The Poetry of Adam Mickiewicz Throughout the History of Polish Art Song
In his acclaimed 1818 treatise on the setting of Polish text to music, Józef Elsner (1769-1854) wrote: “The influence of music on poetry, and poetry on music is so important, that one art form cannot be precisely and fully explained without reference to the other.” This is a sentiment which permeates Polish art song, and with no poetry is it more evident than with that of Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855). Mickiewicz was a Polish poet known for being the principal figure in Polish Romanticism. He is widely regarded as Poland’s greatest poet, and is one of the most important and influential poets from throughout the Slavic world. He lived during a time when Poland languished under the oppression of the Russian Empire, and his opposition to Russian rule was a major influence on his work. This lecture recital explores Polish art song settings of poems by Mickiewicz by some of the greatest Polish composers of the past three centuries, including Maria Szymanowska (1789-1831), Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849), Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872), Władysław Żeleński (1837-1921), Ignacy J. Paderewski (1860-1941), Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969), and Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk (b. 1987). The lecture is presented by Ben Lewandowski. The musical selections are performed by tenor Ben Lewandowski and pianist Ann Deighton, as well as guest performers baritone Ben Morrison, soprano Emma Arachtingi, and soprano Allie Brault.
