After 10 years of working together, the Kwadrofonik Ensemble—comprised of pianists Emilia Sitarz and Bartłomiej Wąsik and percussionists Magdalena Kordylasińska and Miłosz Pękala—is organizing the first edition of the Kwadrofonik Festival. Held from September 4 – 6, 2015 in various studios of Polish Radio in Warsaw, this contemporary chamber music marathon will present works created…Continue Reading Kwadrofonik Festival
La Folle Journée is an international festival held annually since 1995, founded by René Martin – organizer of numerous festivals and concerts of classical music around the world. He is also the founder of the Centre de Realisations et d’Etudes Artistiques à Nantes (C.R.E.A.). The La Folle Journée Festival presents classical music at the highest possible…Continue Reading La Folle Journée – Szalone Dni Muzyki
The 49th Jan Kiepura Festival was held in Krynica-Zdrój on August 8-16, 2015. The program included the performances of The Gypsy Baron by the Kraków Opera artists, I have a dream by the Gliwice Music Theatre, vocalists Beata Rybotycka and Jacek Wojcicki, Małgorzata Walewska with Motion Trio, and many more. During the 8-day festival, more…Continue Reading Jan Kiepura Festival
The Fifteenth International Festival of Music in Catalonia was held in the small but artistically significant town of Céret in southern France, from August 20-23. Organized annually since its inception with heartfelt dedication by Polish composer and resident of the area, Joanna Bruzdowicz, who also serves as the Festival’s Artistic Director, this year’s program spotlighted…Continue Reading August Premieres In France
During the second half of August, music by Chopin and several other Polish composers resonated throughout Warsaw and its environs. Chopin and His Europe Festival had once again brought top talents and interesting programming to the Polish capital, launching this year’s edition with the August 15 concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall where pianist Nikolai…Continue Reading Star-Studded Lineup For Chopin Summer Festival
By Marek Żebrowski Anne Strakacz-Appleton died in Sacramento, California on Friday, 31 July 2015. She was 93 years old. Widow of Louis B. Appleton, Jr., she leaves daughters Amy and Louise, residing in California, daughter Marguerite, a resident of Kansas, and four grandchildren. Born in Warsaw on 17 March 1922, Anne Strakacz was the only…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Anne Strakacz-Appleton
On August 3, Adam Walaciński—composer, music critic, retired professor and vice-president of the Music Academy in Kraków—passed away at 87 years old. He was a student of a violin class at the Eugenia Umińska Music School in Kraków, but then he changed his major and attended the composition class of Artur Malawski. After some time…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Adam Walaciński
By Marek Żebrowski Read or print the full article at: https://polishmusic.usc.edu/files/2015/08/aug15_fest-exchange.pdf Jointly run by the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles and Tarnów Province in Poland, the 2015 edition of the Cultural Exchange Program was held June 27-July 6 at Paderewski’s former manor house in Kąśna Dolna, Poland. Initiated with an official agreement signed in 2008, this…Continue Reading The 2015 Paderewski Exchange: A Chronicle
Due to upcoming international travels by PMC Director Marek Żebrowski and Assistant Director Krysta Close, the Polish Music Center will have limited hours of operation from August 14 – September 14, 2015. Friday, Aug. 14 – Monday, Aug. 24: PMC is closed Tuesday, Aug. 25 – Friday, Sept. 11: Limited hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday…Continue Reading PMC Hours In August And September
During the Karol Szymanowski Music Days Festival (July 25 – Aug 2) in Zakopane, there were two premieres: Ewa Fabiańska-Jelińska’s String Quartet ‘Mater Dei’ and Mikołaj Górecki’s Trio Concerto for clarinet, horn, piano and strings. Mater Dei was performed on July 27 by the Navis Quartet. Trio Concerto by Sinfonietta Cracovia under the direction of…Continue Reading World Premieres at Summer Festivals in Poland