Penderecki — In Memoriam; JoAnn Falletta
Gramophone Magazine noted that GRAMMY-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta conducts performances that are assured, spontaneous and superbly played. An award winning musician and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and National Council on the Arts, Ms. Faletta has introduced over 500 works by American composers, including over 100 world premieres, and her discography tops 120 titles. Not only does she lead the Buffalo Philharmonic, but is also Music Director Laureate of the Virginia Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center, and Artistic Adviser of the Hawaii Symphony and Cleveland Institute of Music — Orchestra. Hailed for having ‘Toscanini’s tight control over her ensembles, Walter’s affectionate balancing of inner voices, Stokowski’s gutsy showmanship, and a controlled frenzy worthy of Bernstein’, Joann Falletta is a leading force for the music of our time.
In 2018, The Buffalo Philharmonic made their first international tour in three decades and performed at Warsaw’s Beethoven Easter Festival. The impetus for the tour was the BPO’s friendship with Krzysztof Penderecki and his wife, Easter Festival founder and artistic director Elzbieta Penderecka. That year the festival celebrated the centennial of Leonard Bernstein, as well as Penderecki’s 85th birthday, and Maestra Falletta also made history as the first American women conductor to lead an orchestra at the prestigious event.
JoAnn Falletta is here with us to discuss the great Polish composer; Krystof Penderecki. LISTEN
JoAnn, met Penderecki when guest-conducting in Krakow, and invited him to Buffalo. In December 2016, Penderecki led the BPO in concert. Soon after that, the BPO accepted Penderecka’s invitation to perform at the Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw. What was your first impressions of meeting Penderecki?
For our conversation today, JF and I touched on 3 Penderecki pieces that you have performed and recorded; the Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, the Horn Concerto subtitled Vinterreise, and the Adagio from Symphony #3.
The Double Concerto, a commission from Vienna’s Musikverein which marked the society’s bicentenary provided Penderecki an opportunity to try out an idea suggested to him by Julian Rachlin, who wanted a work that he could play and record both the solo violin and viola parts. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major is probably the most well known example of a piece in this format. Max Bruch and Benjamin Britten have also contributed, JF gives thoughts on
Why there are relatively few compositions in this configuration.
Why Penderecki’s Double Concerto has had a huge impact on the repertoire.
the Horn Concerto running counter to Penderecki development.
the Adagio from Symphony №3
Maestra JoAnn Falletta in a candid interview about Krystof Penderecki
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