During the concert with the participation of the German cellist Julius Berger and the Lutosławski Quartet, pieces whose dates of origin are separated by almost two centuries will be performed. Despite their different natures and aesthetics both works remain in the canon of the most important compositions of chamber music. In the Red Hall of the National Forum of Music, Paweł Mykietyn’s String Quartet No. 2 and Franz Schubert’s famous String Quintet in C major D 956 will be performed.

Paweł Mykietyn remains one of the most respected Polish composers both domestically and internationally. His String Quartet No. 2 was created in 2006 at the request of the Polish Music Festival, during which the work was performed by the artists of the legendary Kronos Quartet, an ensemble that has been active since 1970s. In a composition full of intriguing microtone sound, Mykietyn confronts subtle harmonies with the raw aura created by the sound of harmonics, which make the piece very interesting in perception.

The String Quintet in C major by Franz Schubert is his last chamber work, completed in the fall of 1828, just two months before his death. Schubert, underappreciated by the elite, was then completely forgotten, gaining deserved fame only years after his death. The work is often called a “cello quintet” due to the complementary scoring of the second cello, while the viola has usually played this role. Schubert gave each of the instruments an equal importance, which is reflected in their harmonious, rich chords fueling the entire spectrum of colours that Schubert uses perfectly. Despite the fact that this monumental quintet was created at the end of the artist’s life, it exudes a delightful, youthful verve, and at the same time remains a pinnacle of chamber music.