Polish composer Krysztof Penderecki is set to conduct in Oxford in May

RENOWNED Polish composer Krysztof Penderecki, best known for such works as 'St Luke Passion' and 'Threnody For The Victims Of Hiroshima', will be conducting the Oxford Philharmonic at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre on 18th May. In a four page article in the April edition of BBC Music Magazine Penderecki said, "Perhaps in the difficult times it was easier for composers. Because all artists are important in the bad times. Art was central to everything. It was how we could express ourselves and it was important and necessary. The theatre, particularly, was part of the argument, the revolution. Now - not so much. In Poland most people are better off. It is like the West. And the more comfortable they are, the less they care about artistic invention." CR

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