On April 23 and 24, two premieres by Marta Ptaszyńska happened around the world. First at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art on April 23, master percussionist and founding member of Eighth Blackbird Matthew Duvall and guests presented the program “Whisper(s),” an exploration of sound and volume inspired by Merce Cunningham and his collaborating partner, composer John Cage. From the MCA website:…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska Premieres
On May 12, the Kolberg Świętokrzyskie Philharmonic in Kielce will host the world premiere of a new work they commissioned from their composer-in-residence, Ignacy Zalewski. The work is entitled Concert Overture, and will be paired with Camille Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto (with solo performed by cellist Marcin Zdunik) and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique.” The Świętokrzyskie Philharmonic will be led by…Continue Reading Zalewski Premiere
The 8th edition of Musica Electronica Nova – International Festival of Electroacoustic Music (MEN) will take place from May 19-27, 2017, under the subtitle “Identity” at the National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław. Sonosphere III and Sonosphere IV for orchestra and electronics, composed by the artistic director of the festival, Elzbieta Sikora, will be world premiered during the festival by computer and electronic…Continue Reading World Premieres at Musica Electronica Nova
Co-organized by the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union (ZKP) and Polish Radio Program 2, the 31st edition of Warsaw Music Encounters “Early Music – New Music” will take place from May 6-12, 2017 at various venues in Warsaw. The annual festival, founded and directed by composer Władysław Słowiński since 1986, presents important early and new…Continue Reading Premieres at Warsaw Music Encounters
The wind quintet District5 will present an evening of romantic transcriptions by composer-pianist David Plylar at the Kosciuszko Foundation’s Washington DC Center on April 15. The program is comprised of transcriptions of the complete Chopin Preludes (24 Préludes, Op. 28, Prélude in C-sharp minor, op. 45, Prélude in A-flat major, op. posthumous). Audiences will get a chance to hear these beloved pieces with fresh ears…Continue Reading Chopin for Wind Quintet in DC
On April 8, the Kosciuszko Foundation will present a recital by Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński and Polish pianist Michał Biel. The concert will feature operatic works by Polish composers K. Szymanowski, T. Baird, and P. Łukaszewski, as well as F. Schubert, R. Hahn and G. F. Handel, followed by a reception with light refreshments. All proceeds from the event…Continue Reading Orliński at KF
Under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz (above left), the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra will present the “Ocalić od zapomnienia” [To Save From Oblivion] concert on April 27, featuring pianist Jonathan Plowright (above right). During the first half of the program, Paul Kletzki’s Variations for Orchestra op. 20 and Aleksandre Tansman’s Piano Concerto no. 2 will be performed. Orchestral music from the Roman Palester’s ballet The…Continue Reading Plowright/Borowicz: ‘To Save from Oblivion’
April 3 marks the 100th birthday of General Edward Rowny, a retired Ambassador and U.S. Army General. Rowny was a commanding officer in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, a military advisor to five U.S. Presidents and a chief negotiator in arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union. General Rowny received many awards for valor in combat…Continue Reading Sto Lat, General Rowny!
The Musica Sacra Institute is now accepting submissions for the Musica Caelestis National Composers’ Competition 2017, organized in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Warszawa-Praga Diocese under the patronage of Archbishop Henryk Hoser. The competition is open to Polish composers of any age. Works must be 5-7 minutes in duration, composed for female choir…Continue Reading Musica Caelestis National Composers Competition
Polish violinist Janusz Wawrowski performed Karol Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No.1 with Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra on March 24-25 on the 80th anniversary of the composer’s death. On March 28, the pianist paid further homage to Szymanowski with his rendition of Myths for violin & piano and Dance from the ballet Harnasie, Op. 55, alongside pianist Greg Skrobiński, at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. On April 29-30, the Lithuanian National…Continue Reading Wawrowski in Poland and Lithuania