During the second half of August, music by Chopin and several other Polish composers resonated throughout Warsaw and its environs. Chopin and His Europe Festival had once again brought top talents and interesting programming to the Polish capital, launching this year’s edition with the August 15 concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall where pianist Nikolai…Continue Reading Star-Studded Lineup For Chopin Summer Festival
The opera Czarodziejska Góra [The Magic Mountain] was given its world premiere on June 26, 2015 at the Malta Festival in Poznań, Poland. This opera is a joint work of four creators: composer Paweł Mykietyn, director and actor Andrzej Chyra, playwright Małgorzata Sikorska-Miszczuk and visual artist Mirosław Bałka. The libretto is based on the famous…Continue Reading Premiere of Magic Mountain
The 6th Musica Electronica Nova (MEN) Festival was held on May 15-23, 2015, under the subtitle “Elecktro-Vision,” in Wrocław. This Festival was an exciting chance to hear new works by Polish composers. The following compositions were given their world premiere during the 2015 MEN Festival: Franciszek Araszkiewicz (b. 1986): Minutki I for cello quartet, electronics…Continue Reading Premieres at Musica Electronica Nova Festival
The 11th edition of the Polish Music Festival will be held from July 8-18, 2015 in Kraków. Audiences will hear both early music and works by the great such as Chopin and Moniuszko, as well as outstanding contemporary composers such as Wojciech Kilar and Krzysztof Penderecki, all performed by outstanding soloists and ensembles from Poland…Continue Reading Festival of Polish Music
Seven Gates: a journey of discovery, an exploration of the music of Poland. There is a vast richness in Polish compositional output and during these four days we shall be opening seven doors through which to understand the power of its influence. By looking through the music of Krzysztof Penderecki, Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Gorecki, Karol…Continue Reading Seven Gates Festival – Polish Music Celebrated in the UK
The Musikfestspiele Saar is one of Europe’s leading music festivals, held every 2 years in Saarbrucken, Germany. The 2015 edition of this Festival, which has been taking place since February and ends on July 22, is dedicated to the “rarities and stars” of Polish music. On June 27 and 29, Krzysztof Penderecki’s opera Ubu Rex…Continue Reading Polish Music Highlighted in Saarbruken
The ‘Ogrody Muzyczne’ [Musical Gardens] Festival has been organized annually since year 2001 during the month of July. Each edition’s program consists of over 30 artistic events: concerts, film and opera screenings, and ballet performances. Since the beginning, a large tent located at the Courtyard of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, suitable for gathering 1000…Continue Reading Ogrody Muzyczne
The International Festival of Kraków Composers (formerly known as Days of Music by Kraków Composers) was held from April 18-26, 2015. A fixture in the cultural life of Kraków since 1989, the main purpose of the Festival is the promotion and presentation of contemporary works by the city’s composers—from well-established professionals and professors, through the…Continue Reading World Premieres At The Festival Of Kraków Composers
Polish saxophonist and composer Maciej Obara burst onto the international jazz scene after recording “Message from Ohayo” which won the Bielska Zadymka Jazz Contest for young jazz bands in 2006. In 2008 he toured Poland with US saxophonist Antoine Roney and was also recommended by Manfred Eicher (ECM) to Tomasz Stanko, with whom he has performed and recorded a…Continue Reading Maciej Obara In Us & Canada
This summer at the opening of the International Montreal Jazz Festival on June 26, former members of the “12 piece orchestra” and other colleagues and friends from Montreal and Toronto will play a tribute for pianist and composer Jan Jarczyk (at right), who passed away on August 3, 2014. Jarczyk used to call this group…Continue Reading Jarczyk Tributes at Montreal & Kraków Festivals