 | Polish Music Newsletter |
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August 2002, Vol. 8, no. 8. ISSN 1098-9188. Published monthly. Los Angeles: Polish Music Center, University of Southern California
Anniversaries |
Awards and Competitions |
Recent Performances |
Discography |
News
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 Sir Andrzej Panufnik will soon have an official web site with up-to-date information, a detailed biography, a complete discography, published books, future performances, etc. In the meantime, information about him may be found on the PMC web site and on the web page of his main publisher, Boosey and Hawkes in London, http://www.boosey.com/publishing/pages/Composer/composer_main_page.asp Panufnik's music is very much present in the concert life in England. The Thames Pageant has recently been heard at the Royal Festival Hall, London. On August 6, his masterpiece, Sinfonia Sacra will be performed at the Royal Albert Hall, by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz. This concert will be a part of the BBC Promenade summer festival. A new biography, Andrzej Panufnik, by the Polish musicologist, Beata Bolesławska was published last autumn by PWM in Krakow. It is currently being translated into English by Boleslawska and John Allison, editor of Opera, and critic of the London Times.. There will be three more relevant publications emerging from Poland in the next couple of years, including papers from last year's international conference at the the Musicology Department of the Jagiellonian University, edited by Dr. Jadwiga Paja Stach. The English version of this collection is to be published by the Polish Music Center at USC.
It is not well-known that Andrzej Panufnik's works included a piece composed for the Queen Mother on her 80th birthday in 1980. With the passing away of Britain's beloved Queen Mother on 30 March 2002 this little piece should perhaps be remembered. The three-minute composition Paen - scored for six French horns, six trumpets, six trombones, organ ad libitum and optional fanfare trumpets - had its first performance at London's Royal Albert Hall on 16 November, with members of the Royal Military School of Music under the direction of Kneller Hall. A second, private performance took place at the Royal College of Music, where the Queen Mother was present and where Sir Andrzej was presented to her Highness. In September 1990, upon his first return to Poland following a hiatus of 36 years, Paen was also used to hail the composer at Warsaw's Okecie Airport. The ad hoc brass ensemble, organized and conducted by Joseph A. Herter, also recorded Paen for Andrzej Papuzinski's documentary film on the composer Powrót Panufnika (The Return of Panufnik). [Joseph A. Herter]
There has been a good deal of interest lately in the music of Sir Andrzej Panufnik. His piano works have long been associated (more perhaps than with any other pianist) with Raymond Clarke, who gave the first performance of the revised version of the Concerto in 1986, gave the London premičre of Pentasonata (and recorded it for the BBC) and studied the solo piano works in close association with the composer himself, who wrote to Clarke about the Concerto performance: "I listened with great pleasure and I admired immensely your musicianship and wonderful technique. The slow movement was very poetic and you gave so much vitality to the last movement." Raymond Clarke has now recorded for Divine Art a disc which includes all of Panufnik's solo piano music: the Twelve Miniature Studies and two major works, Pentasonata and Reflections, both of which appear in Clarke's recitals on a regular basis. This is the first commercial recording of these pieces. The CD, to be issued in the summer (catalogue number 25018) also includes a feast of works by Shostakovich, another composer for whom Clarke is a well-known advocate; several of the opus 2 preludes, the Three Fantastic Dances, and Ten Aphorisms, another very rarely recorded cycle. More information may be found on the site: www.divine-art.com
In August the Polish music world celebrates the birthday of Andrzej Markowski, composer and conductor (b. 22 August 1924 in Lublin, died 30 October 1986, Warsaw). Markowski studied composition with Artur Malawski (1939-1941), Sir Alex Rowley (1946-47, London), Tadeusz Szeligowski (Warsaw). A student of conducting from the class of Witold Rowicki at the Warsaw State Higher School of Music, Markowski conducted the symphonic orchestras in Poznań, Katowice, Krakow, Wrocław, Łódz, and Warsaw. He is the initiator of the festival Vratislavia Cantans - that he for many years directed. He was known as an eminent interpreter of contemporary and early music. His concerts took him to the Royal Albert Hall, London and La Scala (1977). He conducted numerous premieres of new compositions and continued to compose himself. In Warsaw he was one of the pillars of the Warsaw Autumn Festival of Contemporary Music; the photograph presents him while conducting, with Arthur Rubinstein at the piano. [Photo and information courtesy of Paul Markowski].
Shirley Fleming, editor of "Music in Concert" for American Record Guide, wrote a review of the premiere performance of Penderecki's Piano Concerto, "Resurrection," with Polish- American pianist, Emanuel Ax, and the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall last May. She wrote, "Penderecki began this Philadelphia commission before the attacks of Sep 11 but states that he changed its character after that event. He writes with direct emotional force; confrontational exchanges between piano and orchestra are brief and emphatic, and the outlines of the music are always in clear profile. Much of this piece is strenuous, the pianist surging headlong across the keyboard with virtuosic vigor, hurling fistfuls of notes, striving mightily, challenging the orchestra when challenged in turn. There are, however, several serene episodes, a striking solo for English horn, and finally repeated references to the hymn "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow." Emanuel Ax gave it a heroic performance, and the composer came on stage to a warm reception."
Paderewski: Portrait of a Musician" Exhibition will be on display at Alfred Newman Recital Hall Gallery, USC, Los Angeles, from 17 September 2002, to 10 January 2003. Culled from the extensive collection of materials held at the Polish Music Center at the USC Thornton School of Music, this exhibition chronicles the life and career of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the musician-statesman who received an honorary doctorate from USC in 1923. Throughout his musical career Paderewski was actively lobbying for Polish independence; he collected funds to benefit the country, its soldiers and the victims of the war. His campaign resulted in Poland returning to the map of Europe; he then became the first Prime Minister of Poland and the first Polish delegate to the League of Nations. Paderewski's compositions include songs, and piano pieces, an opera, Manru (1901), and a Symphony in B minor Polonia (1907). He also edited a 20 volume anthology of music by other composers, and Chopin's complete works. However, his main title to fame was his talent as a virtuoso pianist; his music was partly preserved on piano rolls and transferred to CDs. 
Paderewski receives honorary doctorate from USC.
The exhibition presents the composer's historical photographs from 1890-1930s, manuscripts, piano-roll recordings from 1910s, early editions of his music, samples of his editorial work (Chopin, Century Library), concert programs from American tours in 1920-24, advertisements for Steinway, Victor-Victrola, and the Aeolian Co., as well as books and recordings on LP and CD. Californian material linked to Paderewski includes documentation about his honorary doctorate from USC (1923), programs from his Los Angeles performances, and the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles. The Exhibition is illustrated with excerpts from Paderewski's speeches and period writings (poetry and music criticism). It is curated by Dr. Maja Trochimczyk. Free, hours vary. Opening Reception: September 17, 2002; 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Following the reception you might attend a concert from the Thornton Music Masters Series, September 17, 2002. 8 p.m. USC Alfred Newman Hall, Free. Cynthia Munzer, mezzo-soprano, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, piano and Peter Marsh, violin. A world-class opera veteran who has sung over twenty roles with the Metropolitan Opera Company, Cynthia Munzer joins Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Peter Marsh to perform chamber works and songs by Sergei Rachmaninov, Johannes Brahms, Richard Wagner and Aaron Copland.
On August 11, at the Edinburgh International Festival, Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra will be heard, with Christoph von Dohnanyi, conducting. For more information call: Edinburgh International Festival. 44-131- 473-2000, or visit the web site: www.eif.com.uk
During the summer tour of Canada and the U.S. the Academic Choir of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, gave a concert for the U.S. senate at the Capitol on 30 July 2002. The concert was partly arranged by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (seen in the photo below, with the conductor of the choir, Jacek Sykulski, and the director of the organization, Joanna Baszkowska). Among other pieces on the program, the choir performed the American national anthem, arranged by Jacek Sykulski and his composition dedicated to the tragedy of September 11.  The tour, associated with the visit of Pope John Paul II to Canada, for World Youth Festival, includes the following concerts: For more information about the choir and the concert contact Przemysław Kieliszewski, pkielich@amu.edu.pl, or the Polish Singers' Alliance, Daniel J. Kij, danieljkij@prodigy.net.
XenoMusic.com should provide a new opportunity for professors, students, and music lovers in general to enhance their academic and personal lives. XenoMusic.com is a warehouse of ethnically and stylistically varied music of the CEE region whose tracks can be downloaded via the website. So, please, download a FREE track. We are a new site are eager for feedback from people who are interested or curious about music from Russia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, etc. Furthermore, XenoMusic.com is seeking to make itself available to academic institutions that could utilize its music as part of curriculum. This is especially relevant for departments of East European Studies, Ethnomusicology, Music, and Anthropology - though others may have interest as well. Please, forward this note to any parties who may find benefit from this partnership, as well as students who have personal interest. Contact this organization at: http://www.zenemusic.hu/mail_general_1.html, or brandon@zenemusic.hu
Piotr Paleczny performs. Between August 2 and 10, visitors to Poland and Polish music lovers may attend the 57th Chopin International Festival at Duszniki Zdroj, Poland. Piotr Paleczny, artistic director. Guest pianists include: Denis Matsuev, Regina Smendzianka, Lim Dong-Hyek, Roberto Plano, Martin Roscoe, Gwendolyn Bradley, Tomasz Bugaj, Evgeny Mogilevsky, Nelson Freire and others. For detailed program visit www.chopin.festival.pl
Hanna Kulenty's publisher, Donemus has changed the name and address. It is now: Kulenty has recently completed her Trumpet Concerto which will be premiered at the Warsaw Autumn Festival this fall. She is currently working on an opera to the libretto based on the last screenplay by Andrej Tarkovsky, fabled Russian film-maker. The opera will be premiered in Berlin in the fall of 2003.
Do you want to hear the voice of the late great Polish bass, Marian Nowakowski? I read in a July issue of the Polish American Journal that a remastered release of opera, oratorio and song featuring the great Marian Nowakowski is now available and had been reviewed in the February 2002 issue of Opera News.[WW]
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AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS | 
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The winner of the first prize in the 2002 Chopin Foundation of San Francisco Piano Competition was Aaron Rosenthal, student of William Wellborn. The second prize went to Kevin Chen, also student of William Wellborn.
The 2002 Awards of the Minister of Culture in Poland were given to: composer/conductor Henryk Czyz, bass Bernard Ladysz and composer/author/professor Boguslaw Schaeffer. Congratulations for the winners!
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DISCOGRAPHY
David Fanning reviews this and concludes that "this, then, is
not quite a disc to displace classic exponents such as
Gilels and Pollini; but it is certainly one to weigh
seriously alongside them."
This disc is also reviewed in American Record Guide and there
the critic, David Mulbury, brings attention to "His
superlative technique, which appears to know no limitations
and enables him to place every note perfectly and with
immaculate security and evenness, could define the term
"transcendental." For those who prefer their Chopin played
in a big virtuoso manner, brimming with power, speed,
electricity, and rolling sonorities, this should be a coveted
recording. This is masculine pianism and there is generous
musicality, too, of a kind."
Note: Freire is one of the pianists appearing at the Chopin
International Festival in Duszniki-Zdroj. See calendar.
Tim Parry preferred her Mendelssohn renditions to her Chopin,
where he felt some technical stress and loose rhythmic
control, but thought "The sound faithfully captures her
distinctive tonal palette."
The above CDs can be ordered from 1-800-395-2655 or online at
www.salemusic.com.
This will be the first in a series of articles about various
recording companies (Polish and non-Polish) and how much of
their catalog is devoted to Polish composers. I selected
Naxos as the first one because I just picked up their "2002
Catalogue" at Tower Records. The company celebrates its 15th
anniversary this year and it claims to be "the world's
leading classical music label."
They have ten Polish composers in their catalog. The first
one I found was Tekla Badarzewski-Baranowska (1834-1861),
whose sole claim to fame after her short life is "Maiden's
Prayer," Op. 4 for piano. This piece was so popular that
hundreds of thousands of printed copies were still sold years
after her death. Pianist Peter Nagy performs.
They recorded the complete piano works of Chopin (28 CDs in
all) with an educational 4-CD group narrated by Jeremy
Siepmann.
They are known for their "budget label" series of several
composers, which includes the complete works of Polish greats
Szymanowski, Lutoslawski and Penderecki.
There are 12 discs of Szymanowski's orchestral works
performed by the Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra with
Karol Stryja conducting. Martin Roscoe's Complete Piano
Works of Szymanowski is here. The Lutoslawski Complete Works
(25 CDs) feature the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
under the baton of Antoni Wit. There are three volumes of
Penderecki's orchestral works and they also include the PNRSO
with Antoni Wit, and a CD of his Concerto for flute and
orchestra da camera. Most of the Szymanowski CDs have one to
three five-star ratings, while the Lutoslawski ones range
from three to five five-star ratings.
Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki is represented by two CDs. One of the
Second Symphony with Beatus Vir and the second with the
famous Third Symphony and Three Pieces in the Olden Style
with the PNRSO and conductor Antoni Wit.
They have three CDs of Paderewski's music, which includes the
excellent rendition of his Piano Concerto and Fantasie
Polonaise by Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska.
They also have a CD of Godowsky's "Triakontameron," four
discs of Moszkowski's music and one of a Tansman piece for
guitar.
They also have in their collections "The Best of Chopin" and
"The Best of "Lutoslawski." In their easy listening category
they have "The Romantic Chopin." I also found that their
19th century Guitar Favorites by Spanish composers featured
four Mazurkas. This was no surprise, for many years ago it
was brought to my attention that Mazurkas were very popular
in the Phillipines, having been brought their by the
Spaniards.
Their "101 Great Orchestral Classics" in 10 volumes includes
Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 (vol. 1) and Piano Concerto No.
2 (vol. 10). No other Polish orchestral works. They could
and should have Karlowicz, Szymanowski and Lutoslawski here.
Maybe they still will.
In the Historical releases they have three recordings of
Artur Rubinstein playing Chopin and one by Alfred Cortot.
Penderecki's "7 Gates of Jerusalem" can be found in the new
DVD group of 38 recordings so far.
Although there is a review of Kilar's "Krzesany" on the Naxos
label in the latest issue of American Record Guide, I did not
find it in the Naxos 2002 catalogue. This is a mystery.
I also read with interest the section on classical music used
in films and available on CD. I learned that Chopin's music
has been used in fifteen films, which include "Moonraker" and
"Shine." Gorecki's famous Third Symphony has been featured
in the films, "Basquiat," "Fearless" and "Police," and
Szymanowski's "Stabat Mater" was used in the film, "The
Polish Bride."
In summary, all in all, I would say this is a pretty good
representation of Polish music. I believe the Szymanowski
recordings are from the original Marco Polo labels. Naxos and
Marco Polo are part of the Hong Kong-based record company of
HNH International Ltd. Klaus Heymann is the founder of
Naxos. The best part of this company is that "the price is
right." Having budget-priced recordings while featuring
first-rate artists and orchestras who garner five-star
ratings is even greater!! Here's to Naxos and more Polish
music!!!
RECENT PERFORMANCES
ANNIVERSARIES
Supported by Dr. & Mrs. Matthew S. Mickiewicz Family Fund, California
Copyright 2002 by the Polish Music
Center
A 10th anniversary concert commemorating the return of
Paderewski's remains to Poland took place on June 28th at the
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. The
program sponsored by the Polish Embassy featured artists:
Alina Kozinska, soprano; Jozef Surowiec, baritone, and Carlos
Rodriguez, piano. The guest of honor was retired ambassador,
General Edward Rowny, who has established a web-site
www.paderewskirowny.org for the late great piano virtuoso
Ignacy Jan Paderewski.
Pianist Maria Demina performed Chopin's 12 Etudes, Op. 10 and
Tchaikovsky's Sonata at the "Sundays Live" program that took
place at the Bing Theatre of the Los Angeles County Museum of
Art on July 28th at 6:00 p.m. Free.
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Send your comments and inquiries to: polmusic@usc.edu
Camilla Panufnik, Maja Trochimczyk. Sources of information: American Record Guide,
Chamber Music, Fanfare, Polish American press.
Formatting by Olga Żurawska, 08/01/2002.