A total of 22 symphonies, including seven for voice and orchestra, eight operas, 17 string quartets, concertos, sonatas, cantatas, and songs… One cannot stop marvelling at the richness and diversity of Mieczysław Weinberg’s life work. He was a composer “from three worlds”: a Polish artist of Jewish origin, an émigré who settled in the Soviet…Continue Reading 100th Birth Anniversary of Mieczysław Weinberg
2019 marks a double anniversary for Grażyna Bacewicz, who was born 110 years ago on February 5, 1909 in Łódź and died in 50 years ago, on January 17, 1969 in Warsaw. Despite the politically tumultuous time during which she lived and composed, many of her works were awarded top honors and prizes—including the Queen Elizabeth of Belgium…Continue Reading Grażyna Bacewicz Year
Over 200 artists gathered on the stage situated in the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures [Spotkania Kultur] in Lublin to perform Seven Gates of Jerusalem — the monumental work based on the Old Testament texts composed by Krzysztof Penderecki. Relatively rarely performed due to its gigantic performance and logistical requirements, the piece was conducted by the Maestro Penderecki…Continue Reading Seven Gates Of Jerusalem – Lublin
June – December Anniversaries The iconic festival of contemporary music, Warszawska Jesień [Warsaw Autumn], celebrated its 60th anniversary this year. Held in various venues around Warsaw from September 15-23, its programs will examined the phenomenon of the avant-garde, featuring works by the composers of the original avant-garde juxtaposed with the composers of the past sixty years. See more below….Continue Reading 2017 In Review Part 2
Born This Month 3 December 1896 – Bolesław SZABELSKI, composer (d. 1979) 5 December 1899 – Bolesław WOYTOWICZ, composer (d. 1980) 6 December 1933 – Henryk Mikołaj GÓRECKI, composer (d. 2010) 11 December 1876 – Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ, composer (d. 1909, under an avalanche in Tatra mountains) 14 December 1789 – Maria SZYMANOWSKA, composer, virtuosa pianist (d. 1831, of…Continue Reading December Anniversaries
Born This Month 1 November 1901 – Szymon LAKS , composer, violinist (d. 1986) 2 November 1876 – Eugeniusz MORAWSKI, composer, conductor (d. 1948) 3 November 1915 – Henryk JABŁOŃSKI, composer 4 November 1857 – Stanislaw NIEWIADOMSKI, composer (d. 1936) 6 November 1860 – Ignacy Jan PADEREWSKI , pianist, composer, statesman (d. 1941) 23 November 1933 – Krzysztof PENDERECKI , composer,…Continue Reading November Anniversaries
Born This Month 3 October 1882 – Karol SZYMANOWSKI, composer, pianist, (d. 29 March 1937) 3 October 1923 – Stanislaw SKROWACZEWSKI, composer and conductor 4 October 1910 – Eugenia UMINSKA, violinist 6 October 1885 – Karol STROMENGER, teacher, composer, publicist, music critic (d. 1975) 9 October 1924 – Regina SMENDZIANKA, pianist 10 October 1910 – Henryk SWOLKIEN, music critic,…Continue Reading October Anniversaries
Born This Month 1 September 1900 – Kazimierz WIŁKOMIRSKI, cellist, conductor, teacher (died in 1990) 5 September 1924 – Krystyna MOSZUMAŃSKA-NAZAR, composer 5 September 1938 – Piotr LACHERT, pianist, composer, pedagogue 6 September 1916 – Tadeusz DOBRZAŃSKI, composer and conductor 7 September 1943 – Elzbieta STEFAŃSKA, harpsichordist 9 September 1921 – Andrzej DOBROWOLSKI, composer (died in…Continue Reading September Anniversaries
Born This Month August 4, 1879 – Józef REISS, musicologist, Polish music expert (d. 1956) August 7, 1935 – Monika (Izabela) GORCZYCKA, musicologist (d. 1962) August 8, 1946 – Mieczyslaw MAZUREK, composer, teacher, choral conductor August 8, 1897 – Stefan SLEDZINSKI, conductor, musicologist August 10, 1914 – Witold MALCUZYNSKI, pianist, student of Lefeld August 11,…Continue Reading August Anniversaries
Born This Month July 04, 1904 – Artur MALAWSKI, composer (d. 1957) July 06, 1837 – Władysław ŻELEŃSKI, composer (also a doctor of philosophy, d.1921) July 09, 1931 – Eugeniusz KNAPIK, composer July 10, 1936 – Jan Wincenty HAWEL, composer and conductor July 10, 1835 – Henryk WIENIAWSKI, violin virtuoso & composer (d. 1880, Moscow) July 10,…Continue Reading July Anniversaries