Category: Performances

New Bacewicz: On Record and On Stage

by Marek Zebrowski The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra presented two concerts last weekend that opened with Overture for Orchestra, a brief and brilliant 1943 composition by Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969). Bacewicz—a virtuoso violinist and excellent pianist—showed her very best neo-classical side in this compact, six-minute-long work. Effective and challenging string writing coupled with bright woodwinds and…Continue Reading New Bacewicz: On Record and On Stage

US Premiere of Wars’s ‘City Sketches’

On May 11 in Georgia, the Augusta Symphony will be led by their Music Director—German conductor Dirk Meyer—in the US Premiere of City Sketches by Henryk Wars. This jazzy suite fits perfectly on a program that combines works by American composers Leonard Bernstein (“Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town) and Duke Ellington (Suite from…Continue Reading US Premiere of Wars’s ‘City Sketches’

Ptaszyńska’s World Premiere and Other News

The world premiere of Marta Ptaszyńska’s latest work, Crystallites Polyphony for string quartet and marimba, will take place on May 31 at the Polish Consulate of Chicago. The program will also include several other works by Ptaszyńska—Blue Line for marimba solo (2010) and Elegy in Memoriam of John Paul II for solo viola (2005), —as well as Krzysztof…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska’s World Premiere and Other News

Karłowicz in Charleston

Maestro Wojciech Milewski will close the 20th season of the Summerville Orchestra with Odwieczne pieśni [Eternal Songs], a symphonic triptych by Mieczysław Karłowicz, in concerts on May 17 and 18. Entitled “A Summerville Celebration” and performed just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, the concert program will also include Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute and…Continue Reading Karłowicz in Charleston

Dominika Zamara: Solo Recital Debut in NYC

Operatic soprano Dominika Zamara will appear in her New York City debut solo recital, An Evening with Dominika Zamara, on May 22 at Mary Flagler Cary Hall. She will premiere eight new works by several of the New York Composers’ Circle members, including Galen Brown, Robert S. Cohen, Eric Heilner, Barrett Kalellis, Timothy L. Miller,…Continue Reading Dominika Zamara: Solo Recital Debut in NYC

April 2024: Karolina & Iwo Duo at HMLA

In another collaboration with the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, the Polish Music Center presents one of the brightest young stars of the Polish chamber music scene: Duo Karolina & Iwo. Both virtuosos in their own right, Karolina Mikołajczyk and Iwo Jedynecki bring great energy to the stage, highlighting not only existing repertoire for accordion…Continue Reading April 2024: Karolina & Iwo Duo at HMLA

‘Paweł Szymański @ 70!’

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!’

Zamara at Weill Hall Performing Rentowski

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

Virtuosity and Passion

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

Symphonic Piano Sound

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