Thanks to Manuel Cini, concert pianist and professor at the University of Surrey—and thanks to his research in Holocaust music—we have learned of Leon Kaczmarek (1903-1973), a composer of vocal music and an inmate at Dachau concentration camp during the years 1940-1945. Not much is known about Kaczmarek’s early life and musical activities in Poland…Continue Reading Vocal Music from Dachau
A review by Marek Zebrowski Cellist Jan Kalinowski and pianist Marek Szlezer—also known as the Cracow Duo—are quite familiar to audiences in California after their numerous appearances at USC, the Holocaust Museum, and the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, among others. Their latest Los Angeles performance was on March 10 in Ramo Hall on the…Continue Reading Virtuosity and Passion
Marta Ptaszyńska, distinguished Polish composer and Helen B. and Frank L. Sulzberger Professor Emerita at the University of Chicago, will return to the UChicago campus on April 10 as a featured speaker for the Robert and Anne Gomer Lecture series. Titled “Imaginary Landscapes—Music of Marta Ptaszyńska,” the composer will discuss her most recent large scale…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska Back in Chicago
During the 76th ceremony of the Grands Prix Internationaux du Disque, organized by the French Académie Charles Cros, Polish composer Elżbieta Sikora will receive the Prize of the President of the French Republic for her entire body of work. The award ceremony will take place on March 21, 2024 at the Embassy of the Republic…Continue Reading Another Great Honor for Sikora
Virtual reality meets composition with “Point Line Piano” in Karlsruhe, Germany. This audiovisual composition experience was created in collaboration with digital artists OpenEndedGroup and Polish composer-pianist Jarosław Kapuściński. “Point Line Piano” is a project that rethinks the composition, performance and reception of piano music by fusing its modes of creating, playing, and listening. “Point Line…Continue Reading Kapuściński Premiere in Germany
On March 23, the USC Polish Music Center welcomes to campus the esteemed Verona Quartet, presenting the annual PMC Spring Concert in collaboration with guest pianist and USC Thornton faculty member Bernadene Blaha. Entitled “Celebrating Bacewicz & Szymanowski,” this concert features pioneering female composer and polymath, Grażyna Bacewicz, and the father of Polish modern music, Karol Szymanowski, highlighting how…Continue Reading 2024 PMC Spring Concert: Celebrating Bacewicz & Szymanowski
A Concert Review by Marek Zebrowski Pianists Grzegorz Mania and Piotr Różański—also known as the Zarębski Duo—performed an afternoon of attractive music for piano four-hands on Sunday, February 25. Presented by the USC Polish Music Center, the concert was held at Murphy Recital Hall on the campus of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Observing…Continue Reading Symphonic Piano Sound
A recording of Elżbieta Sikora’s works for soloists and orchestra published by ANAKLASIS (ANA 024) was recently honored as one of only two albums nominated for the Fryderyk Award in the “Concertante Music” Category. Entitled Concertos, this album highlights three of Sikora’s compositions written during the past two decades. The first item on this disc…Continue Reading Sikora’s Nomination and Award
Two Treasures from the National Film Archives During her recent PMC visit, Dr. Dorota Lekka, Head of the International Department of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (pictured at left with PMC Director Marek Zebrowski and Assistant Director Krysta Close), donated to us two fascinating items: a DVD of Stanisław Moniuszko’s opera Halka, and…Continue Reading PMC Gifts: February 2024
We regret to inform our readers that Ewa Podleś, the great Polish opera singer, passed away on January 19, 2024 at the age of 71. Possessing a beautiful and rare true contralto voice with a range of three-plus octaves, Ewa Podleś sang in the most prestigious houses around the world—Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin,…Continue Reading Obituary: Ewa Podleś, an Opera Legend