Bach – English Suites Nos 1, 3 & 5 Johann Sebastian Bach: English Suites, No. 1 in A, BWV806; English Suites, No. 3 in G minor, BWV808; English Suites, No. 5 in E minor, BWV810 Piotr Anderszewski: piano Erato / Warner Classics The new recording byPolish-Hungarian pianist Piotr Anderszewski has been announced as the winner…Continue Reading Anderszewski Wins 2015 Gramophone Award
On September 14, the Program Committee for the Institute of Music and Dance chose the nominees for the 2015 Koryfeusz Polish Music Award in the categories: ‘Personality of the Year’, ‘Event of the Year’ and ‘Honorary Award’. The award aims to honor individuals, groups of artists and institutions working in the field of broadly…Continue Reading Koryfeusz Award Nominations
Banaszak’s recent recording of Alan Hovhaness’ Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings, Op. 344 (Naxos 8.559755) has been nominated for the 2015 Grammy Award in two categories: Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Performed with Eastern Music Festival Orchestra and Gerard Schwarz, the CD had already garnered many positive comments and reviews. Writing…Continue Reading Banaszak At The Grammys
On August 30, 2015, 18 year-old American pianist Eric Lu held an all-Chopin concert at the South Pasadena Library. The concert was organized by the Southwest Council of the Chopin Foundation of the United States, established in 2014 by Chris Onzol, and dedicated to the support the young generation of American pianists pursuing their studies…Continue Reading Review Of “Chopin, Chopin, Chopin” Program In Pasadena
New Augustyn CD The Romantic Violin Recital Chopin: Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor; Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 68 No. 4; Kresiler: Variations on a Theme, Liebesleid (Love’s Sorrow); Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1; Bartok: Roumanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, Bb 68; Wieniawski: Fantaisie Brillante (Faust Fantasy), Op. 20; Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28;…Continue Reading Augustyn and Penderecki Recordings
Virtuoso saxophonist Greg Banaszak continues to concertize around the world and record exciting repertoire. After being the first saxophone concerto soloist to perform with orchestras in the Middle East and Korea, during the month of August Banaszak toured India, appearing with the Mumbai Symphony Orchestra. In addition to works for sax and orchestra by Ibert,…Continue Reading Greg Banaszak In India
On July 4, Krakow-based Szymon Mika took the top honors in the Smietana Competition sharing the podium with Second Prize winner Felix Lemerle of France, and ex-aequo Third Prize winners Ronald Baloghow from Hungary and Rotem Silvan of Israel. The Final Gala Concert this year included performances by the prize winners as well as by…Continue Reading Szymon Mika Wins The Jarek Smietana Competition
On October 18, the musical treasures of the late Renaissance and Baroque period in Poland will be showcased at this year’s Paderewski Lecture-Recital in celebration of the PMC’s 30th anniversary. Presented by Adam Knight Gilbert and the USC Thornton Baroque Sinfonia ensemble, this program will feature rarely-heard vocal and instrumental masterpieces by Wojciech Długoraj (1550-1619),…Continue Reading 2015 Paderewski Lecture-Recital
Two distinguished guests from Poland and Ukraine paid a courtesy call at PMC in early August. Adam Bala, Director of the Discovering Paderewski Festival, and Marianna Humetska, Artistic Director of the same Festival, came on a brief visit to California and were given a tour of the Polish Music Center and the USC campus. During…Continue Reading Polish and Ukrainian Visitors at PMC
On Saturday, August 8, 2015, the Discovering Paderewski Festival in Lviv, Ukraine, represented by Director Adam Bala and Artistic Director Marianna Humetska, presented the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles with a handsome bronze bust of Paderewski, an award recognizing the Festival’s contributions to promoting Paderewski and Polish music. This tribute is granted annually to five…Continue Reading Paderewski Fundraiser in Paso