A brilliant composer, conductor and exceptional pedagogue. Polish composer who left behind great works, forever inscribed in the history of world music and culture. Krzysztof Penderecki, as he is referred to, was undoubtedly an outstanding figure whose artistic achievements changed the face of modern classical music. A large-format exhibition "12 Words of a Master," featuring the works of photographer Bartek Barczyk , was dedicated to his memory. The inauguration of the exhibition at the NOSPR, was accompanied by a semi-stage performance of one of the composer's exceptional operas, "The Black Mask." The exhibition can be seen until December 29 this year.
The exhibition "12 words of the master" at the NOSPR
photo: Bartek Barczyk
On November 23, 2023, the anniversary of the master's 90th birthday, a staged concert performance of Krzysztof Penderecki's "Black Mask" took place in the concert hall of the Katowice-based National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR). The orchestra was conducted by Marin Alsop. The event was accompanied by a large-format exhibition "12 Words of a Master," presenting photographs by Bartek Barczyk dedicated to Penderecki. The choice of such a significant date, but also the venue for the event, was not accidental. As a composer and conductor, Krzysztof Penderecki was associated with the NOSPR for several decades.
The exhibition "12 Words of a Master" at the NOSPR
photo: Bartek Barczyk
The architectural concept of the NOSPR headquarters itself is a kind of tribute to his memory. Designed by the studio of Tomasz Konior - an architect, owner of Konior Studio, who is inseparable from Silesia - it is modern, but immersed in the old context of Katowice. The brick pillars, rough on the surface, smooth and bright red in the recesses, are reminiscent of the windows of the familoks of the Nikiszowiec mining estate. The area around the headquarters is filled with a summer amphitheater and a green hornbeam maze. This is because such a species of trees was advised to the designers by Krzysztof Penderecki himself, an avid dendrologist.
Exhibition "12 words of the master" at the NOSPR
photo: Bartek Barczyk
Not surprisingly, it was architect Tomasz Konior who was invited to collaborate on the design of the exhibition space, which takes us on a short but moving journey into the maestro's soul. Dominik Koroś of Konior Studio also worked on the concept of the exhibition. "12 Words of the Maestro" is a story about Krzysztof Penderecki's legacy, captured in Bartek Barczyk's frames, which is helped by fragments of conversations with the artist, conducted by Aleksander Laskowski. For it was thanks to this outstanding journalist, promoter of classical music and author of numerous books and publications in this field, that the idea of "writing" an interdisciplinary biography of the Master was born.
Exhibition "12 words of the Master" at NOSPR
photo: Bartek Barczyk
As the work on the book progressed (or rather, did not progress), I had a deeper and deeper conviction that the river interview is a form that does not suit Krzysztof Penderecki and thus the truth cannot be told about him. At that time I met Bartek Barczyk. I was greatly impressed by his sensitivity to music and his ability, so rare today, to listen̨ to another person, even when he says almost nothing. Then I saw the pictures. [...] I guess that's when we both realized that combining the professor's words with photographs could be a good form of telling stories about him," says Alexander Laskowski.
Exhibition "12 words of the master" at NOSPR
photo: Bartek Barczyk
"12 Words" consists of 12 photographs, which, in an almost magical way, elaborate on fragments of conversations with Krzysztof Penderecki. Each of them touches on issues and matters important to the maestro - Concept, Nature, Wife, Time or Form. These are also the titles of the individual photographs, which open up to the exhibition visitors - a deep field for interpreting the words and images, and thus making an attempt to get to know the Maestro himself. And although there are 12 photographs, the exhibition closes with the 13th exhibition - Cluster: an epilogue without a photo. Without a photo, because this image must be searched for in the music....
