During the second half of August, music by Chopin and several other Polish composers resonated throughout Warsaw and its environs. Chopin and His Europe Festival had once again brought top talents and interesting programming to the Polish capital, launching this year’s edition with the August 15 concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall where pianist Nikolai…Continue Reading Star-Studded Lineup For Chopin Summer Festival
By Marek Żebrowski Anne Strakacz-Appleton died in Sacramento, California on Friday, 31 July 2015. She was 93 years old. Widow of Louis B. Appleton, Jr., she leaves daughters Amy and Louise, residing in California, daughter Marguerite, a resident of Kansas, and four grandchildren. Born in Warsaw on 17 March 1922, Anne Strakacz was the only…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Anne Strakacz-Appleton
On August 3, Adam Walaciński—composer, music critic, retired professor and vice-president of the Music Academy in Kraków—passed away at 87 years old. He was a student of a violin class at the Eugenia Umińska Music School in Kraków, but then he changed his major and attended the composition class of Artur Malawski. After some time…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Adam Walaciński
By Marek Żebrowski Read or print the full article at: https://polishmusic.usc.edu/files/2015/08/aug15_fest-exchange.pdf Jointly run by the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles and Tarnów Province in Poland, the 2015 edition of the Cultural Exchange Program was held June 27-July 6 at Paderewski’s former manor house in Kąśna Dolna, Poland. Initiated with an official agreement signed in 2008, this…Continue Reading The 2015 Paderewski Exchange: A Chronicle
Due to upcoming international travels by PMC Director Marek Żebrowski and Assistant Director Krysta Close, the Polish Music Center will have limited hours of operation from August 14 – September 14, 2015. Friday, Aug. 14 – Monday, Aug. 24: PMC is closed Tuesday, Aug. 25 – Friday, Sept. 11: Limited hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday…Continue Reading PMC Hours In August And September
During the Karol Szymanowski Music Days Festival (July 25 – Aug 2) in Zakopane, there were two premieres: Ewa Fabiańska-Jelińska’s String Quartet ‘Mater Dei’ and Mikołaj Górecki’s Trio Concerto for clarinet, horn, piano and strings. Mater Dei was performed on July 27 by the Navis Quartet. Trio Concerto by Sinfonietta Cracovia under the direction of…Continue Reading World Premieres at Summer Festivals in Poland
In 2015, the Katowice-based ensemble Camerata Silesia—one of the best chamber choirs in Europe today—celebrates 25 year of excellence of musical work. Critics have noted the group’s skills and the beauty of its sound, emphasizing the role of founder Anna Szostak, who meticulously trained each of the musicians. Camerata Silesia extraordinarily wide repertoire spans music…Continue Reading Camerata Silesia: 25th Anniversary & World Premieres
On June 18, at the XXXVIII General Assembly of the Polish Composers’ Union (ZKP), internationally renowned composer Krzysztof Penderecki received the first ever title of Honorary President of the Polish Composers’ Union. During this General Assembly marking the 70th anniversary of the Union, Mieczysław Kominek was elected president of ZKP. A musicologist, Kominek currently serves…Continue Reading New Leadership At ZKP: Kominek & Penderecki
Fryderyk Chopin – Życie twórcy [Fryderyk Chopin – Life of the creator] Mieczysław Tomaszewski Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina, 2015 Polish, English, German multimedia/electronic The multimedia lexicon Fryderyk Chopin. Life of the creator, by the eminent Chopin scholar Mieczysław Tomaszewski, is an exceptional source of knowledge about the most outstanding Polish composer and is the fruit…Continue Reading New Publication From The Chopin Institute
Documentary filmmakers Michał Góral and Bogusława Plisz-Góral are currently preparing the first ever documentary feature length film about the life and career of the world famous Polish-American opera tenor and actor, Jan Kiepura. Jan Kiepura (1902-1966) led a fascinating life from his modest upbringing in the little town of Sosnowiec, Poland, to the spotlights of…Continue Reading Jan Kiepura Documentary