Antoni Wit returns to Pamplona to conduct three concerts with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra, of which he is Musical Director, on June 8th, 9th and 10th. The two works included in the programme are the cantata for soprano, tenor, chorus and orchestra, Jesucristo en la Cruz by 20th century Navarran composer Fernando Remacha, and Rossini’s Stabat Mater.

He then travels to Porto, where he conducts an all-Polish programme on June 17th. The Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música will perform Górecki’s powerful and moving 3rd Symphony for orchestra and soprano, also known as the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, which is based on three texts about the separation of mothers and children during wartime. The second work in the programme is Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra, which has its roots in Polish folk music.

Antoni Wit’s interview at his previous visit to Porto is here: https://vimeo.com/127155942

Antoni Wit conducts the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of works by Franck, Schubert and Strauss on May 4th, 5th and 6th. Franck’s gripping symphonic poem, Le Chasseur Maudit will be followed by Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, The Unfinished. The scenes of the final work of the evening, Richard Strauss’s Alpine Symphony, will be portrayed not only through dramatic colour of the music, but also through the inspired images of musician and photographer Tobias Melle. The first two concerts will take place in the Palais de la Musique, Strasbourg, followed by a final performance in the KKL concert hall, Lucerne. For further information, please click here.

Antoni Wit conducts the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover in performances of Penderecki’s St Luke Passion, to mark the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. This powerful oratorio is scored for large orchestra, narrator, three soloists, mixed choir and boys’ choir. It is full of expression and colour and was very well-received when premiered in 1966, but due to its complexity, is seldom performed. The first performance on April 7^th in the Marktkirche Hannover will be followed by two further performances in St.-Johannis-Kirche, Lüneburg and Martin-Luther-Kirche, Emden.

Antoni Wit travels to Tokyo to make his début with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, conducting an all-French programme at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre on October 29th. Stepping in at short notice to replace Michel Plasson, Maestro Wit will lead the orchestra in performances of works by Debussy, Satie, Fauré and Ravel.

Maestro Antoni Wit will conduct the Cleveland Orchestra for the first time on 21 April at Cleveland’s Severance Hall. Joined by pianist Jan Lisiecki for Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, which is preceded by Wagner’s Polonia Overture, the concert climaxes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica. Two repeat performances will also follow on 23 and 24 April. Full details are available on the orchestra’s website.

Antoni Wit returns to Spain to conduct the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España in three performances of Penderecki’s monumental work for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra, Polish Requiem, dedicated to events and people who have marked the history of Poland. The Requiem was gradually composed over a period of twenty-five years; Antoni Wit premiered the first two parts, Lacrimosa and Agnus Dei in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The three concerts take place at the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid on January 29th, 30th and 31st.

Antoni Wit then travels to Santiago de Compostela, to conduct two concerts with the Real Filharmonía de Galicia on February 4^th and 5^th. They will perform works by Panufnik, Karlowicz and Dvořák. The soloist in Karlowicz’s Violin Concerto in A major is Aleksandra Kuls.

Antoni Wit makes his début with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a special celebratory concert of works by Górecki, featuring the UK premiere of the late composer’s Kyrie (2005), with the BBC Symphony Chorus. The concert, which takes place at the Barbican on Saturday October 3rd, opens with Old Polish Music Op. 24 and includes performances  of Górecki’s Concerto for Harpsichord, soloist Mahan Esfahani, and his second symphony, ‘Copernican’, with soloists Marcus Farnsworth, and Marie Arnet.

Antoni Wit returns to Germany, to conduct the Weimar Staatskapelle in two performances of Mozart’s Symphony No. 38 and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 on June 28th and 29th. For further information, please see here.

Antoni Wit conducts Danish National Symphony Orchestra at the Koncerthuset, Copenhagen on November 20th & 22nd. The programme consists of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, together with two works for violin and orchestra: Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No.1 and The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, with soloist Nicola Benedetti.

Antoni will conduct Dresden Staatskapelle in three concerts on September 28, 29 and 30 with acclaimed Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder playing Chopin Piano Concerto No 1. The programme will open with Messiaen Un Sourire and concludes with Lutosławski Concerto for Orchestra.