Karol Szymanowski Foundation Awards On January 9, 2016, opera singer Mariusz Kwiecień and musicologist Alistair Wightman received the 2015 Karol Szymanowski Foundation Annual Award. The jury members (Teresa Chylińska, Agnieszka Chwiłek, Zofia Helman (chairperson), Witold Karol Juchniewicz, Eugeniusz Knapik and Zdzisław Szakiewicz) awarded Kwiecień in recognition of his interpretation of the role of Król Roger [King Roger] and promoting Karol Szymanowski’s…Continue Reading Awards – January 2015
Category: 2016
Baltic Phil on US Tour
On January 13, 2016, the Baltic Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [Orkiestra Polskiej Filharmonii Bałtyckiej] begins a concert tour of the US that will include 43 concerts in the most prestigious venues in 18 states. The longest concert tour in the orchestra’s history, it will continue until March 20, 2016. The program features Piano Concerto No. 2 in F…Continue Reading Baltic Phil on US Tour
Duczmal Birthday Concert
Polish conductor Agnieszka Duczmal will be celebrating her 70th birthday this year. Duzcmal has won many prestigious awards and honors, including National Competition for Conductors in Katowice, the Silver Medal of Herbert von Karajan at the International Meeting of Young Orchestras, and the title of “La donna del mondo” awarded by the International Cultural Centre. She has…Continue Reading Duczmal Birthday Concert
Chopin & the University Of Warsaw
A series of five concerts will be performed at the University of Warsaw starting January 6. The university campus is a significant place in relation to Fryderyk Chopin’s life: he was not only an alumnus of the Music School, but also faculty in the Fine Arts and Sciences department. Moreover, in 1817 his family took residence in…Continue Reading Chopin & the University Of Warsaw
Adam Didur Commeration Concert
Though the Silesian Opera was first established in 1901, the establishment enjoyed its first successes in 1945 with the premiere of Moniuszko’s opera Halka, the first post-war opera performance in Poland. Under the direction of the famous opera singer, Adam Didur, the Silesian Opera gained the reputation of a major opera stage for outstanding artists and…Continue Reading Adam Didur Commeration Concert
Karolina Brings More ‘Hope’
On December 27, vocalist and violist KaroliNa (Karolina Naziemiec) held a successful release party for her new album, Songs of Hope, at Vitello’s Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles. That evening, KaroliNa was on stage for one set, joined by her fellow recording artists: Tom Ranier – piano, Darek “Oles” Oleszkiewicz – bass, Larry Koonse – guitar, Alan Kaplan…Continue Reading Karolina Brings More ‘Hope’
Orphée Encore at Warsaw Chamber Opera
After its successful premiere in December 2015, the critically acclaimed opera Orphée by Polish composer Dariusz Przybylski and Latvian artist Margo Zālīte will take the stage of the Warsaw Chamber Opera once again in 2016. The production is centered upon the tragic yet enchanting tale of Orpheus, an ancient Greek hero endowed with superhuman musical skills, who travels to…Continue Reading Orphée Encore at Warsaw Chamber Opera
Urbański SF Symphony Debut
Krzysztof Urbański is in the fifth season of his tenure as Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The highly-regarded international conductor and artistic leader has worked with over 20 different orchestras throughout his career thus far. This month, audiences will be able to enjoy two splendid orchestral masterpeices that will be brought to life…Continue Reading Urbański SF Symphony Debut
Kwiecień Soaring at the Met
Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień is having great success in his current lead role in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Georges Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles [The Pearl Fishers], produced by Penny Woolcock. According to culture.pl, the opera will be broadcast in HD in Poland on January 16 in selected venues, including Kino Praha and Teatr Studio in Warsaw, CK Zamek…Continue Reading Kwiecień Soaring at the Met
Increased Cultural Spending Announced for 2016
Poland’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Jarosław Sellin (pictured at right), has announced that overall spending on culture will increase by 9.5% in 2016, relative to spending levels for similar projects in 2015. Some more details about these spending increases include: art education by 5%, university art education by 5.5%, culture and protection of cultural heritage…Continue Reading Increased Cultural Spending Announced for 2016