On March 28 in Polish Radio’s Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio in Warsaw, Paweł Szymański’s 70th birthday was celebrated with a special concert entitled ‘Paweł Szymański @ 70!’. The performers included Hashtag Ensemble, Royal String Quartet, Matangi String Quartet, and soloists: Daniel Oktawian Piotrowski – countertenor, Agnieszka Podłucka, Natalia Reichert – violas, Małgorzata Sarbak – harpsichord,…Continue Reading ‘Paweł Szymański @ 70!’
Ryterband—More Correspondence! Another tranche of fascinating letters sent to Roman Ryterband during the years 1939-1949 was recently donated to the PMC by the composer’s younger daughter, Diana Eisele. Her extraordinary gift includes correspondence from Abraham Ritterband to pianist and composer Roman Ryterband, who spent the World War II years in Berne, Switzerland. They include six…Continue Reading PMC Gifts: March 2024
The Polish-born soprano Dominika Zamara will appear as a featured guest performer at a concert at the Weill Recital Hall in New York City on April 4. She will perform Wiesław Rentowski’s Agnus Dei, dedicated to Pope John Paul II. For this occasion, Ms. Zamara will be joined by other laureates at the Fifth Annual…Continue Reading Zamara at Weill Hall Performing Rentowski
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
The Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club of Southern California presents a unique jazz concert by famous Polish jazz vocalist Grazyna Auguscik with Brazilian guitarist Paulinho Garcia. Entitled “Polska i Brazylia,” the concert will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 7 pm at the Illusion Magic Theater (formerly known as Magicopolis) in Santa Monica. Admission is free for Club members and…Continue Reading Grazyna Auguscik & Paulinho Garcia in L.A.
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