Panufnik In New York Times
On November 28, the New York Times published an interesting article about the life and music of Polish émigré composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Entitled “His Nightmares Starred Communists, Not Nazis – Celebrating Panufnik, a Polish Composer in London” and written by Michael White, the article is a concise retelling of this composer’s exciting, somewhat tragic and often controversial life and career.
White begins thus:
Composers’ lives are usually less interesting than lore has it, amounting to long hours at a desk, putting ideas on paper. But one relatively recent life reads like a John le Carré Cold War thriller. It is the story of Andrzej Panufnik, who was born into the Polish middle class in 1914, died an English knight in 1991 and, in between, led an existence plagued by war, politics and exile that twice stripped him of all he had achieved and forced him to start again.
To read the entire article, visit: www.nytimes.com.
[Sources: nytimes.com]
Ryterband Performed In Poland
Another composer who celebrates his 100th birth anniversary this year, Roman Ryterband, was honored with a performance of his music for harp in combination with violin and flute at the prestigious school where he once studied, the Academy of Music in Łódź. Held on November 13, the “Chamber Harp Concert” was a part of the 2nd edition of the Academy’s AŻ Festival (November 7-29, 2014).
The following works by Roman Ryterband were performed: Two images by Aleksandra Gaudynek – harp; Sonata breve by Anna Kłos – harp and Martyna Witych – violin; Two desert scenes for Flute and Harp by Jagoda Pawelec – harp and Katarzyna Zielińska – flute; and Trois ballades Hebraiques by Paulina Żurawik – harp and Dominika Wiśniewska – violin. Other composers on the program were Camille Saint-Saëns, Marcel Tournier and Alberto Ginastera.
[Source: Ryterband family]