Polonia

In 1697 King Jan III of Poland died. Attempts to install his son Jacob as King were unsuccessful and the widow of the recently deceased king, Maria Kazimiera Sobieska (also known as Marysieńka) made the decision to move to Rome. In March of 1699 she arrived there – accompanied by 259 courtiers, 30 carriages and carts, some 500 horses and a number of pack-camels! She was soon very active in the cultural life of Rome. Amongst her acquaintances was cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, a famous patron of music. Ottoboni employed Scarlatti, and was an admirer of his music - so much so that he later contributed a Latin epigraph to the composer’s tomb in Naples.

At once a virtuosic tour de force and an outpouring of romantic feelings, Elgar's Violin Concerto is one of the titan concertos of the repertoire. At about 50 minutes in total length, it was conceived of on a scale even greater than Dvorák or Brahms before him, but retains the same symphonic characteristics and importance of the orchestral accompaniment.

For almost 130 years, the output of Ignacy Jan Paderewski has been identified with the composer's great love for his homeland and patriotism resulting from it. Ignacy Jan Paderewski demonstrated an interest in both composition and virtuoso activity at an early stage of his artistic education andi would also express his deep patriotic commitment through composing.

The Viva Polonia! programme by the German-Polish musicians Ania Vegry (soprano), Roman Ohem (violin) and Oskar Jezior (piano) tells the story of the rich history of Poland. Songs and character pieces by nine Polish composers represent the arduous journey of the Polish people – from 1795 when the country vanished from maps until they regained independence in 1918. Spanning from the traditional to the modern, Viva Polonia! paints a musical portrait of Polish culture.