Mieczysław Karłowicz and the Hans Winderstein Orchestra. A hypothesis concerning a rehearsal of 'Lithuanian Rhapsody' in 1907 in Leipzig

Andrzej Pytlak

Abstract

Mieczysław Karłowicz’s biographers (Adolf Chybiński and Henryk Paweł Anders) failed to describe the composer’s key contacts with Hans Winderstein’s orchestra (Winderstein-Orchester, also known as the Leipziger Philharmonisches Orchester). From 1896 the ensemble enjoyed a busy concert schedule in Leipzig, while also touring or acting as a seasonal orchestra in many countries abroad. In four years (in 1899–1901 and 1904), it played in the spring–summer season in Warsaw’s Dolina Szwajcarska (Swiss Vale). In June 1901, taking advantage of the Winderstein orchestra’s stay in Warsaw, Karłowicz held with it a rehearsal, during which he conducted fragments of his ‘Rebirth’ Symphony in E minor. The composer also attended the Winderstein concerts during his visit to Leipzig in March 1906 and while staying in that city from October 1906 until June 1907. Though he held the abilities of the Leipzig orchestra in low regard, he decided to hire it for another rehearsal, which took place probably in April 1907 (as confirmed in a postcard written the following year by Karłowicz to Bolesław Domaniewski). During this audition, the orchestra performed a number of Karłowicz’s symphonic poems, including Lithuanian Rhapsody. The composer was dissatisfied with the Winderstein orchestra’s interpretation of this composition, and so later also tried to prevent its performance by other incompetent ensembles.