Paweł Łukaszewski is considered to be one of the most important Polish composers of our days. His works that are within the sacred idiom of contemporary music are compared to the works of Arvo Pärt and John Tavener. During this concert of the 57th International Festival Wratislavia Cantans, the NFM Choir, the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and the soloist Jarosław Bręk will premiere The 8th Symphony “Banganarti Hymns” by Łukaszewski. The musicians will be conducted by Norbert Twórczyński.

In line with many years of tradition, the festival hosts world premieres and Polish premieres. During this year’s edition, for the first time, we will hear a piece by Paweł Łukaszewski – a composer, conductor and teacher, whose works are willingly performed both in Poland and internationally. The subtitle of Symphony No. 8, which will be heard at St Mary Magdalene Cathedral – “Banganarti Hymns” – refers to an archaeological site in Sudan, located on the bank of the Nile, a river of great civilizational and cultural importance. In 2001, an unusual discovery was made there – on the walls of a Nubian church dedicated to the Archangel Raphael, 9th-century frescoes and liturgical inscriptions, including hymns of high literary value, were found. They significantly increase the collection of liturgical texts known from Christian Nubia and are the only sources from these areas so far bringing knowledge about the celebration of Lent. The direct impulse and inspiration for Łukaszewski was a conversation with the Polish archaeologist, Professor Bogdan Żurawski from the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences, head of the Polish Archaeological Mission in Banganarti, on the eastern bank of the Nile, halfway between the 3rd and 4th Cataracts. The premiere of the 8th Symphony “Banganarti Hymns” will therefore be a musical introduction to the Christian heritage of North-East Africa.