On January 8, the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) broke barriers and welcomed new audiences when they broadcasted their traditional New Year’s Concert online via YouTube. Audiences had the opportunity to hear well known and widely loved pieces by Viennese masters by simply navigating to the orchestra’s website or Polish Radio Channel…Continue Reading NOSPR on Live Stream
In the month of December, a series of recitals was presented by violist Morgan O’Shaughnessey and pianist Jakub Tchorzewski in California and Oregon. The duo celebrated the recent release of their debut album, “Elegie,” featuring works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Carter, and Tertis, recorded at the Castle Rohrsdorf in Dresden, Germany. The two have previously performed together…Continue Reading O’Shaughnessey and Tchorzewski CD Release Tour
The Ottawa Classical Choir celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016 and presented a very special concert minor at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa on November. Co-Founder and co-Artistic Director of the Choir, internationally renowned soprano Maria Knapik, sang the solo in Mozart’s Requiem in D 26 for the occasion, along with Stéphanie Pothier, mezzo-soprano; Steeve Michaud, tenor; Marc Boucher,…Continue Reading Knapik and Ottowa Classical Choir Celebrate 10 Years
Piotr Beczala, a rapidly rising star in the opera world, gave an all-opera recital in Santa Monica to the delight of a nearly sold-out house at the Broad Stage on December 12, 2016. He was accompanied by a 43-member opera orchestra – perhaps a bit of overkill in a 500-seat house. But no matter; the orchestra played…Continue Reading Review: Beczała at the Broad Stage in LA by Charles Bragg
The Young Polish Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Adam Klocek, gave concerts in Puławy, Łódź, Wrocław, Warsaw and Katowice between November 18 and 23, 2016. During its 10th concert tour, the Orchestra presented Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (featuring Israeli trumpeter Yigal Meltzer), Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-flat major, K. 297b by Wolfgang…Continue Reading Młoda Polska Orchestra – 10th Concert Tour
On November 19-21, the European Student Symphony Orchestra gave three concerts in Poland as part of their autumn tour. The project, organized by the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław as an event of the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016, was addressed to young musicians from selected European universities. It created an opportunity to integrate the artistic…Continue Reading European Student Symphony Orchestra on Tour
On November 5, Alina Trance Fusion held a concert at the Lutoslawski Studio as part of the “In Good Companionship” concert series. Alina Trance Fusion is a duo comprised of the unique combination of saxophonist Alina Mleczko and Gambian kora player Buba Badjie Kuyateh. Alina Trance Fusion was accompanied onstage by Wojciech Gumiński (double bass), Kuba Pogorzelski (African drums), and Albert Karch (percussion). Agnieszka Wilczyńska, jazz vocalist,…Continue Reading Alina Trance Fusion at Lutoslawski Studio
Sponsored by the Tatra Mountains Cultural Foundation, the Polish Museum of Americahosted Highlanders Day on October 23. As the third collaborative Highlander event this year, “Bringing You to the World” celebrated the deep-rooted livelihood of Polish Highlander culture that has been passed down through generations. The program featured a rich display of music, traditional Highlander folk costumes, song and dance, film, literature, and folk crafts highlighting amongst…Continue Reading Polish Highlander Day
For the first time ever, Chicago Architecture Foundation has featured the Polish Museum of America (PMA) as one of its 200 featured sites in its largest and most iconic event, Open House Chicago. This year’s annual architecture festival provides rare behind-the-scenes visits to many of the city’s great spaces free of charge during the third weekend of October. The museum’s current exhibit…Continue Reading Open House Chicago Features PMA
On October 15, cellist Marek Szpakiewiczperformed a recital with pianist Jiayi Shi at Azusa Pacific University to raise funds for a three-quarter sized cello for the Soma Children’s Orchestra in Fukushima, Japan. The two played selections by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Barber and Gershwin during the concert to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 2011 Tohuku earthquake and tsunami. They also…Continue Reading Szpakiewicz Charity Concert