A Review by Marek Zebrowski Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man, first published in the mid-1960s, has returned to the public eye and ear in recent years. A film adaptation of this celebrated novel by Tom Ford (who also helmed the film project) appeared on screens in 2009, and this spring an opera based on Isherwood’s…Continue Reading A Signal Achievement
A Review by Marek Zebrowski Sunday afternoon, April 21, marked the end of the 2023/2024 concert season organized jointly by the Holocaust Museum LA and USC Polish Music Center. The performers for this occasion were a dynamic duo of violinist Karolina Mikołajczyk and classical accordionist Iwo Jedynecki. They performed in the Childrens’ Memorial, an evocative…Continue Reading Sounds of a Bygone Era
A Review by Marek Zebrowski The Verona Quartet (Jonathan Ong and Dorothy Ro, violins, Abigail Rojansky, viola, and Jonathan Dormand, cello) visited the USC campus for a master class on March 20 and a concert on March 23. Their sojourn at USC elicited great interest from string students and faculty, culminating in a packed auditorium…Continue Reading Heartfelt Musicmaking at PMC’s Spring Concert
Article and translations by Marek Zebrowski Good news sometimes takes time to percolate up the information chain on its way to a wider audience. This process certainly applies to Monika Wolińska, who for several years has been appearing as guest conductor on important European stages. Her international orchestral engagements are invariably well received by those…Continue Reading Wolińska Fêted in France
By Marek Zebrowski Piotr Sałajczyk, a distinguished pianist, chamber musician and pedagogue, recently issued a recording of Mieczysław Weinberg’s Piano Sonatas No. 1, Op. 5, No. 2, Op. 8 and No. 3, Op. 31. Issued by the Polish Radio/Program Two (PRCD 2386), this disc is a welcome addition to the continuing rediscovery of this fascinating…Continue Reading Review: Weinberg by Sałajczyk
A Review by Marek Zebrowski Jakub Józef Orliński, the internationally-acclaimed countertenor, presented a solo recital at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica on March 10. The capacity crowd warmly welcomed the soloist and his pianist, Michał Biel, as they quickly took charge of the stage in their only Los Angeles appearance. Their…Continue Reading The Charm and Elegance of Orliński and Biel
Review by Marek Zebrowski Joanna Sendłak, granddaughter of composer Grażyna Bacewicz, is the author of the latest biography in the PWM “Małe monografie” series. A visual artist with a considerable resume of exhibitions as well as journalist and writer with a number of publications, Joanna Sendłak also studied philosophy at Warsaw University. Ms. Sendłak has…Continue Reading New Bacewicz Bio by Sendłak
Polish Conductor Grzegorz Nowak’s interpretations on a variety of CDs over the past decade have elicited much praise from critics worldwide. Regardless of whether he records symphonies, operas or concertos, or whether these compositions are well known or just being discovered, Maestro Nowak’s magic baton gives them much vigor and luster, with a variety of…Continue Reading Lofty Praise for Maestro Nowak
Book Review by Marek Zebrowski For over two centuries, Polish music has been inextricably linked to history and politics. A multitude of turbulent events (including the loss of independence, uprisings, revolutions and worldwide conflicts, with Poland’s territory being invaded and pillaged and its citizenry suffering unimaginable tragedies) inevitably turned the arts, literature and music into…Continue Reading Under the Awangarda Banner
A review by Marek Zebrowski Commemorating the centenary of regaining Poland’s independence, during the second half of November the Polish National Opera Theatre in Warsaw presented a spectacle, “Nasz Chopin/Notre Chopin,” featuring the Polish National Ballet dancing to live performances of Chopin’s Piano Concertos in E and F minor with pianist Krzysztof Jabłoński and Grzegorz…Continue Reading Dancing Chopin