The acclaimed singer Szymon Komasa will present lesser-known Polish songs, including pieces from the British and German repertoires, while the pianists Sophia Muñoz and Marcin Koziel will perform the Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms and masterpieces of French music: symphonic poems by Camille Saint-Saëns and Claude Debussy in arrangements for two pianos.

Stefan Kisielewski professed the idea of pure music, free from any senses and meanings. He made an exception, though, by composing vocal lyrical miniatures to the words of Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, reflecting the intimate character of Gałczyński’s poetry and contradicting the leading idea of his other works. The programme also features little-known works by other Polish composers: Songs of Longing to words by Jan Kasprowicz, Sonnets by Michelangelo, which are a tribute to the masters of the Renaissance, and songs by Grażyna Bacewicz to Arabic poetry translated by Leopold Staff, all these replete with extra-musical contents.

There will be songs by British composer Rebecca Clarke, as well as songs from German vocal literature. Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen by Gustav Mahler is a monologue of a lonely artist unable to find himself in the hustle and bustle of the surrounding world. The songs from the Rückert-Lieder collection, unlike Mahler’s monumental symphonies, are very intimate. The Zigeunerlieder by Johannes Brahms, although they were intended to be sung at home, also work well on concert platforms. The evening will end with French music – the pianists will play two pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns: Bacchanalia – a sensual dance of the Philistines from the Samson and Delilah – and Danse macabre – a musical image of the dance of death, as well as Claude Debussy’s Prelude to L’apres-midi d’un faune.