Music of hope in an age of oppression: Polyphony showcases the impassioned, little-known music that Polish composers wrote in tribute to Pope John Paul II.

In October 1978 Karel Wojtyłla was elected to the Papacy as John Paul II: the first ever Polish Pope. To his fellow-countrymen, struggling against communist tyranny, it seemed like a kind of miracle, and a generation of Polish composers responded to the John Paul’s moral leadership with some of the most committed and communicative choral music of the late 20th century – still far too little-known in Western Europe. Stephen Layton and Polyphony (“possibly the best small professional chorus in the world” – Encore magazine) put that right tonight, with a whole evening of UK premieres dedicated to the Polish Pope; the man they called “the peacemaker”.

Programme

Wojciech Kilar – Agnus Dei
Michał Ziółkowski – Ave maris Stella
Marcin Łukaszewski – Pie Jesu
Stanisław Moryto – Veni creator (organ solo)
Miłosz Bembinow – Veni Sancte Spiritus
Marian Borkowski – Regina caeli
Dariusz Przybylski – Kölner Fanfare (organ solo)
Paweł Łukaszewski – Missa Sancti Papae Ioannis Pauli Secundi Magni
Marian Borkowski – Libera me