Who would have thought the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland would announce his “honorary patronage” for the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.)? Well, the ambassador himself did when he learned the S.O. was performing a work of revered Polish composer Mieczysław Karłowicz at the final concert of its 20th season. It also didn’t hurt that the work will be performed under the direction of S.O. Music Director Wojciech Milewski, who was born in Poland.
Ambassador Marek Magierowski writes, “It is with great pleasure that I announce my honorary patronage for the upcoming concert organized by the Summerville Orchestra. I am particularly grateful for the inclusion of a segment dedicated to esteemed Polish composer Karłowicz … Though his life was tragically brief, Karłowicz’s legacy endures, continuing to inspire and move audiences worldwide.”
The University of South California’s Polish Music Center describes Karłowicz as “the most representative composer of ‘Young Poland,’ the artistic movement based on the idea of a unification of modernistic tendencies and national tradition.” The S.O. will be performing his “Eternal Songs” at its May 17 and 18 concerts.
“The ‘Eternal Songs’ is a piece that is equally poignant as it is powerful,” said Milewski. “Karłowicz’s music comes from a difficult period in Polish history, as the nation did not exist on the map of Europe at that time. Yet, in spite of those challenges, the piece speaks to the power of the human spirit. The S.O. is committed to bringing to life the work of composers whose music has been lost to history. We are honored to share “Eternal Songs” with an all new audience.”
This final concert of the S.O.’s anniversary “Summerville Celebration” includes a world premiere written for the orchestra by Colorado composer Chris Pilsner. Also on the program is Mozart’s Overture to Magic Flute.
Performances are Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 18, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $2 for under 18 and $5 for college students. Following the Saturday performance, the S.O. will host its first Musical Jubilee, an evening of music, dancing, food (Italian-style) and fun! Tickets to both the concert and the Jubilee are available online at summervilleorchestra.org/tickets. For more information about the S.O. contact office@summervilleorchestra.org or call (843) 873-5339.
