April 5, 2009
Szczecin, PL
Piotr Łykowski (ct)
Andrzej Klepacki (t)
Adam Kuliś (br)
Jacek Piotrowski (r)
Chór Akademicki Prof. Szyrockiego
Baltic Neopolis Orchestra
dyr. Szymon Wyrzykowski
III Misterium Pasyjne - Bazylika Archikatedralna
In the cathedral in Szczecin -- a sizable Polish city about two hours roughly northeast of Berlin -- I attended a Palm Sunday evening performance of Pawel Lukaszewski's recent composition Via Crucis (literally, the "Way of the Cross.") It was performed by the award-winning CHAPS choir, under the direction of the young and dynamic Szymon Wyrzykowski, as well as the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra. The Latin text and prayers were displayed on a large screen to the side of the choir, along with a vernacular translation. Along with Lukaszewski's stunning musical expressions, the densely packed congregation also was presented with an elaborately staged Stations of the Cross. Before the "mysterium" concert began, the vocal soloist who portrayed Jesus Christ invited us to "not only a shared musical experience, but also the shared act of prayer." The concert was a stunning success: the Passion was stark and deeply affecting, while the final chords of the Resurrection sequence triumphantly shook the Cathedral to its foundation. The new Archbishop, visibly moved, asked for an encore of the Resurrection sequence before giving the audience his concluding blessing. Here was an audience of mostly non-sophisticates, thoroughly enjoying a piece of new music that might have otherwise remained beyond their intellectual reach. Ultimately, it was the story of Christ's passion that made this complex new art so accessible. Clearly, as John Paul the Second has claimed, "Art needs the Church."
Mark Nowakowski
works: Via crucis, 2000
