Symphonic concert Dvorak | Vaughn-Williams

Experience a cinematic voyage that begins in the golden autumn gardens of 19th‑century Sychrov Castle, where Antonín Dvořák first sketched his Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 53 while listening to the hush of a fountain and the song of birds. In this concert film, the Lublin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Piotr Wijatkowski, and its brilliant solo violinist Maria Sławek bring the concerto’s spirited furiant dances, contemplative dumka passages, and unmistakable Slavic soul to vivid life. From its premiere in Prague in 1883—interpreted by František Ondříček—this work remains a spirited dialogue between soloist and orchestra, a conversation of tension, understanding, and heartfelt resonance. In the second half the narrative drifts thousands of kilometers to the icy vastness of Antarctica. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Seventh Symphony, the “Sinfonia Antarctica,” transports viewers to Captain Scott’s polar expedition. The score—originally written for the film *Scott of the Antarctic* (1948), then expanded for symphony—accompanies a soprano, a women's choir, and a remarkable array of instruments including organ, vibraphone, celesta, and the rare aeolian wind. The music does not merely describe the white wilderness; it immerses the listener in its silence, space, and inevitable drama, punctuated by quotes from Scripture, poets, and Scott’s own journal that underline Antarctica as a mirror of human courage and fragility. Join us for this unforgettable journey, where the past and the polar frontier are brought together by masterful orchestration and unforgettable performance.