Concert Review: The Rest of This Concert Will Be in Polish

The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra returns to New York.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Dress casual: Jacek Kaspszyk (center) rehearses the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
at Alice Tully Hal. Photo courtesy the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra.

It is a rare treat to hear the Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej (Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra) on a concert stage in New York. On Monday night, this Polish orchestra played at Alice Tully Hall under the baton of current music director Jacek Kaspszyk. Although not well known in this country, the WNPO has a long history, having been founded in their home city in 1901. This was the ensemble's first visit to the city since 2008, offering a program featuring works by Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin and Mieczysław Weinberg.