The outstanding conductor Benjamin Bilse also fulfilled himself as a composer. He left over 40 compositions, which were published in Legnica and Berlin, but also in England, France, Russia, the United States, and even down under – in Australia. The demand for them was so great that almost all his works were soon arranged for home use for piano (for two or four hands) and for piano and violin. According to press announcements, the young artist’s first compositions were a Galopp and a Schottisch – both published by Johann Friedrich Kuhlmey. Perhaps one day we will learn something about Miss Pauline Schiller, to whom the 23-year-old musician dedicated his Galopp. You will not find the infatuated Benjamin’s early work on this album, but there are several compositions which he dedicated to dignitaries, rulers, princes, and even a king (and later emperor).

The CD opens with music dedicated to Count Hans Heinrich XI von Hochberg, Prince of Pless, such a colourful character that he deserves a separate account. Here, let us just mention that he spent most of his life pursuing his three great passions: politics, hunting and charity. As Master Hunter, he played an important role in the development of hunting signals, popularised the use of the hunting horn, henceforth called the Pless horn, and brought about the collection and publication of all known hunting signals. His daughter-in-law was Duchess Daisy, famed for her beauty. Whether Benjamin Bilse took part in the hunts organised by the Count is not known. It is certain that the Fürstenstein (Castle) was quite often visited by him and the orchestra. Die Fürstensteiner. Tongemälde in Form eines Walzers, Op. 28 (‘sound image in the form of a waltz’) celebrates the beauty and majesty of that iconic building of Lower Silesia, rising above the dense and dark forests of the Sowie Mountains.
Jakub Kukla (translation – Anna Marks)

West Side Sinfonietta: the ensemble is a joint initiative of the musicians of the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Instrumentalists of both major institutions from Western Poland exchange various artistic experiences. The orchestra is not led by a conductor, but by violinists. This function is performed by concertmasters Marcin Danilewski and Paweł Maślanka, who together with the excellent double bass player Jacek Sosna form the core of the orchestra.

The West Side Sinfonietta’s repertoire is very wide, with special place occupied by the music of Viennese composers (Hadyn, Mozart) and salon music (Strauss family, Lehár).

The orchestra owes its existence to the favour of the director of the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music in Wrocław Andrzej Kosendiak and the director of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Szczecin Philharmonic Dorota Serwa.

In 2020, the ensemble released their debut album Moritz Moszkowski, which was nominated for the prestigious Phonographic Academy Award Fryderyk in the Album of the Year – Concert Music category.