Wojciech Kilar ceased to be an unknown in Hamburg when Krzysztof Urbański performed the Polish composer’s »Krzesany« in February 2017, almost literally taking the Elbphilharmonie audience by storm. Urbański now presents another of Kilar’s works, with pieces by Bartók and Dvořák rounding off the programme.


The Czech composer Antonín Dvořák completed his Symphony No. 7 in d minor in March 1885. He was determined to live up to the praise afforded his earlier symphonies by his venerated colleague Johannes Brahms. This ambition weighed heavily on his shoulders: »I am now working on the new symphony,« wrote Dvořák about his Seventh. »And no matter where I go, I cannot think of anything other than my work, which must succeed in stirring the world.« That is one feat he certainly accomplished. read less