Ignacy Lisiecki, one of the leading Polish pianists, will perform a recital of contemporary works rarely performed, but nonetheless valuable. Among them there will be e.g. pieces by Péter Eötvös, Oliver Knussen, and Jörg Widmann.

The work of Jörg Widmann in an intriguing way combines elements of the 20th-century compositional language and references to the stylistics of Classicism and Romanticism. The Elf Humoresken is a perfect example. In a collection of several works, including in the Song for Children and Forest Scene, the artist conducts a musical dialogue with the legacy of Robert Schumann. The Dances of the Brush-footed Butterfly by Péter Eötvös is a musical fantasy about the enchanting dances of butterflies of this species. We will also hear the Prayer Bell Sketch op. 29 by Oliver Knussen – a small, but deeply emotional work, in which harmonies resound, reminiscent of the sounds of bells. The repertoire also includes compositions whose common element is Japan – its flora inspired Marcel Chyrzyński to write the Karatachi no Hana. Similar themes can be found in Dai Fujikura’s Spring and Asura. During his recital, Lisiecki will refer to the work of one of the most eccentric American artists – Frank Zappa – performing his Ruth is sleeping.

The recital will be crowned with Hans Abrahamsen’s 10 Etudes, which the composer considers “a study of the character or soul of the piano”, and John Adams’ American Berkserk, created under the strong influence of American jazz, but also the works of Charles Ives and Conlon Nancarrow. The piece, written in 2001, was dedicated Garrick Ohlsson, the winner of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1970.