The 53rd edition of the Wratislavia Cantans festival in Wrocław explored the idea of liberation, commemorating the centenary of Poland’s regained independence in a broader context. From September 7–16, 2018, audiences enjoyed a variety of works by Haydn, Verdi or Szymanowski in rendering from the celebrated conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner and star soloists such as baritone Mariusz…Continue Reading 2018 Wratislavia Cantans Festival
Our sound library keeps expanding thanks to some old and some new friends of the Polish Music Center who keep donating their newest recordings to us. Composer Joanna Bruzdowicz is certainly one of our closest long-time friends and supporters and she recently sent us a CD featuring Filharmonia Podkarpacka led by Łukasz Wódecki in Bruzdowicz’s Symphony…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC October 2018
Szymanowski: Piano Music Karol Szymanowski: 9 Preludes, Op. 1 (1899–1900); Prelude in C sharp minor (1899–1900); 4 Etudes, Op. 4 (1900–1902); Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor; Variations on a Polish Folk Theme in B minor, Op. 10 Marek Szlezer, piano DUX 1367 (Int’l release date: October 2018, via Naxos) Marek Szlezer is an…Continue Reading “Szymanowski: Piano Music” by Szlezer
Gorecki: String Quartet No. 3, Op. 67 “…Songs Are Sung” Henryk Mikolaj Górecki: String Quartet No. 3, Op. 67 “…Songs Are Sung” DAFO Quartet: Justyna Duda / I violin; Danuta Augustyn / II violin; Aneta Dumanowska / viola; Anna Armatys / cello DUX 1302 (Int’l release date: July 2018, via Naxos) The Quartet No. 3…Continue Reading “Gorecki: String Quartet No. 3” by DAFO Quartet
Paderewski: Piano Works Ignacy Jan Paderewski: Minuet in G major, Op. 14 No. 1 (1886); Nocturne in B flat major, Op. 16 No. 4 (1890–1891); “Dans le désert” Toccata, Op. 15 (1886–1887); Melodia Ges-dur op. 16 nr 2 (1885); Piano Sonata in E flat minor, Op. 21 (1906) Radosław Sobaczak, piano DUX 1503 (2017) The…Continue Reading “Paderewski: Piano Works” by Sobczak
During the season opening concerts of their 74th season on October 5 and 6, the Orchestra and Choir of the Krakow Philharmonic will perform under the baton of the artistic director of the institution, Charles Olivieri-Munroe. The concert program includes one of the most well-known works of Russian composer Piotr Czajkowski – Piano Concerto No….Continue Reading Krakow Philharmonic 74th Season Opening Concert
The 6th Wojciech Kilar Contemporary Music Festival will take place on October 13-20 at the Gorzów Philharmonic. The Festival presents works that differ in style and musical aesthetic. The inaugural concert will be filled with Polish symphonic music of the last century, including Overture for orchestra by Grażyna Bacewicz, and Symphony concertante No. 4 for…Continue Reading 6th Wojciech Kilar Contemporary Music Festival
On 8 October, a series of concerts will showcase the creative capacities of teachers and students. Works by Zbigniew Bujarski, Krzysztof Penderecki, and their former students Michael Gatonski, Karol Nepelski and Hyewon Lee will be performed. Before the concert there will be a discussion with Maestro Penderecki, led by Małgorzata Janicka-Słysz. The concert program includes: Zbigniew…Continue Reading Gatonska premiere at “Bujarski and Penderecki: Masters and Their Students”
On October 5, the Warsaw Philharmonic will inaugurate the 2018/2019 season celebrating the centenary of Poland’s regained independence with Witold Lutosławski’s one-minute Fanfare for Los Angeles Philharmonic (1993), the world premiere the newest work of Eugeniusz Knapik entitled Blessing Gentle Breeze, and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor (1900) by Sergei Rachmaninov. Blessing Gentle Breeze features…Continue Reading National Philharmonic season opens with Knapik premiere
Several Polish composers were featured at the 2018 International Bienniale for Electroacoustic Music at Studio PANorama in São Paulo, Brazil. In particular, Elżbieta Sikora–who celebrates her 75th birthday this year–and Krzysztof Knittel were highlighted, with concerts on October 10 and 11 dedicated entirely to their music. The festival also presented concerts curated by these two pioneers of electronic music, which included works by their…Continue Reading Polish Composers at Electroacoustic Bienniale in São Paulo