Nowowiejski Anniversary

The Płock Symphony Orchestra celebrated Feliks Nowowiejski’s 140th birthday with an anniversary concert on October 12. The program consisted of the overture to the opera Legenda Bałtyku as well as the Fantasy of the themes from this opera, symphonic poem Pożegnanie Ellenai, Polish Fantasy for solo organ, and overture Swaty Polskie [Polish Nuptials]. Nowowiejski’s Legenda Bałtyku was world premiered in Poznań in 1924 and since then became a popular work in the canon of…Continue Reading Nowowiejski Anniversary

Penderecki Competition for Young Composers

The Polish Composers’ Union [ZKP], Kraków branch, announced the First International Krzysztof Penderecki Competition for Young Composers. The assignment is to write a work for flute, clarinet, violin, viola and cello that is 9-14 minutes long. Composers of all nationalities under the age of 35 are invited to compete; each composer can send no more than two…Continue Reading Penderecki Competition for Young Composers

Kocyan Performs in LA

On Saturday, October 21 Polish pianist and Loyola Marymount University faculty member Wojciech Kocyan gave a Faculty Piano Recital. He was joined on the stage of LMU’s Murphy Recital Hall by special guest artist Yoshika Masuda – cello. Wojciech Kocyan was born in Poland. From age six to eighteen he studied with Krystyna Moszynska. He also studied with…Continue Reading Kocyan Performs in LA

Cracow Duo in LA

Following their stellar performance at the Polish Music Center’s Paderewski Lecture-Recital and other touring around the US, the Cracow Duo will be back in Los Angeles this weekend for two exciting programs of Polish music. First, on October 28, they will perform with the New Zimro Ensemble at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center in Pasadena, CA….Continue Reading Cracow Duo in LA

Różycki’s Eros I Psyche in Warsaw

Warsaw’s Grand Theatre and National Opera opeed its fall season with performances of new production of Ludomir Różycki’s opera Eros i Psyche on October 13, 15, 17 and 19. Barbara Wysocka directed the new staging of this work and the recently appointed musical director, Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, led the orchestra. Based on a story by Jaerzy Żuławski, the…Continue Reading Różycki’s Eros I Psyche in Warsaw

World Premieres of Augustyn and Widłak

Flutists Łukasz Długosz and Agata Kielar-Długosz with pianist Andrzej Jungiewiczpresented world premieres of works by Rafał Augustyn and Wojciech Widłak at the Radziejowice Palace on Oct. 14. The pair of flutists were also the dedicatees of these pieces. Part of the “Composers’ Commissions” [Zamówienia kompozytorskie] program operated by the Institute of Music and Dance, this concert was co-organized by the Piąta Esencja Foundation. Describing his work Matrimonium for…Continue Reading World Premieres of Augustyn and Widłak

Anton Rubinstein’s Moses in Warsaw

It is not common for an audience to witness a modern premiere of a composition by a prominent author, created more than a century ago. Yet that is exactly what is happening on Oct. 15 at the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw, when Sinfonia Iuventus presents the world premiere of Anton Rubinstein’s sacred opera Moses, Op. 112. This…Continue Reading Anton Rubinstein’s Moses in Warsaw

Ptaszyńska’s Piano Concerto Premiere

On October 27, the Kalisz Philharmonic under the baton of Natalia Ponomarczuk will present the world premiere of Marta Ptaszyńska’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, with Clare Hammond as soloist. This is what the composer said about her work: I finished the Concerto at the beginning of July 2017. Before starting to work on it, I considered at length its form…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska’s Piano Concerto Premiere

Gifts to PMC October 2017

From Lynwood F. Bronson, our longtime friend in northern California and a distinguished piano pedagogue, we received a rare and beautifully produced copy of Paderewski’s June 6, 1931 recital at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris. It was first of Paderewski’s benefit performances for the Debussy monument fund drive. This Saturday afternoon program was quite extensive,…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC October 2017