On October 11 at the Henryk Mikołaj Górecki Festival of Polish Composers in Bielsko-Biała, Gloria (2000) for choir and orchestra by Mikołaj Górecki was premiered. Also on the program were works by the composer’s father, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki—Canticum graduum op. 27, Dwie pieśni sakralne [Two Sacred Songs] to texts of M. Skwarnickiego Op. 30a (1971) for baritone and orchestra, and Kyrie for mixed choir…Continue Reading Mikołaj Górecki Premieres
A world premiere of Aftersounds, a 2014 Marcin Stańczyk composition for two percussionists and electronics, was given on September 12 at Centre Pompidou in Paris. The work was composed during Stańczyk’s one-year long residency at IRCAM in Paris and it explores the relationships between optical phenomena and music. The performers at the appropriately-named Espace de…Continue Reading Marcin Stańczyk Premiere
On October 1 the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) inaugurated its new season in a brand new building, designed by Konior Architects with the acoustic design of the concert hall provided by the Japan-based Nagata Acoustic Company. The leadership of the Orchestra and the administrators of the City of Katowice have organized a spectacular…Continue Reading Nospr Hall Premieres With A Spectacular Lineup
Commissioned by the 2014 Presteigne Festival, the Requiem for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra (2013-2014) of Paweł Łukaszewski will be premiered on Sunday, August 24 at 7:45 p.m. in St Andrew’s Church in Presteigne, Wales, UK. The premiere will be performed by Rachel Nicholls (soprano), Christopher Foster (baritone), the Joyful Company of Singers and…Continue Reading Łukaszewski World Premiere
The World Premiere of Nikola Kołodziejczyk’s Concerto brzeziński for trumpet, two typewriters, sewing machine, brass quartet, trombone, vocals, and jazz trio will take place on July 6 during the ‘Kolory Polski’ Festival. The composition was commissioned by the Łódź Philharmonic Orchestra, who are the organizers of the Festival, and the town of Brzeziny, where the…Continue Reading Kołodziejczyk World Premiere In Brzeziny
On June 20, the Deutsche Oper Berlin gave the World Premiere of two chamber operas by young Polish composer Dariusz Przybylski: Fall (2013) and Musical Land (2013). The June 20th program, which also featured new chamber operas by Birke J. Bertelsmeier, was called LoveAffairs and was given repeat performances on June 21 and 24-27. These…Continue Reading Przybylski World Premiere In Berlin
The Symphony No. 4 of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki was given its World Premiere on April 12 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The London Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Andrey Boreyko. This posthumously-premiered work was commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with generous support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic…Continue Reading Górecki’s Fourth Lauded
The recent World Premiere of Górecki’s Fourth Symphony continues to invite comments and analyses from various quarters. Many interesting details emerge, especially pertaining to the role of Górecki’s son, Mikołaj, in completing and successfully helping to introduce his father’s unfinished work to the public. Read more at commdiginews.com/entertainment/revisiting-gorecki-part-2. Also of interest is an extensive interview…Continue Reading Górecki’s Fourth Inspires Deeper Investigation
Many new works by Polish composers will receive their world premieres at festivals in Poland during the month of May. Below is a list of the premieres at prominent Festivals. Warsaw Music Encounters (May 10-17): Premiering soloists:Agata Szymczewska, Jarosław Bręk, Łukasz Długosz, Marek Bracha, Magdalena Bojanowicz, Leszek Lorent, Maciej Bogumił Nerkowski, Grzegorz Skrobiński Works premiered:…Continue Reading Festival Premieres In May
Paweł Łukaszewski’s Ego sum pastor bonus for mixed choir a cappella was world-premiered in Kraków on April 24 by the Ealing Abbey Choir led by Christopher Eastwood. The same ensemble also gave a London premiere of Łukaszewski’s work on May 11. Composed in January 2014, Ego sum pastor bonus celebrates the recent canonization of John…Continue Reading Łukaszewski Premieres