The 73rd International Chopin Piano Festival commemorates Chopin’s stay in the spa town of Duszniki in 1826. The festival opened on Friday with a recital by pianist Wojciech Świtała. The concert was a tribute to Andrzej Merkur, the chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, who died a few months ago. Festival highlights include a recital…Continue Reading Chopin Festival in South-West Poland
Katarzyna Sadej (mezzo-soprano) and Barbara Bochenek (pianist) are working on recording the 33 songs composed by Witold Lutoslawski under the pen name “Derwid.” These “pop” songs were tangos, waltzes, and foxtrots specifically composed for Polish radio, but have been largely forgotten. The duo has begun recording in Los Angeles, but they are seeking sponsors to…Continue Reading Lutoslawski “Derwid” Recordings
On 13 August, Agata Zubel’s “Fireworks” will premiere at the Chopin and His Europe Festival. The piece will be performed by the European Union Youth Orchestra, led by Gianandrea Noseda. PWM describes the piece as: An eight-minute work by Agata Zubel, “Fireworks” was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Polish independence and contains an…Continue Reading Premiere of Agata Zubel’s “Fireworks”
The Musical Gardens Foundation will host concerts of the International Composers’ Course “Synthetis” on 6 and 9 August in Radziejowice. This year’s International Composers’ Course will last until 10 August. The Course, led by artistic director Professor Zygmunt Krauze, is the reboot of the famous composing courses organized in the 80s and 90s by the…Continue Reading Concerts of the International Summer Course for Composers “Synthesis”
Sundays Live at LACMA is a venerable concert series that for many years attracted large audiences to the Museum’s spacious Bing Theatre. Somewhat coincidentally, the last two Sundays of July featured Polish artists, who presented two very diverse and fascinating programs to a uniformly rapturous reception from the audience. On 22 July, guitarists Ewa Jabłczyńska…Continue Reading Polish Artists at LACMA
Bill Vestal, Director of LACMA’s Sundays Live Concert Series presented the PMC with a regal gift of a deluxe LP album featuring Bronisław Kaper’s music to the celebrated 1962 feature, Mutiny on the Bounty. Starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard, this MGM Technicolor extravaganza was a lavish production with a substantial budget for promotion. Recorded…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC July 2018
Marek Zebrowski will be giving a lecture on 11 August titled “Through Music to Freedom: Paderewski and World Politics,” followed by a performance of Paderewski’s most famous solo piano compositions. An exhibit about Poland will be on display in the library’s courtyard from 1-4:30 p.m. This event is coordinated by Judith Graham from the Santa…Continue Reading Polish Independence Celebration in Santa Monica
The finale of the 11th Music Festival of Southern Wielkopolska entitled “Szczypiorno: At the Source of Independence” will take place on 5 August. The Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Adam Klocek, will perform. The concert will begin with Serenade for strings, Op. 2 by Mieczysław Karłowicz to showcase the 20-year-old composer’s potential. Afterwards, pianist Piotr…Continue Reading Finale of the 11th Music Festival of the Southern Greater Poland
Every year, the Transatlantyk Festival awards filmmakers and musicians for creating new and challenging works in film, music and art. This year’s Transatlantyk Best Polish Young Composer was Radzimir Dębski, also know as Jimek, for two works: Panic Attack / Atak Paniki (Poland) Directed by Paweł Maślona Produced by Akson Studio Supported by the Polish Film…Continue Reading ZaiKs and Transatlantyk 2018 Best Young Polish Composer Winner
The 52nd International Organ Festival, one of the oldest music events in Poland, will take place in Koszalin and Central Pomerania until 31 August. The festival includes 30 organ, chamber, choral, and oratory concerts featuring artists from all over Europe. The concerts will feature Polish organists, such as Roman Perucki and Marek Toporowski, as well…Continue Reading 52nd International Organ Festival in Koszalin and Central Pomerania