The Kraków Philharmonic will host two Christmas concerts of the Orchestra of the Royal Capital City of Kraków – Sinfonietta Cracovia: 'Bottesini's Birthday' on 21 December 2021 and "New Year's Ballets" on 7 January 2022.
The nineteenth century was the era of great virtuosos. Next to renowned violinists and pianists, one of the most famous double bass virtuosos was Giovanni Bottesini, born 200 years ago, on 22 December 1821. As a successor to Domenico Dragonetti, nicknamed 'Paganini of the double bass', he was in demand on both sides of the Atlantic. From the moment he left his native Crema in northern Italy, he traveled extensively throughout his life. He was enthusiastically received as a performer and composer – including at the courts of Queen Victoria and Emperor Napoleon III. At the December concert, Jurek Dybał and Rainer Honeck will perform one of Bottesini's most popular compositions, Gran Duo Concertant for double bass, violin and orchestra. Bottesini himself performed this piece, among others, with Henryk Wieniawski. The programme will also include Wieniawski's famous Legend, Op. 17, inspired by the composer's feelings for Isabella Hampton, his future wife.
Sinfonietta Cracovia's January concert will feature ballet suites of two Russian geniuses: the suite from Piotr Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Igor Stravinsky's Pulcinella.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.
Full programme: http://sinfonietta.pl/koncerty/