English Section

Conductor bids farewell to Polish Radio orchestra after 56 years

13.10.2024 10:00
Conductor Agnieszka Duczmal, who founded Polish Radio's Amadeus Chamber Orchestra more than a half-century ago, will bid farewell to her role as its leader at a special concert on Sunday.
Conductor Agnieszka Duczmal, founder of the Polish Radio Amadeus Chamber Orchestra.
Conductor Agnieszka Duczmal, founder of the Polish Radio Amadeus Chamber Orchestra.Photo: Grzegorz Śledź/PR2

The performance, held in the orchestra's hometown of Poznań, in western Poland, will mark Duczmal's final appearance on the conductor’s podium.

Duczmal founded the orchestra in 1968 and has served as its music director for an impressive 56 years.

In a symbolic gesture, she will pass the baton to her daughter Anna Duczmal-Mróz, who will step into her mother’s role.

The programme of the concert, held under the motto "In the Rhythm of Change," includes Variations sur un thème de Mozart by Polish composer Piotr Moss, Astor Piazzolla’s Cuatro Estationes Portenas and Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Duczmal-Mróz began her musical career as a violinist and made her conducting debut with the Amadeus Orchestra in 2003. Since then, she has performed with it across Europe and beyond.

The Amadeus Chamber Orchestra is one of public broadcaster Polish Radio’s resident ensembles. It performs both domestically and internationally, with tours across Europe and North America, as well as visits to countries such as Brazil, Kuwait and Taiwan.

The orchestra has played in prestigious venues such as the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Vienna’s Musikverein, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Milan’s La Scala.

Its repertoire spans music from nearly every period, from Baroque to contemporary works.

(mk/gs)