Marek Szpakiewicz

Marek Szpakiewicz is a cellist scheduled to perform as soloist with the Santa Monica Symphony in September 2026, taking on Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. Beyond this appearance in our directory, we do not have verified biographical details about his training or career.

Listeners coming to this concert should expect Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, a piece built around a short four-note motif that opens the work and returns, transformed, throughout all four movements. The concerto demands a soloist who can shift quickly between biting, percussive attacks and long, exposed melodic lines, especially in the slow third movement, which leads without pause into a driving finale. The rest of the program frames this concerto thoughtfully: Sibelius's brief, hymn-like Andante Festivo for string quartet offers a quiet, reflective opening, while Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 closes the evening with a large-scale, dramatically shaded symphonic work. Audiences unfamiliar with Szpakiewicz can expect the evening's character to be shaped largely by this repertoire choice, since a soloist tackling this particular concerto typically favors clarity of articulation and stamina over sheer volume.