GRANDIOSO

Penderecki | 7 gates of Jerusalem

NEWS | 10-12-2018
A real monument was made by Krzysztof Penderecki for Jerusalem on the 3000th anniversary of its foundation. For this occasion, he composed his seventh symphony "Seven gates of Jerusalem". The work performed by the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the combined forces of three choirs and the best soloists will be heard on December 14th in the Golden Hall of the Philharmonic. The orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Penderecki himself.
The premiere of the 7th Symphony "Seven Gates of Jerusalem" took place on January 9th, 1997 in Jerusalem, and a huge international cast took part in it: choirs from Munich, Stuttgart and Leipzig as well as the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel.

The 70th anniversary of the proclamation of independence is celebrated this year by the city to which the work is dedicated, while the Szczecin Orchestra is celebrating the round jubilee this year as well. At the same time, 2018 is the year in which the entire musical world pays homage to maestro Krzysztof Penderecki, who celebrates his 85th birthday. The performance of the Symphony "Seven Gates of Jerusalem" at the Philharmonic in Szczecin will have a solemn, jubilee character.

The composition, originally written as a genre of symphonies, has grown to monumental proportions, engaging a gigantic executive apparatus that we will see on the stage of the Symphony Hall of the Philharmonic in Szczecin on December 14th at 19:00. The Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, with an extended section of percussion, will be accompanied by three choirs, soloists and a reciter. The concert will be conducted by the composer himself, maestro Krzysztof Penderecki.

In addition to the number of performers, the very form of the work is also powerful – the seven legendary city gates correspond to seven parts of the work, in which the composer used texts taken from the Old Testament. The fact that the verbal layer of the work is significant for the composer can be seen in his recommendation that the text spoken by the reciter should always be in a language that the listener understands.

The composition is an example of the implementation of the idea of "great synthesis", in which the artist refers to universal values and combines the musical tradition of different eras with modern means of expression. Thus, in the symphony, there are explicit references to the legacy of great creators of religious, vocal and instrumental forms, the genre of the chorale, a cappella and polichorality. Tubaphones constitute a novum in this nearly hour-long composition. They are instruments built of long pipes according to the design of Penderecki himself. The spatial arrangement of musicians also influences the extraordinary reception of the work.

Penderecki | 7 gates of Jerusalem this Friday, December 14th at 19:00.
VIDEOS AND PHOTOS


February 2026
Young Music Lovers' Academy 2025/2026Young Music Lovers’ Academy | One Planet – many musical worlds, or a journey into the unknown in the footsteps of great composersConcertfor children with caregivers (recommendet child age 5+)
01 FEB, sn, 17:30 - COHEN - PO MIŁOŚCI KRES. ŚPIEWA ARTUR ŻMIJEWSKIkoncert zewnętrzny
Donuta on the caseChamber concertfor preschool and early school-age children
Donuta on the caseChamber concertfor preschool and early school-age children
02 FEB, mn, 19:00 - MICHAŁ SZPAK LIVE SESSIONkoncert zewnętrzny
03 FEB, tu, 19:00 - UNIATOWSKI. A NIGHT WITH SINATRAkoncert zewnętrzny
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS 2025/2026 | Polish Music SceneGarden of DelightsChamber concert
05 FEB, th, 19:00 - HALINA FRĄCKOWIAK [KONCERT ODWOŁANY]koncert zewnętrzny
08 FEB, sn, 18:00 - RAY WILSON - GENESIS CLASSICkoncert zewnętrzny
Jazz Camp for Kids | Warsztatyworkshopsdla uczniów 10-15 lat ze szkół muzycznych
JAZZ CONCERTS 2025/2026Hoshii | Kuba WięcekJazz concert
Jazz Camp for Kids | Warsztatyworkshopsdla uczniów 10-15 lat ze szkół muzycznych
10 FEB, tu, 19:00 - GRUPA MOCARTA - ALE KINO!koncert zewnętrzny
Jazz Camp for Kids | Warsztatyworkshopsdla uczniów 10-15 lat ze szkół muzycznych
Jazz Camp for Kids | Warsztatyworkshopsdla uczniów 10-15 lat ze szkół muzycznych
Art.RoomŁukasz Skąpski | Rysunki cieniemDrone performance / Wernisaż
Level 4. Gallery | Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćVernissage
Jazz Camp for Kids | Warsztatyworkshopsdla uczniów 10-15 lat ze szkół muzycznych
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Valentine’s Evening with Film MusicSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Valentine’s Evening with Film MusicSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Valentine’s Evening with Film MusicSymphonic concert
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS 2025/2026 | Polish Music SceneFrom Chopin to TansmanChamber concert
19 FEB, th, 19:00 - KAYAH - JAZZAYAHkoncert zewnętrzny
GUESTS AT THE SZCZECIN PHILHARMONIC 2025/2026Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish RadioSymphonic concert
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 1-2 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 3-4 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 5-6 with caregivers
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
21 FEB, sa, 19:00 - SYMPHONICAkoncert zewnętrzny
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 1-2 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 3-4 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 5-6 with caregivers
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
22 FEB, sn, 17:30 - BAW MNIE! KONCERT Z PIOSENKAMI SEWERYNA KRAJEWSKIEGOkoncert zewnętrzny
23 FEB, mn, 19:00 - KASIA KOWALSKA AKUSTYCZNIEkoncert zewnętrzny
25 FEB, wd, 20:00 - KORTEZ - BUMERANG'26 TOURkoncert zewnętrzny
26 FEB, th, 19:00 - ANDRZEJ PIASECZNY - THE BESTkoncert zewnętrzny
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026C major in three shadesSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
28 FEB, sa, 16:00 - ANOTHER PINK FLOYD I MAREK RADULIkoncert zewnętrzny
28 FEB, sa, 19:30 - ANOTHER PINK FLOYD I MAREK RADULIkoncert zewnętrzny
March 2026
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
WORLD MUSIC 2025/2026 (Four Strings of the World)Third String | Lena JonssonWorld music concert
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Dance the scoreSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
PHILHARMONIC LIGHT 2025/2026Młynarski | BynajmniejConcert
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS 2025/2026 | Polish Music SceneWooden NuancesChamber concert
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Groundbreaking storiesSymphonic concert
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 1-2 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 3-4 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 5-6 with caregivers
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 1-2 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 3-4 with caregivers
RANIUTTOworkshopsfor children aged 5-6 with caregivers
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Tender BrahmsChamber concert
School concerts 2025/2026Lived in Szczecin happily ever afterSchool concert for Grades 1–3 and 4–8
School concerts 2025/2026Lived in Szczecin happily ever afterSchool concert for Grades 1–3 and 4–8
GUESTS AT THE SZCZECIN PHILHARMONIC 2025/20262nd Prize Winner of the 19th Chopin CompetitionRecital
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
Young Music Lovers' Academy 2025/2026Young Music Lovers’ Academy | Allow us to introduce: the opera in personwłasnej osobieConcertfor children with caregivers (recommendet child age 5+)
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
Donuta on the caseChamber concertfor preschool and early school-age children
Donuta on the caseChamber concertfor preschool and early school-age children
ConsonancesChamber concertfor seniors
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Between prayer and musicSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS 2025/2026Between prayer and musicSymphonic concert
Level 4. Gallery 2025/2025Klaudia Prabucka, Natalia Sara Skorupa | Psia kośćExhibition
2026
REPERTOIRE