A volume of new collaborations has been launched by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) in tandem with OpenICE—a far-reaching initiative to build diverse new audiences internationally. During the next 18 months, ICE will commission and premiere a new body of repertoire from a diverse group of composers to be presented in free performances around the globe…Continue Reading Blecharz Comissioned By OpenICE
On January 19, London’s Barbican Centre announced its 2015-2016 classical music season and it includes three important Polish highlights. First, amongst the ‘Total Immersion’ days planned by the BBC Symphony Orchestra to highlight three towering figures of contemporary classical music, there will be a day devoted to composer Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. Held on October…Continue Reading Polish Highlights @ Barbican In 2015/2016
Held annually since 2004 in Germany and the Netherlands, this year’s International HornWeek Festival will instead be hosted by the Kraków Music Academy. During the week of February 10, concerts of HornWeek will be augmented by 41 French horn players from Kraków Music Academy. Three evenings of recitals (Feb. 11, 12 and 13) are scheduled…Continue Reading HornWeek in Kraków
Following the celebrations accompanying the release of the last volume of Szymanowski’s Collected Works last October (see the November Newsletter for details), Teresa Chylińska was honored by the Rector of the Jagiellonian University with the “Plus ratio quam vis” medal on December 9, 2014. The ceremony was held at the Pusłowski Palace in Kraków, the…Continue Reading More Honors For Chylińska
Gramophone Magazine Editor Martin Cullingford selected twelve of his favorite recordings from the February issue for his Editor’s Choice list, and three of these recordings featuring several Polish composers and performers. See below: No. 1: JS BACH English Suites Nos 1, 3 & 5 Piotr Anderszewski – piano Warner Classics “This is a glorious disc….Continue Reading Gramophone Editor’s List (Feb 2015)
The winners of the Polish National Chopin Competition were announced at the end of auditions held in Warsaw during the first week of February. The first three winners—Andrzej Wierciński, Łukasz Krupiński and Krzysztof Książek—will be able to bypass the first stage of the International Chopin Competition that will begin in Warsaw on October 1, 2015….Continue Reading Polish National Chopin Competition Winners
The results of the first round of the Tadeusz Baird Competition for Young Composers were announced on January 16. The jury—including Jerzy Bauer, Zbigniew Bagiński, Krzysztof Baculewski and Sławomir Czrnecki—selected the following works: Smugi cienia [The Streaks of Shadows], Goliady, Tick!—Time (time is ticking), Trzy jedności [The Three Unities], and Ménilmontant Fluctuations. The composers’ names…Continue Reading Baird Competition: First Round Results
Classically-trained Polish composer Mikolai Stroinski made the transition from casual game contributor to in-demand artist with his emotional cinematic score for “The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.” This score earned him 2 major awards at the Annual Game Music Awards 2014 (AGMA): Outstanding Contribution — Newcomer of the Year and Best Score — Orchestral / Cinematic. According to Chris…Continue Reading Game Music Accolades For Stroinski
The Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt, interdisciplinary organization devoted to the study of Polish American history and culture. Founded in 1942 and now an affiliate of the American Historical Association, PAHA promotes research and dissemination of scholarly materials focused on Polish American history and culture, and its European origins. During its…Continue Reading 2014 PAHA Awards
Pieśni Stanisława Moniuszki [Moniuszko’s songs] Elżbieta Szmytka – soprano, Levente Kende – piano Association of Polish Music The newest album released under the aegis of the Stowarzyszenie Muzyki Polskiej [Association of Polish Music] and the Agencja Ars Operae, “Stanislaw Moniuszko – Songs” is performed by outstanding artists: soprano Elżbieta Szmytka and pianist Levente Kende. [Source:…Continue Reading Moniuszko’s Songs