HENRYK GORECKI

 

The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

 

Tony Palmer’s Masterpiece

 

 

Although written in 1976, the 3rd Symphony by Henryk Górecki only came to real prominence in 1992, with Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta, conducted by David Zinman via Elektra Nonesuch records. No.1 in the UK Classical Record Charts for 26 consecutive weeks.

 

Tony Palmer, director of music-related documentaries and films, went to Poland to shoot this work in 1992. It involves a complete, uninterrupted, performance of the 3rd Symphony, with camera attention moving between the orchestra, Dawn Upshaw the soprano, and the Composer interviewed in his home setting and silently wandering through the empty camp at

Auschwitz, which is near to his home.

 

The film was originally screened on The Southbank Show, and such is its gravitas that ITV relented by allowing it to run without adverts. This was exceptional.

 

“I wanted to express a great sorrow”, Górecki says. “The war...the rotten times under Communism...our life today...the starving. What madness! This sorrow, it burns inside me.

I cannot shake it off”

 

Tony Palmer says: “My film is a personal view of a great Symphony which is itself a towering monument to all that we have done and are continuing to do in the name of humanity”

 

“A Witness and a Warning” Gorecki

 

“This film is a major work of art in itself.” The Guardian

 

Tony Palmer Films NTSC DVDTP102