The main character of the "Concert for 176 keys", organised by the Józef Elsner Opole Philharmonic, will be Wizjan Piano Duo. On 2 May 2021 at 6.00 p.m. two outstanding pianists will present works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Roman Maciejewski.
Wizjan Piano Duo consists of two pianists of the young generation – Mateusz and Julia Wizjan, privately husband and wife, who are associated with the I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań. During the upcoming chamber concert, the duo will perform Ludwig van Beethoven's Egmont overture, Op. 84 arranged for 4 hands by Hugo Ulrich, as well as Pianoduo concertante by Roman Maciejewski, Polish composer who would be celebrating his 111th birthday this year.
Palester was inspired to compose his Pianoduo concertante after listening to Igor Stravinsky's Concerto for Two Pianos on 21 November 1935 at the Salle Gaveau in Paris. The structure of the work refers to the form of a classical concerto. 1st movement begins with a rhythmic foxtrot motif, 2nd movement is a choral, and 3rd movement is a double fugue with variations. Initially, Pianoduo concertante was conceived as a 4-movement work, only after the final editing, in the 1980s, it obtained its final 3-movement shape by merging the 1st and 2nd movements into one.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.
The concert will be available from 2 to 30 May at: https://filharmonia.opole.pl/