As Nentwig notes, curating a season's programme is akin to piecing together a complex jigsaw puzzle. Among the myriad highlights, several are poised to command particular attention. These include chamber concerts devoted to Polish repertoire, with a special emphasis on 20th-century works. Early music will also feature prominently, highlighted by an entire series instalment in January dedicated entirely to the genre. The June concert will present a different facet of the Polish Music Stage, showcasing the work of Henryk Wars, a pioneer of Polish jazz and composer of the nation's celebrated film scores.
"Even here in Poznań, we are far from having too many chamber music concerts. Our previous ventures into this genre have drawn immense public interest," explains Wojciech Nentwig. "The Polish Music Stage, an initiative spearheaded by the National Institute of Music and Dance, will be co-produced by three institutions: the National Philharmonic, the Poznań Philharmonic and the Gorzów Philharmonic. Many of our instrumentalists, who have established themselves as both soloists and chamber musicians, will take part. This is a source of immense pride for us," the director adds.
Alongside Polish music, the Philharmonic's distinctive repertoire will be further enriched by performances of lesser-known works receiving their local world premieres at the University Auditorium.
"Our aim is to combine the best-known classical masterpieces with lesser-known and contemporary repertoire," says the Philharmonic's director. "During the Poznań Music Spring 2027, we will perform Marcin Błażewicz's Marimba Concerto, alongside a newly commissioned piece by Lidia Zielińska, and more. Violinist Viviane Hagner will perform Paul Büttner's Konzertstück as part of the recording of an upcoming album recording. Meanwhile, our principal guest conductor, Ariel Zuckermann, is set to lead Felix Mendelssohn's concert overture Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. Who has ever heard these rarities performed live?" Nentwig asks.
The Neighbours mini-concert series also reflects this approach, featuring two performances dedicated to Czech music. In November, alongside works by Polish composers and Beethoven, audiences will hear Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek's Symphony in D major, Op. 23. The oeuvre of Voříšek, a contemporary of Beethoven and Schubert, is widely regarded as a vital bridge between Viennese Classicism and the burgeoning Czech Romantic tradition. In December, paired with Antonín Dvořák's timeless Cello Concerto in B minor, the Philharmonic will perform works by Vítězslav Novák and Josef Suk, both leading representatives of Czech music at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
These new discoveries will be woven into the established orchestral canon. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will feature prominently, highlighted by his Requiem to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the legendary composer's death.
The year 2027 also marks the bicentenary of Ludwig van Beethoven's passing. To honour this milestone, Wojciech Nentwig notes that the composer's definitive masterpieces simply must be performed. The programming features the Triple Concerto in C majorfor Violin, Cello and Piano, brought to life by Bomsori Kim, Ettore Pagano and Rafał Blechacz. Polish classical legacy will be represented by the works of Karol Szymanowski, Grażyna Bacewicz and Mieczysław Karłowicz.
Rounding out the repertoire is music of a lighter character. Waltzes and polkas from the Viennese Strauss dynasty, alongside beloved opera and musical-theatre highlights, are set to put audiences in a festive mood. In May, jazz will take centre stage at the Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium. Veriko Tchumburidze will perform the Violin Concerto in D major by renowned jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, preceded by music by Władysław Szpilman and Henryk Wars. Beyond the main stage, educational outreach remains a cornerstone of the season, with fifteen scheduled events in the Pro Sinfonika series tailored specifically for a young audience.
A chapter in its own right is the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, an event in which the Philharmonic has participated since its second edition in 1952. At the time, Poznań stepped forward to host the competition, which could not be held in Warsaw due to the capital's post-war infrastructure shortages. This year, during the 17th edition, the orchestra will accompany contestants throughout both parts of Stage 4 (the semi-final), focused on some of the repertoire's most frequently performed violin concertos, before moving to the final as contestants tackle Wieniawski's own masterworks. This task requires the orchestra to prepare no fewer than eight concertos, from which the semi-finalists and finalists will curate their competition programmes. "We consider it both a challenge and pleasure," comments Wojciech Nentwig. "It's a musical marathon: we hold rehearsals with the participants in the mornings, followed by performances in the evenings. To crown it all off, three gala concerts are scheduled on three consecutive nights: the awards ceremony and the prize-winners' concerts in Poznań and Warsaw. This will be an ultimate test for the orchestra, but I have absolute confidence that our ensemble will rise to the occasion."
Ultimately, the season is defined not only by its events, but by its people. As in recent years, audiences will be treated to solo performances form the Philharmonic's own musicians alongside a roster of world-class stars. Alongside the previously mentioned artists, the exceptional pianists Lukáš Vondráček, Martin Stadtfeld and Magdalene Ho, as well as the violinist Yuki Hirano, winner of the 2025 Jascha Heifetz Competition, deserve special recognition. Among the conductors, Václav Luks, Andrzej Boreyko and Petr Altrichter stand out. Drawing attention to several other artists, Nentwig notes: "One major event is the return of Jérémie Rhorer, a maestro known for living by his own rules. Also in the line-up is Kolja Blacher, former concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, whose dream was to perform Brahms's Violin Concerto in Poznań. We are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of our artist-in-residence, Ettore Pagano, a phenomenal Italian cellist and winner of this year's Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels."
A philharmonic season brimming with such events and personalities is set to begin very soon.
Paweł Binek
translator: Krzysztof Kotkowski
© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026
