On Tuesday, June 29, the Arts and Culture Foundation [FKiS] presents a free online memorial concert to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the death of Ignace Jan Paderewski. Paderewski was a citizen of the world, statesman, diplomat, virtuoso, composer, advocate of an independent Poland, and above all, a great patriot. He appealed to work for a common cause, higher ideals and unity of all Poles. Ignace Paderewski is an example of how much can be achieved by a man of humble origins but exceptional talents, rigorous work ethic and a good heart. The concert will bring closer the insufficiently known ethos of charity and philanthropy of this Great Pole, who gave away most of his wealth, especially supporting those who fought for the freedom of Poland. There will also be interesting facts and little-known archival materials made available by the Pilsudski Institute in New York, the USC Polish Music Center in Los Angeles, and the Polish Museum of America in Chicago.
The concert program, which presents the artistry of Polish composers and emphasizes its national character, will include works by F. Chopin and I. Paderewski in classical performance as well as jazz interpretations by the excellent Krzysztof Herdzin. The concert features Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, winner of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw; American pianist Eric Lu, a laureate of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw; Kamil Pacholec, a young generation Polish pianist supported by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute under the “Young Talents” program and winner of the Polish National Piano Competition in Katowice, the International Piano Competition in Livorno, and semi-finalist of the 1st International Chopin Piano Competition on historical instruments; Krzysztof Herdzin,pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, music producer, professor and doctor of musical arts; mezzo soprano Magdalena Idzik, soloist of the Polish National Opera and assistant professor at the Department of Vocal Studies of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music; and Marek Bracha, considered one of the most interesting Polish pianists of the young generation, who is represented by Ludwig van Beethoven Association. There will also be performances by Wrocław Opera Ballet soloists, Hannah Ho and Robert Kędziński, choreographed by Associate Professor Zofia Rudnicka, lecturer at the Department of Dance at the Wrocław University of Music.
The main partner of this concert is the PZU Foundation. It is presented in cooperation with: the Roman Dmowski & Ignace Jan Paderewski Institute for the Heritage of National Thought (IDMN), Paderewski Center in Kąsna Dolna, International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, Pilsudski Institute of America, Polish Museum of America, USC Polish Music Center, and Łazienki Królewskie Park in Warsaw
Tuesday, 29 June 2021 | 8:00 Central Europe Time
‘Ignacy Paderewski: Patriot & Philanthropist’ Concert
FREE, Online only
Details & concert viewing at: www.paderewski.fkis.org
[Sources: press release, paderewski.fkis.org]