Composer

The internationally acclaimed conductor and violinist Thomas Zehetmair has gathered musicians in his quartet, founded over 30 years ago, with whom he can realize thoughtful, yet deeply felt interpretations with unmistakable clarity and uncompromising spirit. Chamber music at a dizzying level.

Zehetmair Quartet

Blaibach Concert Hall

Bartók’s ballet is a fairytale, for sure, but this is 20th-century Hungary, where folklore has a habit of growing teeth and claws. Edward Gardner shares the choral ecstasies of Szymanowski’s gorgeous Stabat Mater, and champions the utterly original music of Vítězslava Kaprálová. Expect surging emotions, burning colours and glorious singing; but above all, prepare to be transported.

The Wooden Prince

Southbank Centre

Experience a concert brimming with resilience and hope. Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, composed in just one month during World War II, is a celebration of spirit and strength. The composer stated that the symphony was intended as “a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit … I cannot say that I deliberately chose this theme. It was born in me and clamored for expression.” Hear this hymn to humanity plus Polish composer Karol Szymanowski’s joyful Second Violin Concerto.

EPSG:4326

Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

In 2020, the National Opera in Warsaw celebrated the 55th anniversary of the reconstruction of its historic home on Teatralny Square. The ambitious project of raising the theatre from ruins was completed 20 years after the war, with the grand opening of the modernized Grand Theatre on November 19, 1965. Shortly thereafter, the Warsaw Opera ensemble, including its distinguished choir, moved in from its temporary home on Nowogrodzka Street.

Chorus Opera

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

Despite dying at the age of just 26, French composer Lili Boulanger left behind a wealth of fantastic music. Among the highlights is the buzzing, lively spring morning she evokes in the short tone poem D'un matin de printemps , which she composed just a few months before her death.

Søndergaard & Ravel

DR Koncerthuset

The Vertavo String Quartet has captivated audiences the world over since its founding in 1984. The quartet’s honors and awards include Norway’s Grieg Prize; First Prize, the Audience Prize, and the Critics’ Prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition; and a Diapason d’Or for their recording of Debussy and Grieg quartets. The group has toured extensively throughout Europe, the US, and Japan, and collaborated with pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Leif Ove Andsnes, clarinetist Sabine Meyer, and violinist and violist Isabelle van Keulen.

Vertavo String Quartet 2026

Northwestern University

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music. Kayleigh Kim is a student of Paul Kantor. 

Kayleigh Kim, Violin

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

Guest Concert

Konzerthaus Karlsruhe

Imagine this: Three sailors go ashore for their 24-hour vacation to discover New York. They experience the most incredible adventures in this vast city that never sleeps. And...

Overseas

Pfalzbau Ludwigshafen

Violinist Benjamin Beilman has built an international audience of listeners enthralled by his golden tone, impeccable technique, and magnetic musicianship. Truly a violinist’s violinist, Beilman excels at whatever he plays, from classic to contemporary, with equal appeal. Partnering with Beilman for this special concert is pianist Gloria Chien, a long-time presence at CMS and one of today’s most sought-after collaborators.

An Evening with Benjamin Beilman and Gloria Chien

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Juno Award winner, UNESCO Ambassador, and alumnus of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, Jan Lisiecki plays Preludes by Chopin, Bach, Messiaen, and Rachmaninov.

Jan Lisiecki, piano

The Royal Conservatory of Music

No ensemble has visited the University of Iowa more often than the Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra—but it’s been 43 years since the ensemble’s last performance on campus. We are delighted to welcome them back under the baton of Thomas Søndergård for a concert featuring violinist Benjamin Beilman, an adventuresome and passionate performer with a rich and deep tone. The program includes music by Tōru Takemitsu, Karol Szymanowski, and Hector Berlioz. Members of the orchestra will also engage with student musicians across the UI School of Music.

Minnesota Orchestra

University of Iowa

Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique was rooted in his passion for an actress who, for years, paid him no attention. His unanswered obsession led him to compose an autobiographical symphony that tracks the highs and lows of his emotional state, and one that redefined the parameters of what an orchestra could do.

Søndergård Conducts Symphonie fantastique

Orchestra Hall

Stylistically, the four pieces in this program display enormous differences, which is what makes the sequence of works so appealing. Nevertheless, there is also a common thread. What the compositions have in common is that their creators each thought outside the box and found inspiration therein. Clara Schumann was a famous piano virtuoso and then the wife of a very gifted composer; she adopted many a gesture and tone from him - her Romances of 1853 bear witness to this. Richard Strauss, on the other hand, was on the verge of making a significant name for himself as a composer of expansive tone poems for orchestra with huge scores. When he completed his violin sonata in 1887, the ecstasy evoked by Don Juan in the symphonic poem of the same name was already haunting his mind—this, too, is unmistakable. Karol Szymanowski, on the other hand, was deeply inspired by the play of colors of Impressionism, particularly by the music of Claude Debussy, as the three "Myths" from 1915 bear eloquent witness. Maurice Ravel was also among the Impressionists; in his violin sonata, completed in 1937, however, he turned in a completely different direction—toward America and the blues. No creative mind works on its own; everyone needs inspiration, even if it comes from foreign gardens.

Concert Frolova/Stanev: From Foreign Gardens

Mozarteum Foundation

The young, likeable and down-to-earth German-Italian pianist Sophie Pacini has already performed on stage with Andrea Bocelli and Martha Argerich, has received numerous awards, and, according to her own statement, can smell, taste, and see sounds in color. With her wide-ranging program, with which she opens this season's "Pianomania" series, not only she herself but also the audience will experience a true explosion of the senses.

Sophie Pacini / Piano Recital

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The great success of Polish mountain music – the concert has been a quiet success on international stages for years, inspiring genuine admiration, yet it always returns to Warsaw. The music of three outstanding Polish composers: Karol Szymanowski, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and Wojciech Kilar, is combined into a mountain musical spectacle. Szymanowski highly valued the voices of the Podhale region for, among other things, their "primordial wildness, the painstaking forging of shapes that don't sink hopelessly into the bloodless sea of ​​sentimentality, and finally, their innate vividness of imagination." Górecki's fascination with folklore extended further, as "from the mountains to the sea," as evidenced by the song collection " Wisło, szara Wisło ." Kilar, on the other hand, created "Orawa" – his greatest symphonic hit inspired by the Krzesana note. There will be a lot going on during the concert. Hey! Please leave your axes in the cloakroom.

Voices of the Mountains

Hailed as “dazzling and inspired” by The New York Times, Leila Josefowicz returns to the NY Phil as soloist in Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto. In her NY Phil debut, conductor Marta Gardolińska (“an artist to be reckoned with,” The Guardian) leads the New York Premiere of Mason Bates’s Devil’s Radio and Lutosławksi’s Concerto for Orchestra, a virtuosic showcase for the full ensemble.

Leila Josefowicz Plays Szymanowski

David Geffen Hall

Soloist concert Dueñas · Malofeev

Nostalgie française – Nostalgia I

Evangelical Reformed Church

This chamber music evening is all about mythological transformation stories in text and music: Richard Strauss' "Metamorphoses", Benjamin Britten's "Narcissus" and works by Karol Szymanowski and Thea Musgrave will be performed.

Chamber Music VI: In the mirror

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Italian and American pianist Giulia Contaldo came to international attention when she stepped in for Elisso Virsaladze to play Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Omer Meir Wellber at the Bridgewater Hall (Manchester) live broadcasted by BBC Radio3.

Giulia Contaldo - Piano

Clonter Opera Theatre

How much personal life do composers allow to flow into their works? And can you hear it? The musicians of the Collenbusch Quartet have selected three works that are strongly influenced by the experiences of their creators. In the case of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, it is the First World War, which he experienced on his parents' country estate in what is now Ukraine: In his string quartet, he looks back musically and into the future. Similarly, Shostakovich composed his Third String Quartet at the end of the Second World War. But not in a gloomy, tragic way, but rather in a darkly humorous way, in which he allows the pain to come across as almost musically light-footed. The Czech national composer Smetana had an inkling when he wrote his quartet that he would soon be deaf. In a way, the result is an autobiography in sound

Collenbusch Quartett

Palace of Culture

Dreams and fantasies from enigmatic Szymanowski to Berlioz’s most rock’n’roll work, the Symphonie fantastique.

On Tour in Heidelberg

Heidelberg Congress Center

On Tour in Cologne

Museum Ludwig

"It is a dance between eroticism and compassion, between a dream world and bitter reality." This is how violinist Lisa Batiashvili describes Karol Szymanowski's first violin concerto, in which the passions of a May night become sound.

Lisa Batiashvili | London Symphony Orchestra | Sir Antonio Pappano

Berlioz was always in thrall to one craze or other. His Le corsaire overture was inspired by a love of Byron, an attraction to piracy, and a failed affair. The result is a suitably colourful experience.

On Tour in Prague

Municipal House

On Tour in Vienna

Wiener Konzerthaus

Berlioz was always in thrall to one craze or other. His Le corsaire Overture was inspired by a love of Byron, an attraction to piracy, and a failed affair. The result is a suitably colourful experience.

Composed in 1916, Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto is haunting, enigmatic and inspired by an ecstatic poem about a ‘rapturous conflagration’. And Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique is a wild ride through a drug-fuelled hallucination, triggered by thwarted love and full of astonishing orchestral effects.

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano

Barbican Centre

Join the London Symphony Orchestra for an enthralling evening of music featuring Szymanowski and Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. This captivating concert is set to take place at the Barbican on Thursday, 22 May 2025, starting at 7pm. Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano and featuring the virtuosic Lisa Batiashvili on violin, the evening promises to be a journey through dreams and fantasies, from the enigmatic tones of Szymanowski to the rock’n’roll spirit of Berlioz’s most famous work.

The concert will open with Hector Berlioz's "Overture: Le corsaire," a piece inspired by Byron's love of piracy and a failed affair, setting the stage for an evening of colorful and passionate music. Following this, Karol Szymanowski's "Violin Concerto No. 1" will transport the audience with its haunting and ecstatic melodies, perfectly suited to Batiashvili's exquisite sound. After a brief interval, the night will culminate with Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique," a wild ride through a drug-fueled hallucination, full of astonishing orchestral effects and triggered by thwarted love.

The concert is scheduled to conclude at approximately 8:55pm, including a 20-minute interval. Tickets are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with a £4 booking fee applicable per online or phone transaction. Additionally, attendees can save on their booking with various discounts available, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry with seat allocation on the day, multibuy discounts, and special rates for groups, young people, and students.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the London Symphony Orchestra's masterful performance, showcasing the talents of Lisa Batiashvili and the imaginative works of Szymanowski and Berlioz. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable musical journey.

Szymanowski and Symphonie fantastique

Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic

Heinz Hall

Isabel Tannenbaum, viola - Second Year Artist Diploma Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

In pursuit of their degrees at SFCM, each student presents a recital that represents their artistry and craft. Student Recitals feature repertoire curated by students with guidance from their faculty instructor.

Aleksi Zaretsky, violin - Senior Recital

Departmental Recitals showcase performance departments through its students. Featuring various students and repertoire, and curated by the faculty, performances in this recital highlight SFCM programs and the wide range of study. 

Violin Department Recital

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music. Yujin Kim is a student of Kathleen Winkler.

Yujin Kim, Violin

Jan Lisiecki’s interpretations and technique speak to a maturity beyond his age. At 29, the Canadian performs over a hundred yearly concerts worldwide. The New York Times reviewed his March 2024 Carnegie Hall Preludes concert, noting his playing has "...gentle judiciousness, aristocratic reserve and a touch that tends shadowy without losing a core of clarity." Lisiecki performs a program of preludes on the Jacobs Music Center stage, treating the audience to dozens of succinct, characterful works by Chopin, J. S. Bach, Rachmaninoff, Szymanowski and Messiaen.

JAN LISIECKI in Recital: "Preludes"

Jacobs Music Center

Four Diotima

Gewandhaus

Join us for an enchanting evening with Jonathan Fournel, the acclaimed winner of the Musiq’3 Premier Prix at the Queen Elisabeth Competition 2021, as he makes his debut in Liège. This recital, part of the "Piano 5 étoiles" series, promises to be a memorable experience showcasing Fournel's exceptional talent and his unique approach to the piano repertoire.

**Date and Time:** Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM  
**Duration:** Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes  
**Location:** Salle Philharmonique, Liège  
**Ticket Prices:** €34 / €18 / €11  
**Reservations:** Tickets available for booking

**Program Highlights:**  
- J.-S. BACH, Italian Concerto BWV 971  
- BRAHMS, Intermezzi op. 117  
- SZYMANOWSKI, Variations on a Polish Folk Theme op. 10  
- CHOPIN, Piano Sonata No. 3

Jonathan Fournel, celebrated for his mastery over the piano, brings to life the works of Bach, Brahms, Szymanowski, and Chopin with a program that celebrates the beauty of musical storytelling. His performances are known for their delicate precision and emotional depth, making each piece a journey through the myriad colors and narratives embedded in the music.

This recital is not just a concert but an exploration of the rich tapestry of classical music, from the intricate counterpoints of Bach to the romantic expressions of Chopin, all interpreted through Fournel's passionate and thoughtful lens. It's an opportunity to witness the craftsmanship of a master pianist who shapes musical phrases with the finesse of a glassblower, creating moments of sheer beauty and profound reflection.

**Practical Information:**  
- **Venue Address:** Salle Philharmonique de Liège, Boulevard Piercot, 25-27, B - 4000 Liège, Belgium  
- **Ticketing Information:** Tickets can be reserved online, at the OPRL ticket office (Boulevard Piercot, 25-27, 4000 Liège), or by phone at 32 04 220 00 00, Monday to Friday, 1 PM - 6 PM. Payment for reserved tickets must be completed within 48 hours via cash, bank card, credit card, or bank transfer, after which unconfirmed reservations will be released for sale.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of Jonathan Fournel in a program that promises to be a highlight of the musical season. Reserve your tickets now for an unforgettable journey through the classics.

Jonathan Fournel

Philharmonic Hall of Liege

The fourth chamber music matinee of the 2024/25 season embarks on a voyage of discovery into little-known territory. The expedition is led by Bartosz Zachlod, leader of the second violins and passionate chamber musician. Together with colleagues from the NDR Radio Philharmonic, he presents works from his Polish homeland: Karol Szymanowski's String Quartet No. 1 and the highly romantic piano quintet by Juliusz Zarębski. Rating: absolutely worthwhile!

Polish. Szymanowski and Zarębski in a matinee concert

NDR Concert Hall | Small Broadcasting Hall

The medieval verses of the Marian sequence Stabat mater seem like a symbol of mourning that has endured for ages. Once sung in unison and humbly, the Stabat mater has inspired generations of composers, including the Pole Karol Szymanowski in 1926, whose oratorio-like Stabat mater incorporated elements of Polish folk and church music. Geographically and thematically close to each other are Pēteris Vasks' political and personal mourning work of the Musica dolorosa , Arvo Pärt's meditation on the Shroud of Turin and Witold Lutosławski's short Lacrimosa from the image-rich death sequence of the Dies irae.

Stabat Mater

Sacred Heart Church Munich

French pianist Jonathan Fournel launched his international career in the spring of 2021 when he won the Grand Prize at the prestigious International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. His playing is distinguished by stunning technique, an ability to summon an extraordinary spectrum of colors, and his balanced mix of exquisite refinement and wild instinct. Jonathan's natural lyricism and the bright clarity of his interpretations illuminate the musical details with a profoundly mature understanding.

Johnathan Fournel

Sunset Center

Jonathan Nott conducts works by Szymanowski, Zemlinsky and Tchaikovsky

Freiburg Concert Hall

Kultur- & Kongresszentrum Liederhalle

Jonathan Nott conducts Szymanowski, Zemlinsky and Tchaikovsky

With the evocative Night on Bald Mountain, Modest Mussorgsky transports us to a eerie witches' gathering, immersed in Russian folklore. This symphonic poem, rich in imagination, has been widely used in film and TV soundtracks. Renowned violinist For his part, top violinist Christian Tetzlaff, a staunch defender of the lesser-known repertoire, opts for Karol Szymanowski's exotic First Violin Concerto. The Polish composer wrote it at a time when his musical language was evolving from late romantic to more impressionistic. The optimism of Szymanowski's concerto contrasts sharply with the Sixth symphony composed by Tchaikovsky shortly before his death. Did he feel his end of life approaching? It seems that way: the passionate Adagio sounds like a farewell to life. Today, this epic symphony is celebrated as one of the most poignant and profound pieces in musical history.

Emelyanychev conducts Tchaikovsky's 6th

Centre for Fine Arts

Music Center De Bijloke

The British pianist and composer has shown a predilection for rare repertoire, especially from the Romantic period and the 20th Century, which has seen him champion such figures as the Austrian Egon Kornauth (1891-1959) and the Ukrainian Felix Blumenfeld (1863-1931). International Record Review found his interpretations on CD of the former ‘most engaging and enterprising ... [he] is a most perceptive advocate of this music.’

Jonathan Powell piano

Wigmore Hall

Insiders: Ilya Kaler, violin

Cleveland Institute of Music

Revolutions aren’t always noisy – and as the world around them broke up in war and turmoil, Dora Pejačević and Karol Szymanowski let their imaginations soar, creating beauty that still thrills and ravishes today. The young Strauss pictures eternity, and Richard Wagner writes a wordless poem to the love of his life: music so intimate that it almost feels as if we shouldn’t be listening.

Glowing Colours and Grand Passions

Glowing colours and grand passions

Featuring two of today’s brightest rising stars, this duo concert in our most intimate venue thrills on every level. It’s the recital debut of violinist María Dueñas, who gave a “stupendous” performance here in 2022 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel. “Dueñas was wholly captivating ... she could have drawn blood from [the violin’s] strings,” wrote The New York Times. The piece she performed to such acclaim was a new work by Carnegie Hall’s 2024–2025 Debs Composer’s Chair Gabriela Ortiz, who contributes another new work for this special occasion. On piano is Alexander Malofeev, an extraordinary artist of rapidly increasing international renown, who makes his own recital debut in March 2024.

María Dueñas, Violin Alexander Malofeev, Piano

Carnegie Hall

Two major figures from Polish music – the virtuoso violinist Henryk Wieniawski (1835-80) and the wide-ranging, folk-influenced Szymanowski – are drawn on by the duo; the violinist aptly won Second Prize at the International Henryk Wieniawski Competition in Poznań in 2016.

Bomsori Kim violin; Danny Driver piano

Repertory and world premiere works for piano featuring pianists Sharon Chang, Dominika Gacka and Mateusz Borowiak and composer Louis Pelosi.

Pelosi and Pianists: Repertory and New Works

Kaufman Music Center

Gemma New, “one of the brightest rising stars in the conducting firmament” (St. Louis Post Dispatch), returns to guide the MSO through the adventure of Sibelius's Second Symphony. Though Sibelius denied any political story behind the Second’s music, patriotic hearts have adopted it anyway — the symphony’s heroic feelings of hope and triumph are impossible to ignore. Opening the program is Szymanowski's Second Violin Concerto, a lyrical journey rich with color, and made even richer in the hands of violin virtuoso Vadim Gluzman.

Gemma New Conducts Sibelius

Warner Grand Theater

Karol Szymanowski wrote the intense choral piece Stabat Mater in grief after losing his niece. Sergei Prokofiev wrote his magnificent Symphony No. 5 during the Second World War - marked by the ravages of war, but with hope for a better future.

Christian Măcelaru Oslo Philharmonic Choir

Oslo Concert Hall

Guest Artists visit SFCM to share their expertise with student musicians.

PC & College Masterclass: Denis Kozhukhin, piano

One of the focuses of the violinist’s busy career is the recital repertoire, often in conjunction with tonight’s pianist: she also makes a feature of championing contemporary music. British composer Charlotte Bray has emerged as one of the most distinctive voices of her generation: Mriya – which means ‘dream’ in Ukrainian

Leila Josefowicz violin; John Novacek piano

Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski is also half Polish, and the Polish connections in this programme are strong: Scottish piano virtuoso Ronald Stevenson’s suite on Paderewski’s sole opera (Jablonski’s recording of selected piano works by Stevenson is released on Ondine on 4 October 2024), a selection of works by Szymanowski, and the intricate Second Sonata (1953) of Grażyna Bacewicz, whose works for piano and piano and orchestra he recently recorded to great critical acclaim.

Peter Jablonski piano

In Mahler’s First Symphony, the earth wakens to sounds of nature and nostalgic folk songs in the first movement. The middle movement is charm itself, while the finale is a funeral march to the tune of ‘Frère Jacques’. Not for nothing was the symphony nicknamed Titan.

Join us for an exquisite afternoon of chamber music at LSO St Luke's with the New Generation Artists: Quatuor Arod, part of the BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert series. This captivating performance is scheduled for Thursday, 19th September 2024, starting at 1pm and concluding at approximately 2.05pm.

The Quatuor Arod, renowned for their dynamic and insightful interpretations, will explore the profound depths of String Quartet No 2 by Karol Szymanowski followed by the emotional richness of Robert Schumann's String Quartet No 3. This event not only promises to be a feast for the senses but will also be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3, offering you a chance to be part of a unique musical experience.

Tickets are priced at £16, with concessions available at £14, and a special rate of £6 for under-18s. A booking fee of £1.50 per transaction applies. Attendees can also benefit from multibuy discounts, concessions for students and groups, and free companion tickets for Barbican Access Members.

Booking your tickets is easy and can be done online at lso.co.uk, by phone, or in person at the Barbican Centre with no booking fee. For those looking to save, consider our multibuy discounts or group booking options.

Please note, as this event is being recorded for broadcast, we kindly ask all attendees to minimize noise and disturbance during the performance and to ensure all phones and devices are switched off.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the exceptional talent of Quatuor Arod as they bring to life the works of Szymanowski and Schumann in the intimate setting of LSO St Luke's. Book your tickets now and be part of a memorable musical journey.

New Generation Artists: Quatuor Arod

LSO St Luke's

Experience the grandeur of classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra's captivating performance of "Chopin and Mahler 1" at the Barbican. This exceptional concert, taking place on Thursday, 19th September 2024 at 7pm, promises an evening of sublime music under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, featuring the virtuosic Yuja Wang on piano.

The concert will open with Karol Szymanowski's Concert Overture, setting the stage with its 16 minutes of enchanting melodies. The spotlight then shifts to Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, a masterpiece lasting 30 minutes that showcases the piano's lyrical capabilities in a closely woven partnership with the orchestra. After an interval, the evening culminates with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1, an epic 57-minute journey through nature, nostalgia, and a bold, thrilling finale.

Sir Antonio Pappano, the LSO's Chief Conductor, alongside the remarkable Yuja Wang, will bring these compositions to life, offering audiences a unique blend of romantic elegance and orchestral grandeur. The concert is set to conclude at approximately 9.10pm, including a 20-minute interval, ensuring an unforgettable night of music.

Tickets for this sold-out event were available in a range of prices, with options for everyone to enjoy this spectacular performance. Additionally, the concert offered various discounts and booking options, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry and multibuy discounts, making it accessible to a wide audience.

For those unable to secure tickets, the performance will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3, allowing music lovers everywhere to partake in the beauty of this concert. This event not only highlights the London Symphony Orchestra's commitment to bringing classical music to the forefront but also showcases the incredible talents of Sir Antonio Pappano and Yuja Wang, making it a must-experience for anyone passionate about music.

Chopin and Mahler 1

Classical Pride Presents: LSO with Oliver Zeffman & Nick Grimshaw

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration at the Barbican on Sunday, 7 July 2024, at 7pm, as the London Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Oliver Zeffman and presented by Nick Grimshaw, brings to life a diverse programme celebrating LGBTQ classical music. This special concert marks the culmination of 2024's Classical Pride festival, a non-profit event dedicated to showcasing the breadth and diversity of LGBTQ artists across the classical music spectrum.

The evening's programme opens with Aaron Copland's stirring "Fanfare for the Common Man," followed by the world premiere of a new work by US composer Jake Heggie and librettist Taylor Mac, featuring soprano Pumeza Matshikiza. The virtuosic and charming Piano Concerto No 2 by Camille Saint-Saëns will be performed by Pavel Kolesnikov, with an encore of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Valse sentimentale." The concert also includes Cassandra Miller's "Round," which takes Tchaikovsky's theme as a starting point, and concludes with Karol Szymanowski's Symphony No 3, "Song of the Night," featuring tenor soloist Russell Thomas and the LGBTQ Community Choir, offering a nocturnal vision of profound peace and passion.

Tickets are available at various price points, from £15 to £100, with a £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, 15 March. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit barbican.org.

Classical Pride is an annual festival curated by Oliver Zeffman, aiming to highlight the contributions of LGBTQ artists to classical music. The 2024 festival runs from 3 to 7 July, with a full programme of events available at classicalpride.uk. Net proceeds from the festival are donated to three important LGBTQ charities: Rainbow Railroad, Terrence Higgins Trust, and GAY TIMES’ Amplifund. This year's Classical Pride is also generously supported by VIIV Healthcare and GAY TIMES, along with individual benefactors.

Don't miss this powerful celebration of music, diversity, and pride.

Classical Pride with Oliver Zeffman & Nick Grimshaw

As the 2023–24 season comes to a close, we’ll have plenty of reasons to celebrate: an extraordinary first season with Thomas Søndergård as our music director and the month-long Pride festivities here in Minneapolis and around the country. In a program close to Thomas’ heart, we invite you to join us for music by composers from the LGBTQ+ community featuring the Minnesota Orchestra return of soloist Francesco Piemontesi and culminating with the fireworks of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.

Celebrating Pride with Thomas Søndergård

Join us for an enchanting evening of classical music as Thomas Filipiuk takes the stage at the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall. This Bachelor of Music student, under the tutelage of James Giles, will present a captivating piano recital on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 8:30pm CDT. The program promises a journey through the works of renowned composers, featuring Franz Schubert's Piano Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, J. S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Minor, BWV 867 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Karol Szymanowski's Masques, Op. 34, and a transcription by Franz Liszt of Charles Gounod's Waltz from Faust, S. 407.

This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. It will also be available via live stream for those who wish to enjoy the performance remotely. The Galvin Recital Hall, located within the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts at 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, offers a stunning backdrop with its 40-foot glass wall overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The hall's acoustics are enhanced by undulating walls covered with African moabi wood, ensuring an unforgettable auditory experience.

Don't miss this opportunity to support emerging talent and experience the beauty of classical music in one of the most acoustically and aesthetically pleasing venues in the area.

Thomas Filipiuk, piano

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Elizabeth Vaughan

Hamel Music Center

Ellis Thomas graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2022 with First-Class Honours and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music with Tessa Nicholson.

Foundling Museum: MMSF Fellow Lunchtime Recital

Foundling Museum

Join us for an enchanting evening of piano mastery with Wenting Shi, a distinguished Doctor of Musical Arts student under the tutelage of James Giles. This recital is set to take place on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 8:30pm CDT in the prestigious Galvin Recital Hall, located within the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts at Northwestern University.

The program promises a journey through the realms of piano literature, featuring Alexander Scriabin's enigmatic Sonata No. 9 "Black Mass," Op. 68, and Franz Liszt's monumental Sonata in B Minor, S. 178. The evening will also include selections from Karol Szymanowski's Masques, Trois morceaux de piano, Op. 34, George Rochberg's Carnival Music, a Suite for Piano, and Igor Stravinsky's vibrant Three Movements from Petrushka.

This event is free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of piano repertoire performed by an emerging talent in the classical music world. No tickets are required for attendance, and those unable to join in person can view the live stream of the performance.

The Galvin Recital Hall, with its stunning 40-foot glass wall overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, coupled with its optimal acoustics, provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of musical brilliance. Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the artistry of Wenting Shi in this captivating recital.

Wenting Shi, piano

All performances will take place Grace Presbyterian Church.

Sierra Chamber Society 37th Season Program IV

Grace Presbyterian Church

The New York Times calls the Verona Quartet “an outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament.” They won the Cleveland Quartet Award and are Oberlin College faculty. Prestigious venues where they have performed include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall and many more.

Verona Quartet

Rio Salado Park

Jan Lisiecki performs a program of preludes in his Carnegie Hall recital debut, treating audiences to dozens of succinct, characterful works by Chopin, J. S. Bach, Rachmaninoff, Szymanowski, Messiaen, and Górecki. This musical tradition is masterfully exemplified by Chopin’s Twenty-Four Preludes, which comprises the second half of the recital. These 24 individual pieces—one for each major and minor key, many of them no longer than a minute or two long—offer unique insight into the artistry of both composer and performer.

Jan Lisiecki, Piano

“Her virtuosity surfs waves of jubilant energy,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Every performance by Leila Josefowicz is a revelation of new things to be heard and felt in the familiar and a happy introduction to new sounds from less familiar creative voices. John Novacek is “a pianist well worth keeping an ear open for”.

Leila Josefowicz Violin and John Novacek Piano

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

Before they embark on a tour of California venues, 2023-2024 Artist-in-Residence John Novacek and world-renowned violinist Leila Josefowicz perform an evening recital of unique works for violin and piano.

John Novacek & Leila Josefowicz

Templeton High School

Violin students of Kathleen Winkler

Reserve your seats today and enjoy unbeatable savings by subscribing to New World Symphony’s Chamber Music series. Starting at just $10 a concert, our 2023-24 series features works for small ensembles by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy, J.S. Bach, Wynton Marsalis and Hildegard von Bingen.

Chamber Music: Nosky and Uncharted Baroque

New World Center

There’s a special kinship between Scotland and Poland – two nations with stirring histories and dauntless spirits. Grażyna Bacewicz stood her own ground in a time of tyranny, writing music as characterful as it is defiant. Karol Szymanowski imagined new realms of musical sensuality, and the dazzling young South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim is passionate about his silken, shimmering First Violin Concerto. Then, to finish, Witold Lutosławski launches fabulous musical fireworks into the grey skies of communist Poland. Fiery, playful, and utterly original his Concerto for Orchestra is one of post-war music’s true showstoppers, and it’s a special favourite of guest conductor Marta Gardolińska. She won’t hold back today.

Afternoon Performance: Muzyka Polska!

Glasgow City Hall

A panorama of ancient pagan rituals, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring put modernism squarely on the map. Experience the swaggering and suspenseful ballet score that drove Parisian audiences to riot at its 1913 premiere. Leonidas Kavakos brings an “intense, silken, mercurial” sound (The Guardian) to his rendition of Szymanowski’s folk-inspired Second Violin Concerto. Mussorgsky’s fiery depiction of a witches’ sabbath opens the program.

CSO at Wheaton: The Rite of Spring & Kavakos

Wheaton College

The Eufonie Festival aims to popularize the cultural heritage of most countries known today as Central and Eastern Europe: from the Balkans, through Romania and Austria, the Visegrad Group countries, Ukraine and Belarus, to the Baltic States.

BBC Symphony Orchestra: Eufonie Festival, Warsaw

National Philharmonic

The Rite of Spring & Kavakos

Symphony Center

The Welsh pianist returns for a probing and virtuosic program featuring Liszt’s iconic Hungarian Rhapsody. His name may be unfamiliar to some, but Williams astounded our audience in his last appearances.

Llŷr Williams, piano

Union College

New York Philharmonic prinicpal trombonist Joseph Alessi — a veritable rock star among American brass players — takes center stage with a work written for him by the late, great jazz legend Chick Corea, premiered with Giancarlo Guerrero in São Paolo. Szymanowski’s Concert Overture is an exuberant concert opener, and Giancarlo ties it all together with Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite, which perfectly captures the drama and heartbreak of Shakespeare’s immortal story.

Corea’s Concerto + Romeo & Juliet

Shermerhorn Symphony Center

“One of the most admired pianists of his generation” (New York Times), Inon Barnatan has received universal acclaim for his “uncommon sensitivity” (The New Yorker), “impeccable musicality and phrasing” (Le Figaro), and his stature as “a true poet of the keyboard: refined, searching, unfailingly communicative” (The Evening Standard). A multifaceted musician, Barnatan is equally celebrated as a soloist, curator and collaborator.

Composer

Karol Szymanowski

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 22 - Apr 29, 2026

Chorus Opera · Polish National Opera

Apr 1, 2026

Bomsori Kim · Stanford Live

Apr 22, 2026

Discover Talent: Svetlana Andreeva / Piano Recital · Elbphilharmonie

8 - 10 May, 2026

Rachmaninoff & Szymanowski · Los Angeles Philharmonic

21 - 22 May, 2026

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Leonidas Kavakos / Matthias Pintscher · Elbphilharmonie

Past events

Mar 6, 2026

Zehetmair Quartet ·

Feb 7, 2026

The Wooden Prince · London Philharmonic Orchestra

About

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