Poland, Bydgoszcz. Pomeranian Philharmonic: Two perspectives on the piece. Mozart Requiem

In the first notes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Requiem" played by the symphony orchestra in Bydgoszcz under the baton of Bassem Akiki, a calmness and immense focus filled the concert hall, only to be soon filled with sounds spatially spreading from the speakers of the Opera Nova choir in Bydgoszcz, which was singing in the foyer. The sublime atmosphere that was created by the unconventional message of a specific prayer awakened our imagination, the sound of words from beyond intensified the authenticity of what the genius composed, hypnotizing our attention.

During the concert, I was transported in memories to Domgasse 5 street to Mozart's house. The rooms, the place of composition, were for me a space to listen to an incredibly harmoniously played piece that was captivating and engaging in its performance until the moment of the "Lacrimosa", after which there was a change of orchestra playing in two groups due to limitations.
And that was a brilliant idea of the organizers.

The second orchestra played differently, at first there was a longing for the sound of the previous group, for them to continue playing, just like before without interrupting our feelings from the first part of the concert. After a while, there was a reflection that this is a different perspective on the piece, that it is played differently, more joyfully, as if there were two people's perspectives on the piece, as if Mozart was to receive more money for composing the second part. And there were no more memories from Mozart's house. It was as if the piece was created in a different place.

The day before the All Saints' Day celebrated by Poles, the artists invited to collaborate overcame all difficulties, showing that more can be extracted from life's challenges, and we, the listeners of the piece, have hope that the singing of the invited soloists Adriana Ferfecka, Monika Lendzion-Porczyńska, Paweł Skałuba, Łukasz Konieczny in very good performances, emanating freshness and evoking other characters created by them in recent seasons, will lead our deceased to salvation.

Only a perfectly prepared and conducted orchestra could show the difference so well in both parts, in the part written by the genius and the second one added.

It was worth overcoming all difficulties to be at this concert. Two symphony orchestras of the Pomeranian Philharmonic under the baton of Bassem Akiki and unforgettable impressions.

The concert took place on 30.10.2020.

Iwona Karpińska
Wrocław