SONGS OF CHRISTMAS / ONLINE CONCERT

Retransmission on the YouTube channel of the Polish Royal Opera. The recording will be available until 19:00 on the 9^th of January 2021.

I do not know if any other country can boast a collection similar to the one which Poland has […]. The feelings expressed in them, maternal feelings, the zealous devotion of the Blessed Virgin for the Divine Child, are so delicate and so sacred that translating them into prose could make them vulgar. It would be difficult to find in any other poetry expressions so pure, of such sweetness and such delicacy, proclaimed the poet Adam Mickiewicz during one of his lectures at the Collège de France, referring to beautiful Polish canticles, as Christmas carols were called at that time.

Luckily, the tradition of singing and listening to Christmas carols is still alive in Poland, and the richness of musical themes and their profound message continue to inspire new generations of artists. Although they all deal with the theme of the Nativity of the Lord, they also bear witness to age-old rituals and are a source of reflection on what is universal.

During the concert SONGS OF CHRISTMAS, traditional Polish Christmas carols composed in the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th centuries will be played in various arrangements. The message of the beautiful Old Polish texts reflects both the Great Revelation and folk simple-mindedness. Among the Christmas carols by anonymous authors, we will also hear pieces by famous composers, such as Wacław of Szamotuły. These chants, although little known today, are well-worth recalling.

PROGRAM

Narodził się nam Zbawiciel – Anonymous 14^th c.
Chrystus się nam narodził – Anonymous 15^th c.
Bądź wiesioła Panno czysta – Anonymous 15^th c.
Zdrow bądź krolu anielski – music Anonymous 15^th – 16^th c., lyrics Anonymous 14^th – 15^th c.
Piosenka barzo piękna o narodzeniu Pańskim – Anonymous 16^th c.
Kolęda ku śpiewaniu dla dziatek (Nuż my, dziatki…) – Anonymous 16^th c.
Chwała-ć już bądź, Jezu Kryste – Anonymous, lyrics Martin Luther, transl. acc. Cantional of Piotr Artomius (16^th c.)
Nuż my dziś krześcijanie – Anonymous 16^th c.
Królowie jadą przez pole – Anonymous 17^th c.
Pieśń o narodzeniu Pańskim – Wacław of Szamotuły
Radujcie się, weselcie się – Anonymous 16^th c., transl. acc. Cantional of Statniątki

PERFORMERS

CHAMBER CHOIR OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA

RENATA SZCZYPIOR  CONDUCTOR