I always await this moment with bated breath: the rustles, whispers and murmurs pipe down in the audience, and the oboist gives the orchestra the tuning note of A, resounding at 440 Hz. The concertmaster takes over and soon the single note dissolves into chords struck by violins, violas and cellos. Wind instruments chime in with occasional arpeggios, scales and triads as the flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons tune up. Trumpets, trombones and tubas utter their toots and clangs. Slowly, the clamour dies down as the conductor steps up to the pulpit to receive applause from the audience, and – finally – the real magic starts.
This is what I miss most during the pandemic as concert halls are echoing with emptiness. But the magic is still here, and we’ve been making the most of it online for over a year. Here is a selection of magical moments to enjoy in the coming days!
Capella Cracoviensis has joined forces with the Kraków Philharmonic in preparing a presentation of Baroque concertos on Thursday 22 April: Antonio Vivaldi’s composition for strings and J.S. Bach’s for harpsichord. The words “concert” and “concerto” are derived from the Latin concertare (“to contend with”), since the individual voices compete with the rest of the orchestra. Only music can bring out beautiful harmonies out of such competition! You’ll find more information about the concert (held on Capella Cracoviensis’ FB page) here: http://karnet.krakow.pl/en/38920-krakow-bachvivaldi.
Classical music abounds with evergreen hits. Sinfonietta Cracovia presents a selection on PLAY KRAKÓW, including Maurice Ravel’s hypnotic Bolero and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final symphony known as Jupiter. The latest instalment – Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concertto No. 2 – comes on Saturday 24 April. More information: http://karnet.krakow.pl/en/38977-krakow-sinfonietta-cracovia-na-play-krakow.
The Kraków Philharmonic has launched its Feelharmonia series of concerts recorded recently at the freshly renovated space at 1 Zwierzyniecka Street. Held on the PLAY KRAKÓW platform usually on Saturdays, this time it presents Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 and Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz on Sunday 25 April. More information: http://karnet.krakow.pl/en/38295-krakow-feelharmonia-w-play-krakow.
Dreaming of summer? Perhaps it’s time for… A Midsummer Night’s Dream! On Sunday 25 April, the Kraków Opera presents on PLAY KRAKÓW a live performance choreographed by Giorgio Madia, accompanied by the light, sunny music from Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s concert overture. The composer penned it when he was just 18 years old, inspired by his reading of Shakespeare. Let the music enchant you! More information: http://karnet.krakow.pl/en/34102-krakow-sen-nocy-letniej-online. (Barbara Skowrońska)
