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CANTICUM PROFUGORUM – Krzysztof Knittel’s oratorio about refuge and war on the latest album ANAKLASIS
14 / 03 / 2025
The theme of Krzysztof Knittel’s work is refuge and the uncertainty and anxiety about the unknown associated with it, as well as the other side of this topic, i.e. the need to provide help and shelter. The text of the oratorio is based on a poem by Tadeusz Sławek. The piece features singing, recitations, choral parts and improvisations based on the traditions of the Middle East. The album was premiered on 15 March during the 11th Festival of Premieres in Katowice.
The ways of the modern world have become refugee trails. Regardless of whether we think of the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the forests and swamps of the Polish-Belarusian border, the railways or the highways winding from Poland to Ukraine - fear of the unknown is the node where all these routes meet. And in these routes, the most valuable and essential are the legs that lead to a safe place.
‘Legs are most precious thing. Those touched by the knife of war walk on the shoulders of those who have saved their legs. To go on – is the most important thing, not to stop, not to be locked up,’ runs the text recited by its author, poet and translator Tadeusz Sławek, while Oriental instruments (the oud, daf, and darbuka) are improvising in the background. The Near East’s musical traditions thus knock on the door of the West’s culture, in counterpoint with the soloists, choral parts, and the electronics. Krzysztof Knittel’s Canticum profugorum is an oratorio for soprano (Freszel), baritone (Godlewski), actor, children’s and mixed choirs, oud, percussion, orchestra, and electronic media. Its libretto and music deal with our present-day world, where comfort zones are long gone. Refugees have always been an integral part of our reality, and they are left to count on our help, understanding, and empathy. Knittel’s tale is about those forced to wander the world (forever?) and those who support them in their wandering. The work’s premiere, held on 25 November 2022 at the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice under the baton of Yaroslav Shemet, was recorded and has now been released on an album. ‘One world is enough for all of us,’ or so they say… But who, in our day, listens intently to the refugees’ song and tale?
This is another proposal from the ANAKLASIS record label released in the OPERA series, which presents outstanding vocal and instrumental works that go beyond the established musical genres.
The CANTICUM PROFUGORUM (ANA036) album is available in the PWM bookstore, in the best music stores, on the virtual shelves of the Empik chain and in streaming services.
Media patronage: TVP Kultura, Polish Radio Program 2, Culture.pl
Partner: Ruch Muzyczny
ANAKLASIS
A DIVISION OF
PWM EDITION
www.anaklasis.pl
www.facebook.com/anaklasisrecords
www.instagram.com/anaklasis
The ways of the modern world have become refugee trails. Regardless of whether we think of the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the forests and swamps of the Polish-Belarusian border, the railways or the highways winding from Poland to Ukraine - fear of the unknown is the node where all these routes meet. And in these routes, the most valuable and essential are the legs that lead to a safe place.
‘Legs are most precious thing. Those touched by the knife of war walk on the shoulders of those who have saved their legs. To go on – is the most important thing, not to stop, not to be locked up,’ runs the text recited by its author, poet and translator Tadeusz Sławek, while Oriental instruments (the oud, daf, and darbuka) are improvising in the background. The Near East’s musical traditions thus knock on the door of the West’s culture, in counterpoint with the soloists, choral parts, and the electronics. Krzysztof Knittel’s Canticum profugorum is an oratorio for soprano (Freszel), baritone (Godlewski), actor, children’s and mixed choirs, oud, percussion, orchestra, and electronic media. Its libretto and music deal with our present-day world, where comfort zones are long gone. Refugees have always been an integral part of our reality, and they are left to count on our help, understanding, and empathy. Knittel’s tale is about those forced to wander the world (forever?) and those who support them in their wandering. The work’s premiere, held on 25 November 2022 at the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice under the baton of Yaroslav Shemet, was recorded and has now been released on an album. ‘One world is enough for all of us,’ or so they say… But who, in our day, listens intently to the refugees’ song and tale?
This is another proposal from the ANAKLASIS record label released in the OPERA series, which presents outstanding vocal and instrumental works that go beyond the established musical genres.
The CANTICUM PROFUGORUM (ANA036) album is available in the PWM bookstore, in the best music stores, on the virtual shelves of the Empik chain and in streaming services.
Media patronage: TVP Kultura, Polish Radio Program 2, Culture.pl
Partner: Ruch Muzyczny
ANAKLASIS
A DIVISION OF
PWM EDITION
www.anaklasis.pl
www.facebook.com/anaklasisrecords
www.instagram.com/anaklasis
