HENRYK GÓRECKI’S SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS
with Aleksandra Kurzak, Met Soprano

Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 8:00 PM ET 
The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane, 
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Tickets ($45–$99) are available online at nationalphilharmonic.org. Kids 17 and under can attend National Philharmonic performances for free through the All Kids. All Free. All the Time. initiative. 

The Metropolitan Opera soprano Aleksandra Kurzak joins the National Philharmonic for the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs by contemporary Polish composer Henryk Górecki. This program also features pianist Brian Ganz continuing his odyssey through the complete works of Fryderyk Chopin—this time with the Orchestra.

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Aleksandra Kurzak, soprano
Brian Ganz, piano

Program:
Fryderyk Chopin, Fantasia on Polish Airs
Fryderyk Chopin, Rondo à la krakowiak
Henryk Górecki, Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 (“Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”)

Learn more about this uniquely Polish program from Assistant Conductor Rebecca Smithorn: https://youtu.be/pZ7RBFpBlRQ

Soprano Aleksandra Kurzak joins the National Philharmonic and Maestro Piotr Gajewski for Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, an austere yet moving work that marked a shift in the composer’s style and has since earned a place among classical music’s cult favorites. Pianist Brian Ganz returns to continue his journey through the music of Fryderyk Chopin with the Fantasia on Polish Airs and Rondo à la krakowiak.

Celebrated for showcasing world-renowned guest artists in time-honored symphonic masterpieces, National Philharmonic continuously strives to create remarkable educational opportunities in the community while promoting diversity and representation in classical music. National Philharmonic is an accessible, enriching component in the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, believing that music has the power to spark imagination and shape the world around us. As the only organization with a united orchestra and chorus in the region, over the years National Philharmonic has expanded its footprint beyond its home at Strathmore, with year-round masterclasses along with Summer String and Summer Chorale Institutes for youth, armed services programs, and partnerships with community organizations. In addition to these programs, National Philharmonic fosters a love of music in young people across the region by offering free admission to all children between the ages 7 to 17 years old.

This performance is made possible with generous support from NatPhil Board Member Ted Mirecki, Polish Cultural Institute New York, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.