The musical landscape in Poland during the first half of the nineteenth century was particularly enriched by the output of Stanislaw Moniuszko and Karol Lipinski.
Each of them boasts achievements in a different field: Moniuszko specialised in opera and song, Lipinski in instrumental music, particularly for the violin. Karol Lipinski (17901861) was one of the greatest violin virtuosos of his time. His masterful playing was distinguished by its deep, resonant and singing tone, considerable dynamic variety to the sound and impeccable intonation. It was considered at the time that he was a match for the Italian violinist, Niccol Paganini. Lipinski's symphonies date from the earlier period in his oeuvre. Both symphonies are characterised by rich melodic inventiveness, a dance-like quality, and simple harmonies. They were both written during the early Romantic era, but in formal-expressive terms they are closer to classicism than romanticism.
The symphonies hold an important place in Lipinski's output and, as juvenilia. In his mature period, Lipinski's work was dominated by compositions for solo violin and violin with orchestra. The 'Polish Paganini' wrote them in order to ensure himself of concert repertoire, hence these compositions place considerable technical demands on the performer.
Considered the father of Polish opera, Stanislaw Moniuszko was also a talented symphonic composer. Evidence to that effect includes the orchestral sections of his operas, and above all the concert overture Bajka (Fairytale); regarded as Moniuszko's most outstanding orchestral work. Bajka certainly has plenty to recommend it: rich melodic inventiveness, the skilful modifying of thematic material and dynamic narration.
{oh!} Orchestra was founded in 2012 in Katowice by a group of early music instrumentalists and enthusiasts. During the last decade the Orchestra has earned the reputation of one of Poland's best early music ensembles. It appears in major European venues such as Theater an der Wien, Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Auditorium Opra de Dijon, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Cologne's Philharmonie, as well as at leading festivals, including Berlin's Barocktage, Leipzig's Bachfest, the Hndel-Festspiele in Halle, Tage Alter Musik Herne, and the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival. In its regular collaboration with the Fryderyk Chopin Institute (NIFC), the Orchestra focuses on historically informed performances of Polish music of the Classical and Romantic periods. Along with outstanding soloists, {oh!} appears annually at the successive editions of the 'Chopin and his Europe' festival, as well as recording Polish music on CDs.
