The world premiere of Marta Ptaszyńska’s latest work, Crystallites Polyphony for string quartet and marimba, will take place on May 31 at the Polish Consulate of Chicago. The program will include a number of works by Ptaszyńska, and will also be broadcast by Chicago’s WFMT radio on June 10.
This highly-anticipated May 31 premiere will be performed by marimba soloist Josh Graham and the Chen String Quartet. Composed entirely of members of the Chen family, the quartet is also part of the string section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with Robert Chen serving as concertmaster, Laura Chen the Second Violin section concertmaster, and Beatrice Chen part of the viola section. The youngest member of the Chen family, Noah, is a cellist about to graduate from the Juilliard School of Music.
Also in May, several of Ptaszyńska’s works will be recorded for the NAXOS label. They include Concerto Grosso for 2 Violins and Orchestra, Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, Se-Ta for Two Accordions and Chamber Orchestra, and Winter’s Tale for String Orchestra. Other, smaller works to be recorded include Mancala for Two Violins, Euridice’s Dream for Two Harps, and The Last Waltz in Vienna for Three Accordions.
[Sources: email from the composer, joshtgraham.com]