On August 20, the violin and piano duo of Judith Ingolfsson and Vladimir Stoupel released an exciting new CD (OC 491). Recorded at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin-Dahlem—a space with superb acoustics—the repertoire on this Oehms Classic CD features sonatas for violin and piano by Karol Rathaus (1895-1954), Heinz Tiessen (1887-1971), and Paul Arma (1905-1987). These…Continue Reading Rathaus Sonata and More!
By Marek Zebrowski Long dedicated to the promotion of lesser-known composers and repertoire from Central Europe, EDA Records just came out with a terrific new offering—a two-CD set of songs by Szymon Laks (1901-1983). This recording is a truly remarkable achievement for many reasons, especially because Laks is remembered these days mainly for only one…Continue Reading Laks—Viva Voce
By Marek Zebrowski Another batch of gifts from this summer’s travel to Poland includes a fascinating two-CD set of music by Polish composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A project coordinated by the Polish Chamber Musicians’ Association [Stowarzyszenie Polskich Muzyków Kameralistów, or SPMK], this recording features rarely heard piano trios by Władysław…Continue Reading Three Unusual Additions to the PMC Sound Library
Moniuszko’s Halka Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872): Halka [Opera] Dominik Sutowicz, Magdalena Molendowska, Łukasz Goliński, Poznań State Moniuszko Opera House Chorus and Orchestra, Gabriel Chmura – cond. NAXOS 8.660485-86 From the website Naxos.com: Polish composer, conductor and teacher Stanisław Moniuszko is widely known as ‘the father of Polish national opera’. Halka tells the tragic story of its…Continue Reading New at Naxos
PWM Edition’s 75th anniversary album ‘Great Encounters’ The ‘Great Encounters’ album, marking 75 years of PWM Edition, highlights performers’ meetings with excellent music and the encounters of great personalities from the past with composers who enjoy successes in our own times. Fryderyk Chopin, Henryk Wieniawski, Stanisław Moniuszko, Karol Szymanowski,and Ignacy Jan Paderewski did for Polish…Continue Reading New on ANAKLASIS Records
A volume of works by Roman Maciejewski is the third CD in a series dedicated to a type of repertoire that is rare in contemporary music; namely, transcriptions for two pianos. Performers set out to discover, first and foremost, the extraordinary space of Maciejewski’s imagination and musical fascinations. This latest volume (CD Accord) was recorded…Continue Reading ‘Roman Maciejewski: Transcriptions for Two Pianos’ CD
Polish Conductor Grzegorz Nowak’s interpretations on a variety of CDs over the past decade have elicited much praise from critics worldwide. Regardless of whether he records symphonies, operas or concertos, or whether these compositions are well known or just being discovered, Maestro Nowak’s magic baton gives them much vigor and luster, with a variety of…Continue Reading Lofty Praise for Maestro Nowak
Almost 300 people involved, over 9 years of work, dozens of instruments made of rubbish…this is just the beginning of a long list that enabled the implementation of one idea: demonstrating human impact on the environment. On 22 April 2021, International Earth Day, the album Elements—Polish composer Paweł Pudło‘s modern story about humanity and different elements of nature—was…Continue Reading Symphony for the planet – Paweł Pudło’s “Elements”
POLMIC’s Easter Surprise Together with the director Mieczysław Kominek, our friends at the Polish Music Information Centre in Warsaw (POLMIC) once again came through for us with a most thoughtful and timely gift. For many years already, we have been on the receiving end of POLMIC’s largesse and have happily accepted sets of unique recordings…Continue Reading PMC GIFTS: Feb-March 2021
America has had its Grammy Awards since 1959, when the first gala ceremony was held and, in 1995, Poland followed this fine example by instituting its own the Fryderyk Awards. Just like in America—where the Recording Academy recognizes the best achievements in the music industry— for the past twenty-six years Poland’s Recording Academy (known as…Continue Reading 2021 Fryderyk Award Nominations