Dmitri Schostakovich Chamber Symphony op. 110a
Benjamin Britten Phaedra op. 93
Luciano Berio Folk Songs
Sergei Prokofiev Symphony no. 1 in D major op. 25 "Classical"
Conductor Teodor Currentzis / Mezzo-Soprano Malena Ernman

The MCO gives its debut in Poland as part of the Cultural Season NRW in Poland 2011/12, performing concerts in Poznan, Warsaw and Cracow. The goal of the Cultural Season is to intensify an exchange between the arts scenes of North Rhine-Westphalia and Poland and to make a contribution to a living Europe. The MCO travels as an ambassador of its NRW Residence to Poland, bringing with it a concert programme that was rehearsed in the German region.

All of the works on the programme were written in the 20th century, and they feature varied instrumentations that allow various aspects of the MCO to come into focus. Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony is an adaptation for string orchestra of his String Quartet no. 8. Britten's Phaedra for mezzo-soprano solo is accompanied by timpani, two percussionists, harpsichord and strings. Berio wrote his Folk Songs for mezzo-soprano solo, flute, clarinet, two percussionists, harp, violin and cello. And lastly, Prokofiev's Symphonie Classique is set for a classical orchestra with 36 musicians. The MCO's ability to play in very varied ensemble sizes is essential to the orchestra's particular character; the musicians also play regularly in smaller ensembles drawn from the larger group. 

Greek conductor Teodor Currentzis has lived in Russia since he began his conducting studies there in the early 1990s. He is artistic director of the Perm State Theatre of Opera and Ballet as well as founder and artistic director Musica Aeterna, an ensemble which emphasizes historical performance practice, and he is currently one of the most influential conductors in Russia. Swedish mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman appears in leading concert halls and opera houses all over the world. Her wide repertoire includes jazz and musicals as well as an appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix 2009. Her first appearance with the MCO was as Cherubino in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the opera festival in Aix-en-Provence in 2007.