The next few days will bring two new exciting world premieres of works written by Polish composers. First, on December 15, 2023, we’ll have a chance to hear Aleksander Nowak’s Concerto per mezzo for piano and orchestra. The concert will be performed by pianist Piotr Sałajczyk and the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of…Continue Reading More December Premieres: Aleksander Nowak & Zygmunt Krauze
The 5th anniversary of the Christmas Festival “Art Mintaka” will be held on December 8-10, 2023 at the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz. This lesser-known Festival features works by Polish composers, including five world premieres. Concerts will be performed by excellent instrumentalists, including: percussionist Miłosz Pękała, pianist Piotr Nowicki, cellist Gustaw Bafeltowski,the Herbert Piano…Continue Reading Premieres at 2023 Christmas Festival “Art Mintaka”
Originally planned for performances in Israel, our colleagues from the Stowarzyszenie Polskich Muzyków Kameralistów (SPMK), or Polish Chamber Musicians Association, are instead bringing their latest project to the US! Entitled “Muzyczne ślady Polskich Żydów” [The Musical Worlds of Polish-Jewish composers], concerts will be performed in New York City and Washington D.C. between December 5 and…Continue Reading SPMK performs ‘Musical Worlds of Polish-Jewish composers’ in NY & DC
We’ve received news from composer Marta Ptaszyńska about the premiere of her newest composition. Trzy Wizje Według Dantego [Three Visions According to Dante] is Ptaszyńska’s double concerto for saxophone, piano and orchestra and it will be premiered on November 30, 2023 at NOSPR Hall. The performers are Bartłomiej Duś, Magdalena Duś, and the NOSPR orchestra under the baton of Bas Wiegers….Continue Reading World Premiere: Ptaszyńska’s “Trzy Wizje Według Dantego”
It is our deep sorrow to report that our friend and former PMC librarian, Dr. Barbara Zakrzewska, passed away in Poznań on November 30, 2023 at the age of 77….Continue Reading Obituary: Composer and Musicologist Barbara Zakrzewska
Following on the heels of their riveting performance this past weekend at the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, the duo of Joanna Freszel (soprano) and Łukasz Chrzęszczyk (piano) continue their tour northward up the West Coast of the US. These two outstanding young Polish artists are individually winners of some of most prestigious awards in Poland and beyond….Continue Reading Freszel Duo: Seattle (12/5) and San Francisco (12/7)
An Encore by Chylińska! The month of November at the Polish Music Center began with a few very welcome gifts. The first and the most fascinating among them is yet another look into Karol Szymanowski and his life by the indefatigable expert-biographer, Teresa Chylińska. Recently published by PWM, Chylińska’s latest opus, Jak Karol Szymanowski pisał…Continue Reading PMC Gifts: November 2023
Dear Friends of the Polish Music Center, Another year has passed very quickly and, again, quite a lot has happened at the USC Polish Music Center throughout 2023. As you peruse the summary below of our major events, milestones, and accomplishments achieved this year, we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to support…Continue Reading Year-in-Review: PMC in 2023
On November 28, the International Festival of Contemporary Music “New Waves” begins its 9th iteration. Organized by the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union, this festival focuses on finding ways to highlight the ideas coming from new composers and present contemporary creativity in bright new ways. The festival will be held in Gdańsk from…Continue Reading Premieres at the 2023 Int’l Festival of Contemporary Music “New Waves”
On Sunday, December 3, the Freszel Duo will perform ‘Works by great Polish composers of Jewish descent’ at the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles. Their program features compositions spanning the years immediately before, during, and after World War II. This event is organized by HMLA, in partnership with the USC Polish Music Center, Polish National…Continue Reading Freszel Duo at HMLA