Just before Christmas, the Kraków Philharmonic presents a concert in the great Romantic symphony style with Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Lukas Geniušas, winner of the 2nd prize at the 16th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition and Krzysztof Penderecki’s Symphony No. 2. The latter is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Symphony as the opening phrase from the Christmas carol Silent Night occurs three times during the symphony, although its dramatic tensions rather than a family evening around the Christmas tree bring to mind the ominous atmosphere of work by Bruckner and Mahler.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 23
Krzysztof Penderecki Symphony No. 2 “Christmas Symphony”
Lukas Geniušas – piano
Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra
Rafał Janiak – conductor
