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
Although Szymon Laks (1901-1983) wrote five string quartets, the first two, composed before World War II, are now lost. Laks survived the Holocaust and his internment at Auschwitz only thanks to music, since he served as the concertmaster and music director of the concentration camp orchestra. In recent years, Laks’s String Quartets no. 3, 4…Continue Reading Agnieszka Duczmal and Anna Duczmal-Mróz Lead Laks Recording
Nowy Dziennik, the New York City based Polish weekly, featured an extensive interview in Polish with violinist Kinga Augustyn. Published on 14 February 2021, the article entitled Muzyczny świat Kingi Augustyn [The Music World of Kinga Augustyn] begins with a discussion of the two most recent recordings by this Polish virtuosa, who is also a…Continue Reading Augustyn’s Interview
LUTOSŁAWSKI, W.: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 Symphonic works by Witold Lutosławski (1913 – 1994) Finnish Radio Symphony, Hannu Lintu – cond. Ondine ODE 1332-5 From the website of Ondine Records: Second volume in the Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) symphony cycle by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Hannu Lintu brings together two…Continue Reading Recent Polish Recordings
Polish Heroines of Music Elżbieta Sikora (b. 1944): Sonosphère V. Wanda Landowska; Hanna Kulenty (b. 1961): Aisthetikos; Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Contradizione; Agata Zubel (b. 1978): In the Shade of an Unshed Tear Orchestre Pasdeloup, Marzena Diakun – cond. Anaklasis (29 Jan 2021) Women have long represented a distinctive voice in Polish music. The excellent achievements…Continue Reading New Release: Polish Heroines of Music
The title of a debut album of Polish violist Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf, “ReVIOLAtion, is far from coincidental and implies a “viola revolution.” The disc released by Naxos Records will be available on 27 November 2020. To many music professionals and aficionados, the viola continues to occupy a lower position on the podium in a unique competition for…Continue Reading Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf’s debut album “ReViolation”
Karol Rathaus, composer Works by Karol Rathaus (1895-1954) continue to be gradually rediscovered by a growing circle of performers and audiences worldwide. Born in Tarnopol, Poland (now Ukraine), Rathaus studied music in Vienna and Berlin and was a favorite pupil of the renowned Franz Schreker. His successful decade as a composer and professor of music…Continue Reading Rathaus by Stoupel
Following on successful premiere performances of the Violin Concerto of Ludomir Różycki (1883-1953) by soloist Janusz Wawrowski in January 2020, an exciting premiere recording of the work has been announced for release in Spring 2021. According to an article in The Guardian, the manuscript for this 1944 composition had been buried by Różycki in a…Continue Reading Wawrowski Rediscovers and Records Różycki
WEINBERG, M.: Wir gratulieren! Mieczysław Weinberg (1919 – 1996): Pozdravlyayem! [Congratulations!] (1975)—arr. H. Koch for chamber orchestra, and sung in German as Wir Gratulieren! Robert Elibay-Hartog; Katia Guedes; Anna Gütter; Jeff Martin; Olivia Saragosa; Kammerakademie Potsdam; Vladimir Stoupel, cond. Oehms Classics OC990 (Aug 2020) According to Naxos Records distributors: Here’s a rarity and a world…Continue Reading New Weinberg Opera Recording
Last week, Darek Oleszkiewicz released a new album entitled “The Promise.” The album is a tribute to the music of John Coltrane, in acoustic solo bass arrangements. The album is now available on all digital platforms including: Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes. Streaming and downloading is available here. An additional viewing of the album is featured…Continue Reading Darek Oleszkiewicz’s New Solo Album