Earlier this month, long-time PMC collaborator pianist Seoyon MacDonald released the first digital recording of Krzysztof Meyer’s completion of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Prelude and Fugue in C# minor. Based on his previous work writing a bestselling biography of Shostakovich and orchestrating several of his works, Meyer was given the Prelude and Fugue in C# minor in…Continue Reading The Forgotten Prelude and Fugue of Meyer-Shostakovich
The new Flute Concerto by Marta Ptaszyńska—well-known Polish composer who is Professor Emerita of Music and the Humanities at the University of Chicago and honoree of the PMC’s 2005 Paderewski Lecture-Recital, as well as a significant donor to our unique Manuscript Collection—was world premiered on Sunday, October 29. The premiere performance was given by flutist…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska World Premiere
Krzysztof Meyer, a distinguished Polish composer who celebrated his eightieth birthday earlier this year, was celebrated once again after the October 14 premiere of his latest opera, Ślepy tor [Dead-end Siding] at Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki—National Opera. The opera’s libretto, co-authored by the composer with Antoni Libera (a writer and expert on Samuel Beckett), touches on…Continue Reading World Premiere of Meyer’s New Opera
The Young Arts Festival combines musical styles and rediscovers the crossover sounds of classical and jazz music. During this year’s edition in Krosno, events held from July 21-23 will focus on classical music in a modern approach, and works by Polish artists of the 21st century will be presented. There will even be a world…Continue Reading 2023 Young Arts Festival in Krosno
This year, the 46th edition of the Karol Szymanowski Music Festival takes place in Zakopane from July 21-30, 2023. The theme of the festival is “the past and present of emigration.” The inaugural concert will feature the New Music Orchestra, conducted by Anna Sułkowska-Migoń. They will premier the piece Kołomyjki by the Ukrainian composer Bogdan…Continue Reading 2023 Szymanowski Music Festival in Zakopane
Award-winning Polish violinist Magdalena Filipczak makes her Carnegie Hall debut on Tuesday, May 30 at 8pm in Weill Recital Hall. The program is inspired by the fantasy motif, including Phantasies by Schubert, Wieniawski and Schönberg. Filipczak showcases selections from her debut album Essence of Violin –including works by Lutosławski, Britten, and Saint-Saëns/Ysaÿe. Filipczak will also…Continue Reading Magdelena Fillipczak Carnegie Hall Debut
On March 26, audiences in Paris will hear Liquid Air by Elżbieta Sikora. Composed in 2021 and commissioned by the Warsaw Autumn Festival, Liquid Air will be performed in its French premiere by Orchester Pasdeloup under the baton of Marzena Diakun. More information and tickets are available at concertspasdeloup.fr. Three weeks later, on April 19,…Continue Reading Elżbieta Sikora: French and World Premieres
Major Gift of Manuscripts and Published Scores Just a few weeks ago, the Polish Music Center received another priceless donation of manuscripts and various other published materials from our longtime friend and the 2005 Paderewski Lecturer, Marta Ptaszyńska. The large donation of mostly oversized items was graciously conveyed to PMC Director Marek Zebrowski at the…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska at PMC & in the Headlines!
On February 17-18, ensembles of the Warsaw Philharmonic performed the music of Krzysztof Penderecki and César Franck, conducted by Jurek Dybał. In the first half, excerpts from an unfinished opera by Penderecki titled Freda were given their world premiere. The composer began working on Freda with text by Jean-Baptiste Racine, but did not complete the…Continue Reading Penderecki’s ‘Fedra’ Opera Premiere
On November 26, the Polish Composers Union (ZKP) held a concert in celebration of the 80th birthday of former vice president of the Katowice branch of the union—composer, educator, publicist and musical organizer, Ryszard Gabryś. Entitled ‘Camerata to the Composer,’ the concert was performed by Camerata Silesia in the chamber hall of NOSPR in Katowice….Continue Reading Ryszard Gabryś 80th Birthday Celebration & Premieres