ORATORIES
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THE WAY OF HOPE
Parts of the oratorio:
1. Overture - "Oppression of Israel"
2. "Here I am, Lord" - Moses' prayer
3. "Passage of the Angel of Death"
4. "The Lord is my strength" - a mother's thanksgiving prayer
5. "Hallelujah"
6. "Miriam's song of thanksgiving"
7. "The Decalogue"
8. "The cult of the golden calf"
9. "Penitential Song"
10. "Moral law"
11. "Sing a new song to the Lord"
"The Way of Hope" is a work based on biblical texts, the content of which is the difficult, full of doubt, rebellion and questions about the meaning of human suffering, the path of the chosen people to the Promised Land. away from the daily torments of Egyptian bondage. It is Moses who is in dialogue with God. He communicates God's will to people. He hears warnings. He shows signs given from above that can help to follow the path of good and love, he advises on how to make the right choices. "mouth" in contacts with the people becomes Aaron, into whom another soloist transforms. But evil is more attractive and more attainable. It sparkles and can be obtained immediately, which brings joy, giving the illusion of victory. It tempts and often wins.
The tablets of the Decalogue are broken. The Golden Calf, built from material sacrifices, has no spirit. And although God is merciful and forgives, the journey extends to 40 years of wandering in the desert. For mankind for the next millennia there are ten commandments and a moral law. Can we as humanity benefit from this science? Doesn't each of us wander helplessly and err? Do we, driven into the treadmill of everyday life, not grapple with the same questions about the meaning of our own life roads and paths, on which we enter tired, resigned, tempted by easy choices of cheap trinkets?
The Overture announces a contemporary drama. It vividly brings to mind such images as Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the World Trade Center. The dialogues with the choir conducted by the soloists and the tense solo parts introduce the content of dramatic biblical events: the oppression of Israel, the calling of Moses, the Egyptian plagues, the passage of the angel of death, the exit from Egypt, the decalogue - breaking the tables, worship of the golden calf, adopting the moral law, searching for , getting lost and rediscovering the way to the "Promised Land", the way to moral order and fulfillment of God's promises.
The author gives splendor to the original biblical texts, constantly surprising with their depth and beauty, with his excellent music. By using the variety of musical styles, it does not allow the entire piece to be dominated by the obvious, classical monumentality of the form that the Bible and the second source of creative inspiration could suggest - the moral lesson flowing to mankind from the attacks of evil, hatred and terror it experiences. Janusz Kohut goes back to the roots of Jewish music, "quotes" pastoral music, introducing to the oratorio instruments the shepherd's trombita and the white voice of Józef Brody. He also freely uses the language of music that the 20th century gave us, both in its popular version and in search of unconventional sounds (piano preparation). This musical multithreading makes the piece richer and so interesting that everyone can discover their musical fascinations in it.
The premiere of the oratorio took place in 1998 in the Church of St. Józef Robotnik in Oświęcim. It was also performed in Katowice and Bielsko-Biała. The fragments were presented in St. Peter in Rome in 2000 during the National Pilgrimage of the Great Jubilee.
Performers:
Beata Bednarz, Ewa Uryga, Józef Broda, Mieczysław Szcześniak (Jorgos Skolias)
Janusz Kohut, Radosław Kuliś, Ryszard Styła
Choir and Orchestra of the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice
conducted by Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk
THE GUEST EXPECTED

Parts of the oratorio:
1. Overture
2. Business
3. Help for Kurek
4. The Socialist's Dreams
5. Morals of Dewotka
6. Journalist
7. Kurek's despair
8. The waiting and the visit of Dziad
9. Zośka's prayer
10. Philip invites Jesus
11. Preparations for the feast
12. Rokita's considerations
13. Communal news
14. Feast
15. Philip's complaints
16. Claimant
17. Final - God so loved the world
The Expected Guest - the Beskid oratorio
based on a drama by Zofia Kossak
Music - Janusz Kohut
Text adaptation - Aleksandra Chrystowska
The oratorio "The Expected Guest" is a colorful story that plays in the soul about Jesus walking around the world and looking into people's homes. The story of a neighborhood quarrel becomes a starting point for a deeper reflection on people's attitudes towards the highest values. "You have to believe," wrote Zofia Kossak in the introduction to "The Expected Guest," that there is truth in this seemingly naive play. Jesus does come to anyone who calls on Him, but seldom stays anywhere longer. " This statement becomes the key to understanding the universal content of the song "Gość Expected".
The people to whom God comes react differently, how different - superficial or deep - their faith is.
The premiere of the oratorio took place during the 2nd International Festival of Sacred Music "Sacrum in Musica" in Bielsko-Biała in 2001. The piece was also performed in the Basilica of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki in 2002, honoring the consecration of the sanctuary by John Paul II. In addition, we could also hear "The Expected Guest" in the cathedral in Gliwice and Opole and in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Warsaw, where he was recognized as an artistic event of 2003, and in November 2004 at the Wilanów Palace. The concerts met with a very warm welcome and interest from the audience.
Performers:
Soloists: Beata Bednarz, Madzia Krupa, Anita Maszczyk, Ewa Uryga, Piotr Kusiewicz, Ireneusz Miczka, Adam Szerszeń, Janusz Szrom, Adam Zdunikowski, Jacek Wójcicki
Soloists - instrumentalists: Konrad Basiuk, Józef Broda, Grzegorz Gryboś, Janusz Kohut, Radosław Kuliś,
Highlander band "Grojcowianie"
The Katowice City Singers' Ensemble "Camerata Silesia" conducted by Anna Szostak
orchestra Gliwice Musical Theater conducted by Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk
ST. PETER
Parts of the oratorio:
1. Overture - Canticle of Zechariah
2. Magnificat
3. Ascension
4. Pentecost
5. Three thousand souls
6. Healing the lame man
7. Sanhedrin I.
8. Ananias and Sapphira
9. Sanhedrin II
10. Simon Mag
11. Tabita's story
12. Revelation on the roof
13. Release from prison
14. The rock
SAINT PETER oratorio, based on the texts of the "New Testament", is a work depicting the birth of the New Church. The nation of Israel is waiting for a Messiah who will bring deliverance from Roman rule, therefore Jesus of Nazareth bringing the kingdom "out of this world" is rejected. After his death and resurrection, the apostles and disciples, out of fear of repressions, shut themselves up in the Upper Room. The day of Pentecost brings a new reality - the sending of the Holy Spirit. Disappointed and scared so far, the apostles go out to the streets of Jerusalem and boldly proclaim the Gospel. After the first sermon of Peter, a simple fisherman, 3,000 people are converted. Apart from many gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostles also receive the gift of speaking in other tongues. Peter becomes, as the Master himself appointed him, "the rock upon which I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against him" (Matthew 16:18). The good news preached by the apostles is spreading. The first Christians are united with each other, they show one another great love and care. The possessed goods are divided according to the needs. Simple teaching, based on love, is at the same time very radical, as exemplified by the punishment suffered by Ananias and Sapphira for lying (Acts 5: 1-11).
The content of the oratory reflects the spiritual transformation of Peter, the other apostles and converts. It shows the time of the birth of the New Church, the persecution of the first Christians, and the final victory of the Gospel.
The premiere of the oratorio "Święty Piotr" took place on October 10, 2004 in the Church of St. Maksymilian Kolbe in Bielsko-Biała during a ceremonial concert on the occasion of the Papal Day. It was also performed in 2005 in the Basilica of Divine Providence in Wilanów. The concerts met with great interest from the audience.
Performers:
Krystyna Prońko, Ewa Uryga, Marek Bałata, Janusz Szrom
Academic Music Group of the Silesian University of Technology
preparation of the choir Krystyna Krzyżanowska- £ oboda
Bielsko Festival Orchestra
Piotr Baron - conductor