On Saturday, March 28, Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and his New York Quartet (including pianist David Virelles, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gerald Cleaver) will take the stage at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. This performance will be largely dedicated to the poetry of Wisława Szymborska—the Polish poet, essayist and Nobel Laureate—who is also the…Continue Reading Stańko At Jazz Bakery In L.A.
The first concert played by the Warsaw National Philharmonic in its hall, newly-reconstructed after war-time destruction, was given on February 21, 1955. The recording of this historic concert—now digitally re-mastered by Grammy Award winning sound engineers Aleksander Nagórko and Andrzej Sasin—has been released on the Warner Classics label under the title Warsaw Philharmonic Archives: The…Continue Reading Warsaw Phil On Warner Classics
On March 17 in the Colburn School of Music’s Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles, pianist and contemporary music specialist Susan Svrček will perform Grażyna Bacewicz’s Sonata No. 2 (1953) on a Piano Spheres program cheekily entitled “Oh, for the love of…”. Also on the program are: Domenico Scarlatti’s Three Sonatas, Lou Harrison’s Six Sonatas,…Continue Reading Svrček Performs Bacewicz
Warsaw, Poland Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son joined the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw at a special Fryderyk Chopin birthday concert on Sunday, March 1, marking the 205th anniversary of Chopin’s birth. In 1980, Dang Thai Son became the first Asian pianist to win the prestigious Chopin Competition, and indeed any major international piano competition….Continue Reading Chopin’s 205th Birthday Celebrations
As the Lira Ensemble celebrates their ‘Joyous Jubilee’ of 50 years, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and the Board of Directors of the Lira Ensemble invite all supporters to “Music Just for Lira” benefit concert in Chicago on March 11. Featuring the Lira Singers Quartet, the program will be comprised…Continue Reading Lira 50 Year Jubilee Benefit Concert
On March 15, the SUNDAYS LIVE! Chamber Music Series presents violinist Phillip Levy and pianist Rina Dokshitsky performing Paderewski’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op.13. Also on the program are Mozart’s Sonata in G Major, K301, and Prokofiev’s Five Melodies, Op.35. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Phillip Levy received his musical training in Israel and Europe….Continue Reading Paderewski at Sundays Live! in L.A.
Polish classical guitarist Marcin Dylla returns to the Pasadena Conservatory of Music for a performance on the Guitar Nights concert series. Dylla will be joined by Rick Ruskin, contemporary fingerstyle guitarist Rick Ruskin on the same program. Marcin Dylla has been hailed by The Washington Post as “among the most gifted guitarists on the planet.”…Continue Reading Marcin Dylla In Pasadena
Two Polish musicians were recently awarded the Decoration of Honor “Meritorious for Polish Culture” from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage [MKiDN]: virtuoso violinist and cultural organizer Janusz Wawrowski, and pianist, theoretician and composer Marcin Tadeusz Łukaszewski. They were officially decorated at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw by University Rector,…Continue Reading Wawrowski & Łukaszewski Decorated
From February 20 to March 1, the 9th US National Chopin Piano Competition was organized by the Chopin Foundation of the United States in Miami. Following eight days of grueling competition, the nine Competition Jury members—Agustin Anievas, Chair, Sergei Babayan, Ian Hobson, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Kevin Kenner, Dean Kramer, Jon Nakamatsu, Katarżyna Popowa-Zydroń and Margarita Shevchenko—announced…Continue Reading US Nat’l Chopin Competition Winners
An equivalent of the American Grammy Awards, the Fryderyk Awards are organized by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry to honor the year’s best recordings by Polish musicians and of Polish music. On March 4, the nominations for the 2015 Fryderyk Awards were announced. Highlights from the category of classical music include: PENDERECKI Chamber…Continue Reading 2015 Fryderyk Award Nominations