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Written by Lori Donovan
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Growing up in communist Poland, Mariusz Smolij was groomed by
his educators and his government to be a classical music genius. As
a young man, Smolij left Poland for America where he learned the
art of conducting at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. The
combination of a staunch Eastern European education and the free-form
expression welcomed in America helped Smolij become the
person the American Symphony Orchestra League has called, “one
the country’s most promising young conductors”.
Patrons of the Riverside Symphonia, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Lafayette, Louisiana,
and a host of other orchestras across the world, know Maestro Smolij for his passionate and
expressive repertoire. What most might find surprising is his desire to flex a symphony’s offerings
into something both traditional and fresh.
In his own words, Maestro Smolij shares the
inspiration behind his flexible presentations:
The Maestro on the friendly symphony:
When I go to a gallery of unknown painting
or sculptures I very much appreciate a guiding
hand to help me understand what is in front
of my eyes. I am trying to do the same by
presenting small lectures before each of our
concerts. It is not only an opportunity to share
some perspective and insight on the music
to be performed, but also a chance for the
audience to ask questions. I don’t shy from
speaking from the conducting podium during
the concerts, when appropriate.
A recent collaboration between the orchestra
and Lambertville-based composer Robert
Maggio went even further. In creating his piece
At the River, the composer (through the use
of recorder and tape) included Lambertville
residents ages 8 to 80 in the creation process.
Their voices and impressions became part
of the score and created a new and different
type of relationship between the orchestra and
the community.
The Maestro on John, Paul, George, Ringo
& Wolfgang…
My favorite composer is always the one I
am currently studying and conducting, as I am trying to be his/
hers best advocate and
passionate presenter.
My taste is rather
eclectic and the list
of composers and
works that are very
meaningful to me is
too long to be listed.
However, no matter
what I work on or
otherwise do in my
daily routine, there
are two names whose
music always sounds
extremely fresh to me:
W.A. Mozart and The
Beatles.
The Maestro on
bridging musical
gaps…
There is so much wonderful and significant music that I am still dying
to learn and conduct, especially from the vocal-instrumental repertoire.
I believe that cross-over projects deserve a larger place in the symphonic
repertoire. There is a large number of musicians and composers
outside of the so-called classical music world who through their original
musical language and talent managed to develop a special connection
with the audience.
As an example of cross-over that truly excites me I would mention
my recent collaboration with highly noted blues and slide guitar player,
Louisiana based, Sonny Landreth. Recently while working with the
Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Lafayette, he brought his unique guitar
sound to some Bach arrangements and the orchestra offered its voice to
his compositions. Everyone including the musicians, critics and most
importantly the audience seemed to love it.
The Maestro on blues and football…
Most people would not suspect a symphonic conductor to get overly
excited by other kinds of music. I really enjoy jazz, good blues and even
rock. It may be less surprising, that I am big soccer fan (the real football,
you know) and I did not miss too many games of the last World Cup. I
still follow how my hometown soccer team is doing in the Polish league
with similar excitement to following what is happening in the musical life
in Poland and everywhere else.
Maestro Smolij can be found conducting the Riverside Symphonia’s
Musical Celebration of Christmas on December 1 & 2 in Lambertville, NJ.
You can learn more about the conductor at www.mariuszsmolij.com and
the symphony at www.riversidesymphonia.org.
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