Gorecki Fourth Symphony Postponed

The London premiere of Henryk Gorecki's much-anticipated Fourth Symphony -- scheduled for April -- has been postponed. The website lists the reason as "prolonged illness.  The composer does indeed have a long history of illness, going back to health problems experienced as a small child.  This aside, private word reaches me that the composer was indeed quite ill, though in typical fashion he is not advertising his current state.

Having met Henryk Gorecki in his home almost three years ago, I fondly remember both his crochety nature and his buoyant personality.  It became immediately clear to me that he was a man who wrestled with the violent powers which surface in all true composers, yet he gave freely of his time and presence to the young admirer who had visited him.

The cancelation of the Fourth Symphony is a bitter disappointment to fans of Gorecki's work; it would have been truly fascinating to see his long overdue response to the iconic -- and dare I say eternal? -- reverberations of his magical Third Symphony.

Let's keep Henryk in our prayers.  For this who are unfamiliar with his Third Symphony, I'm providing a link to a video of the second movement, filmed for a DVD commemorating the victims of Auschwitz.

Be healthy, Mr. Gorecki, and give us more music!