Polish Violin Duo, featuring:

• Robert Łaguniak - violin
• Marta Gidaszewska - violin

Programme:

• G. Bacewicz - Suite for Two Violins 
• M. Spisak - Suite for Two Violins 
• T. Paciorkiewicz - Sonatina for Two Violins 
• H. Wieniawski - Caprices for Two Violins Nos. 1 and 3, op. 18 
• A. Rocławska Musiałczyk - Two Contrasts for a Duo 
• A. Derecskei - Escaping for two violins - PREMIERE
   

Violin duets have a rich and enduring tradition in classical music, offering a unique platform for two soloists to collaborate while maintaining their individual artistry. This form of musical dialogue has been cherished across various eras, beginning in the Baroque period. Notable composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann were among the early creators of violin duets.

The popularity of violin duets continued to grow during the Classical era, with Mozart’s compositions being particularly well-received. The form reached new heights in the Romantic era, with contributions from composers such as Paganini, Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms.

In our concert programme, the Romantic duo is represented by two of Henryk Wieniawski’s Caprices for Two Violins, Op. 18 Nos. 1 and 3. These pieces showcase a striking contrast in form, offering the audience both lyrical beauty (No. 1) and virtuosic brilliance (No. 3). 

Wieniawski’s influence on Polish violin music is profound, much like that of Grażyna Bacewicz, a pioneering violinist and composer. Bacewicz, a student of the legendary Nadia Boulanger, was the first Polish woman to achieve international acclaim in the male-dominated world of violin music. Her Suite for Two Violins is a highlight of our programme, where the neoclassical inspiration of Bach and Telemann is clearly evident.

Neoclassicism also played a significant role in the works of Michał Spisak and Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz. Spisak, whose music is enjoying a revival after years of obscurity, was known for his adherence to classical principles of form and balance, often incorporating folk elements into his compositions. Paciorkiewicz, likewise inspired by folklore, also left a lasting legacy as an educator, founding a music school in Płock and teaching at the State Higher Schools of Music in Łódź and Warsaw. 

The tradition of writing violin duets continues today, as demonstrated by the work of Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk, a young composer, pianist, and singer who draws on diverse instrumental and stylistic influences, often rooted in Kashubian folklore. She studied composition with Marek Czerniewicz in Gdańsk, and further shaped her unique style under Jan A.P. Kaczmarek. Our programme also includes the world premiere of Escaping for Two Violins, a new work by Hungarian composer, conductor, and violinist András Derecskei. As a performer, he specializes in premieres of contemporary works, but he is also an acclaimed composer. His works are regularly featured on the Hungarian music scene and beyond. Derecskei brings a fresh perspective to the sound of two violins, which he likens to “a walk in the woods that never fails to please”. 

Gosia Fraser

Mecenas Główny: Gmina Miasta Toruń
Dofinansowano ze środków Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego pochodzących z Funduszu Promocji Kultury w ramach programu „Muzyka”, realizowanego przez Narodowy Instytut Muzyki i Tańca
Dofinansowano z Funduszy Europejskich
Partner Główny: Samorząd Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego
Mecenas Kultury - Główny Sponsor: PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.
Mecenas Strategiczny: Strabag Sp. z o.o.
Mecenas: TZMO S.A.
Sponsor: Urbitor Sp. z o.o.
Współfinansowano ze środków Związku Artystów Wykonawców STOART
Partner motoryzacyjny: Toyota Bednarscy
Partnerzy: Cukiernia Sowa, MZK w Toruniu Sp. z o.o., Ruch Muzyczny, Iga Sarzyńska Wzrusza Toruń, Pneuma Jarosław Pawlicki, Pirmedia Sp. z o.o., Maciej Zieliński BJJ, RTR GROUP Sp. z o.o., Melt me tender, Galeria Kwiatów
Partner technologiczny: Vobacom Sp. z o.o.
Patronat medialny: TVP Kultura, Polmic, TVP 3 Bydgoszcz, TV Toruń, Radio PiK, Nowości, Toruń Nasze Miasto, Presto
Współpraca redakcyjna: RMF Classic

Organizator: Toruńska Orkiestra Symfoniczna