Spring has made a welcome return – or at least we sincerely hope so, writing this in mid-March! – bringing with it Rafael Payare. The Venezuelan maestro, graduate from the famous music education programme “El Sistema” and pupil of Lorin Maazel, performs with Sinfonietta Cracovia – and it is a truly special occasion: the acclaimed artist marks the inauguration of his collaboration with the orchestra as its guest conductor. It is the follow-up to their original meeting in December 2015, which enchanted the audience and the musicians themselves. “It’s no exaggeration to say that it was love at first musical sight,” according to Jurek Dybał, the ensemble’s lead conductor and director.

The collaboration is sealed during the concert held as part of the Stars with Sinfonietta cycle, which will resound with Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B flat major “Spring” (hardly an accident!) and Symphony No. 2 in C major. “I can’t wait to come back to Kraków,” declares Payare. We can’t wait either! (Barbara Skowrońska)