The first festival dedicated to the culture of Warsaw’s Kamionek district—once an industrial area, now turned art hub—was held from June 8-15, 2019. Participants were introduced the locals, artists and non-governmental organizations of contemporary Kamionek through various art-related events: concerts of classical and contemporary music, performances, workshops, exhibits, and bicycle rides with architects. With both indoor…Continue Reading Kamionek Festival in Warsaw
This year’s edition of the prestigious iPalpiti Festival (July 5-20, 2019) will feature Agnieszka Podłucka, a young superstar violist from Łódź, Poland, performing at venues throughout Southern California. On July 10, Podłucka will share the stage with Hungarian violinist Samuel Nebyu and Trio Zadig from France, performing Rachmaninoff’s Trio elegiaque, Bernstein’s Candide, and more. On…Continue Reading Agnieszka Podlucka with iPalpiti in L.A.
Polish Parliament has declared 2019 the “Year of Stanisław Moniuszko.” In honor of this 200th birth anniversary, the Polish Composers’ Union (ZKP) and Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera have announced an International Stanisław Moniuszko Composers’ Competition for a micro-opera entitled “12 Minutes for Moniuszko.” Stanisław Moniuszko’s stage works incorporate societal issues, everyday life, and…Continue Reading “12 Minutes for Moniuszko” micro-opera competition
Krzysztof Meyer’s Quasi una Sonata for guitar and accordion was premiered on 28 May at the Warsaw Philharmonic. The Institute of Music and Dance commissioned the work as part of the “Composing Commissions” program. Beginning only in the 1820s, the accordion’s history is not as long as those of other instruments. In 1821, Christian Friedrich Ludwig…Continue Reading Premiere of Krzysztof Meyer’s “Quasi una Sonata” at Warsaw Phil
The 4th “TRZY-CZTE-RY: Contexts. Contrasts. Confrontations” Festival will take place in Warsaw from May 28 – June 19, 2019. The festival features panel discussions after each concert, allowing the audience to interact with the musicians. This year’s program is devoted to Witold Lutosławski, whose 25th death anniversary fell on February 7. During the inaugural concert, the…Continue Reading 4th TRZY-CZTE-RY Festival
The Musica Electronica Nova festival was held from May 17-25, 2019. As the festival’s artistic director Pierre Jodlowski explains, this year’s theme is “Signs:” Because humanity has organized itself into societies, signs occupy a very important place in our lives: from prehistoric images to the banners of the Middle Ages, from signs spreading in the…Continue Reading 9th International Festival Musica Electronica Nova
“Moniuszko Days” with the Toruń Symphony Orchestra will take place between May 5 and June 21, 2019. This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Stanisław Moniuszko, composer, conductor, organ player, educator, director of Warsaw’s Grand Theatre, and the father of Polish opera. Embracing operas, art songs, cantatas, religious music, symphonic works, chamber and…Continue Reading “Moniuszko Days” with the Toruń Symphony Orchestra
The Gdańsk Music Festival was held on May 18-25, 2019. Each year, the festival organized by the Polish Baltic Philharmonic, the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre and Radio Gdańsk is defined by a theme, the Artist in Residence, or important anniversaries. The 2019 edition was dominated by both contemporary and historical pianos. The soloist of the…Continue Reading Gdańsk Music Festival 2019
New Items in the Ryterband Collection We were recently visited by Diana Eisele (pictured above), the daughter of Roman Ryterband, who has served as an endless fount of enthusiasm and assistance for building and organizing her father’s collection at the PMC. She came bearing wonderful news—several manuscripts and other materials regarding some of her father’s…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC May 2019
On May 10, the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Centre in Białystok presented “Two Great Artists, Two Ages, Two Musical Sensitivities”—a Pawlik/Moniuszko Polish Jazz Concert. Pianist and arranger Włodek Pawlik is the only Pole to win a Grammy for jazz. His newest CD is the first in the world to feature works by…Continue Reading Two Great Artists, Two Ages, Two Musical Sensitivities