tradition.
Salamone Rossi, a composer at the Gonzaga court of Mantua whose works open and close the program of the concert, was the author of the first-ever book of works with Hebrew texts published in print. Hashirim asher lisz’lomo (Songs of Solomon) is a collection of thirty-three polyphonic vocal compositions published in 1623, which are a unique and, at that time, revolutionary fusion of Western musical practice with Jewish tradition. On the other hand, Benedetto Marcello employed a completely different approach: in his case, synagogue chants were the source of inspiration for creating his own, unique style of conveying the essence of the Old Testament.
Among the early composers associated with the Polish musical tradition, Simon Bar Jona Madelka from Opole and probably of Czech-Jewish descent is one that definitely stands out. In his arrangement, the penitential Psalm 6 Domine, ne in furore resounds with a variety of musical techniques, colours, and moods. No less delightful the communio Gustate et videte composed to the text of Psalm 33 by Mikołaj Zieleński, whose collection Offertoria et Communiones Totius Anni is one of the most valuable treasures of Polish music created at the turn of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
PROGRAM
Salamone Rossi (1570–1630)
Elohim Hashivenu (Psalm 80)
Adon Olam (Hymn)
Mikołaj Zieleński (c.1550–c.1615)
Gustate et videte (Psalm 33)
Simon Bar Jona Madelka (c.1550–c.1598)
Domine, ne in furore (Psalm 6)
Benedetto Marcello (1686–1739)
O beati color (Psalm 31)
Salamone Rossi (1570–1630)
Yitgadal (Kaddish)
Shir Hama’alot (Psalm 128)
PERFORMERS
SYLWESTER SMULCZYŃSKI TENOR
THE CHAMBER CHOIR OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA
THE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA
RENATA SZCZYPIOR CHORUS MASTER
JAKUB BURZYŃSKI CONDUCTOR