On April 19, the Classical Encounters Foundation presents a recital by pianist Dmitri Ratser. His program will feature several works by Chopin: Polonaise in C-sharp Minor, Op.26 No.1; Two Mazurkas: C-sharp Minor, Op.6 No.2 and F Minor, Op.63 No.2; Two Waltzes: A Minor, Op.34 No.2 and C-sharp Minor, Op.64 No.2. Also included on the program…Continue Reading Chopin in Tarzana
by Marek Zebrowski Maestro Tadeusz Strugała, one of the leading Polish conductors, recently celebrated his 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his artistic career. Since 1979 Strugała was associated with the National Philharmonic in Warsaw as its conductor and deputy artistic director. Besides his concert engagements, Maestro Strugała is a noted pedagogue and organizer of musical events…Continue Reading Double Anniversary for Strugała
On March 17 in the Colburn School of Music’s Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles, pianist and contemporary music specialist Susan Svrček performed Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz’s Sonata No. 2 (1953). Entitled “Oh, for the love of…,”this Piano Spheres program also included Domenico Scarlatti’s Three Sonatas, Lou Harrison’s Six Sonatas, Chen Yi’s China West Suite and Julia Gomelskaya’s Gutsulka-dance (performed with…Continue Reading Svrček & Bacewicz in Los Angeles
Haunting and beautiful harmonies of modern master composers Arvo Pärt, John Tavener and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki were performed by the Pasadena Master Chorale on March 21 and 22, 2015. Singer and writer Lauri D. Goldenhersh, of singer networking website www.laurislist.net, wrote a review entitled Heaven in SoCal: Modern choral with Pasadena Master Chorale. Below is an excerpt: Finally, the concert…Continue Reading Pasadena Master Chorale Presents “The Sound of Heaven”
The 6th edition of the International Chamber Music Festival “Q’arto Mondi” took place, just like every year, in Poznań during the month of April. Some of the world’s leading artists, intriguing repertoire and a few novelties were once again on the program. This year’s inauguration was held at the Aula NOVA of the I.J. Paderewski…Continue Reading Q’arto Mondo Festival
For two weeks in February, Jan Kalinowski and Marek Szlezer conducted extensive research in the Polish Music Center’s Zygmunt and Luisa Stojowski Collection. The two performers, scholars, and faculty members at the Kraków Music Academy came to Los Angeles on a grant from their institution to survey the manuscripts of various cello and piano works…Continue Reading Cracow Duo at PMC
A Review by Marek Zebrowski On Tuesday, 24 February, the large crowd gathered in USC’s Alfred Newman Recital Hall greeted the onstage entrance of cellist Jan Kalinowski and pianist Marek Szlezer—otherwise known as the Cracow Duo—with hearty applause. Without much fuss, the two young musicians quickly launched into Chopin’s Op. 3 Polonaise and dispatched it…Continue Reading Cracow Duo Shines At Newman
This year’s PMC spring concert is a joint collaboration between the PMC, the USC Thornton School of Music’s Composition Department, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Entitled “Measures & Frames” and presented by Visions & Voices—USC’s Arts and Humanities Initiative—the evening will combine music and film, seeking to discover the hidden and serendipitous connections…Continue Reading Measuring Up To Film
PENDERECKI Chamber Works, Vol 1 (DUX 0780), Dedications: works for cello and piano (DUX 0986) and Polish Cello Music (DUX 0925) are 3 CDs donated by the Jan Kalinowski and Marek Szlezer of the Cracow Duo, during their recent time in the PMC. See above for discussions of their scholarly activities and performances. …Continue Reading Recent Donations
The Grand Theatre in Poznań had commissioned a new opera by Aleksander Nowak, Space Opera, czyli mężczyzna, kobieta i…. [Space Opera, or a Man, a Woman, and…], which will be premiered in Poznań on March 14, 2015. The libretto of the opera is by Georgi Gospodinow and the premiere will be conducted by Marek Moś….Continue Reading Nowak Premiere & Opera Conference In Poznań