"Symphony of a Thousand" at Spodek: The Great Jubilee Gala of the Silesian Philharmonic on May 24, 2025

This is an event without precedent on a national and European scale, which will become a musical manifesto of community, passion and artistic courage.

In Katowice, the symphony will be performed by over 1,000 artists : a symphony orchestra, mixed and children's choirs, soloists and conductors. The event will bring together the music community from all over Poland, integrating cultural institutions, art schools and music schools.

The first part of the evening is an extraordinary journey into the world of Wojciech Kilar in a new, unexpected version. "Kilar Industrialnie" is a fusion of his timeless music with the power of industrial sounds of Silesia - the rhythms of machines, the roar of steel structures and the pulsating energy of large industrial plants. Real mining machines will stand on the Spodek stage and transform into extraordinary instruments. Their steel structures, rhythmic beats and raw mechanics will become part of a musical story in which industrial sounds will meet with symphonic momentum.

Legendary film motifs will be performed in specially prepared arrangements – from the lyrical "Pan Tadeusz", through the dramatic "Ziemia obiecana" and the moving "Sól ziemi czarna", to the raw energy of "Orawa". Wojciech Kilar's Piano Concerto No. 2 will be performed by the excellent pianist Piotr Sałajczyk, and the evening will be complemented by Adam Wesołowski's "Sinfonia inustrialna".

By combining a classical orchestra with industrial sounds and multimedia visualizations, the result is a performance that will pay tribute in a modern way to one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

Symphony of a Thousand – The Great Jubilee Gala of the Silesian Philharmonic / press materials

After this spectacular introduction, the Spodek space will be filled with Gustav Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, a unique work in the entire repertoire of classical music. It is a piece that, in its form and content, transcends the boundaries of the era – combining the spirituality of the medieval hymn Veni Creator Spiritus with the philosophical finale of Goethe's Faust.

Mahler composed this work in just a few weeks, but its message remains timeless – it tells the story of the power of the human spirit, love, unity and redemption. Its premiere in 1910 in Munich, with a thousand performers and three thousand listeners, went down in history as one of the most spectacular artistic events of the early 20th century. The audience included Thomas Mann, Arnold Schönberg, Camille Saint-Saëns and Richard Strauss.

In the Katowice performance , Mahler's universe will resound with full power - not only in sound, but also symbolically. Children's, student, amateur and professional choirs have been invited to perform together, which makes this project not only musical, but also social and communal. This is a unique meeting of people - artists, enthusiasts, teachers and young people - which proves that great works can unite people beyond divisions and generations. "Symphony of a Thousand" in Katowice's Spodek will become not only a musical event, but also a universal manifesto of community and the spirit of cooperation.

Symphony of a Thousand – The Great Jubilee Gala of the Silesian Philharmonic / press materials

The Great Jubilee Gala of the Silesian Philharmonic is an event that is not only artistic, but also social and symbolic. The scale of the undertaking, the number of institutions and artists involved, as well as the openness of the concert formula mean that on May 24, 2025, the Spodek in Katowice will become a space for joint celebration - both for the music community and the general public. The event program has been planned to connect generations, traditions and aesthetics, giving the audience access to the highest quality art in the form of an exceptional spectacle.

The broadcast of the event by international music media (medici.tv) and nationwide (Polish Radio) will enable the promotion of Polish musical culture around the world, presenting both masterpieces of world music (Mahler) and works by Polish composers (Kilar, Wesołowski).

This event will not only be the culmination of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Silesian Philharmonic, but also a permanent trace in the memory of the artistic community and the audience. "Symphony of a Thousand" is a symbol of unity, the power of cooperation and faith in culture as a space of understanding - beyond the boundaries of generations, environments and traditional forms. It is also proof that great art can be born from a joint effort and share beauty with thousands of people.

Performers: Ricarda Merbeth – soprano Ilona Krzywicka – soprano Marta Huptas – soprano Anna Lubańska – alto Maria Berezovska – alto Rafał Bartmiński – tenor Paweł Konik – baritone David Leigh – bass Piotr Sałajczyk – piano Yaroslav Shemet – conductor Adam Wesołowski - conductor Jarosław Wolanin – choir preparation The Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Silesian Chamber Orchestra Silesian Philharmonic Choir Choir of the University of Economics in Katowice Choir of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice Academic Choir of the Silesian University of Technology Chamber Choir of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice Choir Rezonans Con Tutti Project Choir of the Choirtownia Foundation State School of Music, First and Second Degree named after M. Karłowicz in Katowice State School of Music, First Degree named after W. Kilar in Wodzisław Śląski F. Chopin State Music School of the First Degree in Będzin K. Szymanowski State Music School of the First Degree in Oświęcim J. Kiepura State Music School of the First and Second Degree in Sosnowiec G. Fitelberg State Music School of the First and Second Degree in Chorzów W. Kilar State Music School Complex in Katowice F. Rybicki State Music School Complex in Tychy S. Moniuszko State Music School of the First and Second Degree in Zabrze Private General Secondary Music School “Elementarz” General Secondary Music School of the First and Second Degree named after F. Chopin in Bytom Complex of First and Second Degree Music Schools in Ruda Slaska

M. Spisak Music School Complex in Dąbrowa Górnicza