A performance of Krzysztof Penderecki’s St Luke Passion in the National Philharmonic Hall closes the 15th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw tonight. 

The work requires a large group of performers, with a total of 350 musicians – Sinfonia Varsovia, the National Philharmonic Chorus, the Choir of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, the Ukrainian Academic Choir, the Warsaw Boys’ Choir and soloists: Iwona Hossa (soprano), Thomas Bauer (baritone) and  Tomasz Konieczny (bass) will be conducted by the composer.

The narrator’s part is recited by actorKrzysztof Gosztyła.

The concert marks the 45th anniversary of the work’s world premiere.

Composed for the 700th anniversary of Munster Cathedral in Germany, St Luke Passion had its first performance there on 30 March 1966, skyrocketing the then 33 year-old Penderecki to world fame. Starting with this monumental piece, Penderecki broke with the radicalism of the avant-garde and turned to tradition and, subsequently, to the late-Romantic style. 

His vast output includes the operas The Devils of Loudun, Ubu-Rex and Paradise Lost, Te Deum, the Polish Requiem,  Awakening of Jacob, Seven Gates of Jerusalem, Credo, numerous concertos and chamber pieces. 

He has also developed a successful career as a conductor.

The Beethoven Festival was founded by the composer’s wife, Elżbieta Penderecka, who serves as its General Director. (mk)