The music of Baroque, of the 20th century, and contemporary pieces feature in the inauguration of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra’s new season. The concert programme includes works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Weinberg, Pēteris Vasks, Pietro Roffi, and Osvald Golijov. The orchestra will be directed by violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, with Latvian virtuoso soloist Ksenija Sidorova joining them to play accordion parts.

Although Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber is a lesser-known composer of the Baroque era, he was an exceptionally inventive artist, also gifted with a keen sense of humour. One of his most popular works is Battalia à 10 in D major – a chamber composition depicting a battle. Its opening movement, the dynamic Presto, surprises you with unexpected dynamic shifts and the percussive use of strings. At one point, Biber instructs the musicians to play col legno – strike the bow’s shaft against the strings, which produces a sharp, rustling sound. The dramatic, expressive, and energetic Harpsichord Concerto in D minor BWV 1052, was also composed during the Baroque period. One of Johann Sebastian Bach’s particularly cherished works, it will be performed this time in an arrangement for accordion and strings. The three-movement Chamber Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra and timpani op. 147, is a late work by Mieczysław Weinberg, written in 1987. The composer was not an avant-gardist – his music is accessible, communicative, emotional and does not break ties with tradition.

The second part  of the concert will feature works by contemporary composers. Latvian artist Pēteris Vasks completed The Fruit of Silence in 2013. This choral work is based on a prayer for peace. The music is quiet, contemplative, and full of reflection. Born in 1992, Pietro Roffi is an Italian accordionist and composer, a renowned virtuoso of his instrument, acclaimed for both his technical skill and the breadth of his repertoire. His Hysteria, to be performed at the NFM in a version for accordion and strings, is a dynamic and sweeping piece with a distinctive rhythm. Osvaldo Golijov was born in 1960 in Argentina, the homeland of tango, an important source of reference for many artists. Last Round is his work for strings composed in 1996. The title refers to a short story by Julio Cortázar, and musically, the piece is a tribute to Argentine tango and its famous master, Astor Piazzolla. The concert programme will also feature Polish and Argentine dance compositions inspired by the Buenos Aires tradition.