LUTOSŁAWSKI, W.: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 Symphonic works by Witold Lutosławski (1913 – 1994) Finnish Radio Symphony, Hannu Lintu – cond. Ondine ODE 1332-5 From the website of Ondine Records: Second volume in the Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) symphony cycle by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Hannu Lintu brings together two…Continue Reading Recent Polish Recordings
Please note: the performers originally slated for February 19 (Maniucha & Ksawery) are unable to perform due to Covid-19 quarantine—they will return to the Jazztopad lineup in May/June. Instead, the dynamic Janusz Prusinowski Kompania will be performing in the February 19 at 11:00 a.m. PST slot! See updated information below. The Jazztopad Festival, in partnership…Continue Reading UPDATED: Jazztopad ‘Great Improvisation’ series Livestreams in February
The Kosciuszko Foundation in New York City will conduct an Online Piano Academy February 26-28, 2021. Open to all aspiring artists under the age of 30, the academy’s students will have an opportunity to work with distinguished pianists, as well as laureates and jurors of international piano competitions, including Piotr Paleczny, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Ewa Pobłocka,…Continue Reading Online Piano Academy
The Special Collections Department of the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IS-PAN) recently acquired the archive of Stefan Jarociński, an outstanding musicologist, long-time head of the Institute of Music History at the Polish Academy of Sciences. The Institute received invaluable materials for research into the history of 20th-century musicology and music…Continue Reading Jarociński Archive at IS-PAN
Polish Heroines of Music Elżbieta Sikora (b. 1944): Sonosphère V. Wanda Landowska; Hanna Kulenty (b. 1961): Aisthetikos; Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Contradizione; Agata Zubel (b. 1978): In the Shade of an Unshed Tear Orchestre Pasdeloup, Marzena Diakun – cond. Anaklasis (29 Jan 2021) Women have long represented a distinctive voice in Polish music. The excellent achievements…Continue Reading New Release: Polish Heroines of Music
On 26 January 2021, for the 28th time, Polityka magazine awarded outstanding artists with their coveted ‘Passports’—one of the most important cultural awards in Poland. Seven winners were selected from among 21 nominations. This year the jury also presented an additional award in a new ‘remote culture’ category. The awards are presented in seven categories:…Continue Reading Polityka’s Passports 2020 Winners
Composer, pianist, arranger, teacher, and music journalist Zbigniew Ciechan passed away on 24 January 2021 at the age of 91. Initially, Ciechan studied at the State Higher School of Music in Poznań and then at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw, from which he graduated in 1962. He was a student of Witold…Continue Reading In Memoriam Zbigniew Ciechan
The tragic news about the death of Elżbieta Markowska, former director of the Polish Radio – Channel 2 and president of the Witold Lutosławski Society, was announced on 24 January 2021. Elżbieta Markowska graduated in musicology from the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Professor Józef Chomiński. From 1970 she was associated with the…Continue Reading Obituary: Elżbieta Markowska
The Kraków Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union (ZKP) announces 4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition for Young Composers. The subject of the competition is a composition for chamber orchestra with a duration of 9 to 12 minutes. Composers from every country, who will be 35 or younger at the moment of its closing, can take…Continue Reading 4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition for Young Composers
The Jazztopad Festival, in partnership with Polish Cultural Institute New York, presents The Great Improvisation series online live streamed from the National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław, Poland. The series presents various faces of jazz—from bold avant-garde and daring improvisation through to the mainstream. The ideal acoustics of the NFM halls provide a perfect…Continue Reading Jazztopad ‘Great Improvisation’ series Livestream