It is being organized by the Krakow Foundation of Journalists, "Merkuryusz"and the Music Ensemble, "La Rosa"(I Musici da Camera di Cracovia). The founders wish to honor a native son of Krakow, MARCIN GROBLICZ (1530-1609), who heads a dynasty of five generations of violin-makers and who created a new style in Polish violin-making of the 16th and 17th centuries. The trademark of the Groblicz violin is a carved dragon's head instead of a scroll.
Honorary chairman of the Groblicz competition is Krzysztof Penderecki. Chairman of the jury is the internationally known violin virtuosa, Wanda Wilkomirska. Program consultant is violinist Robert Szreder of Holland. For further information you can Fax from the U.S. 011-48-12-22-20-37.
Polish composers' works included in the program competition are: Karol Lipinski (Capriccio no. 3 in D major, op. 29; Concerto in D major, op. 21; 3 Capriccios, op. 10); Feliks Janiewicz (Concerto in e minor, no. 5, first part with cadenza); Henryk Wieniawski (Capriccios nos. 2-5, op. 18; Capriccios nos. 2-8, op. 10); Krzysztof Penderecki (3 Miniatures; II Violin Concerto); Witold Lutoslawski (Partita); Grazyna Bacewicz (Sonatas nos. 3,4,5; Concerto no. 4); Joanna Bruzdowicz (Sonata "Spring in America"); Karol Szymanowski (Sonata in d minor, op. 9; Concertos 1 and 2).
This year's winner of the Chopin Competition at the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York, Deborah Lee, was one of the performers at the Duszniki Festival. Performing at the festival in Poland and in a recital in the U. S. is part of the winner's prize. Ms. Lee was singled out in an article by Roman Markowicz reporting on the festival in Poland for the "Nowy Dziennik" (a Polish daily newspaper in NY) for her superb performance of Chopin's works and, especially, of the Ravel "Miroirs." I was fortunate to be at Ms. Lee's U.S. performance in Denver, Colorado on September 15th and must say that the audience and I were extremely impressed with this talented young artist. Ms. Lee studies with Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory.
The critic also commented favorably on polish pianist wojciech Switala; 14 year old japanese pianist Yurie Miura; Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son and Russian pianist, Tatiana Szebanowa, who won the I and II prizes in the 1980 Chopin Competition, respectively.
This year's series consisting of eight concerts will feature the following groups: The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Aeolian Chamber Players, The Australia Ensemble, The Halcyon String Quartet, The Penderecki String Quartet, Four Nations Ensemble, The Aspen Wind Quintet and the Cassatt String Quartet. Music of Polish composers Chopin, Szymanowski, Lutoslawski, Ptaszynska and Dobrzynski are scheduled.
Marta Ptaszynska has been commissioned to write a work commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of this leading American center for Polish culture. She is writing a work for mezzo-soprano and string quartet for the 4th program of the series on December 10th. For further details regarding the Music Chamber Series, look up "Programs of Polish Music" In addition to this series the Kosciuszko Foudnation has programmed various lectures, exhibits and other recitals for October. On Sunday, October 8th the Marilyn Horne Foundation Recital Series will present "On Wings of Song: Michelle de Young, mezzo-soprano."
On October 29th at 3:00 p.m. the Foundation will celebrate its 70th anniversary with an Open House and tours of the permanent collection and featured exhibition in its elegant Upper East Side townhouse headquarters. Open to all members, there will be a general meeting with a report by President and Executive Director, Joseph E. Gore, a program of Polish songs and opera excerpts by leading Polish soloists directed by Nina Poland and a reception.
Monica Olszer Jasinska is the Series Director and Director of Development and Thomas J. Pniewski is Director of Cultural Affairs.
Arpopos the Bacewicz Concerto for Strings, Lord Yehud Menuhin enjoys leading the Sinfonie Varsovie in this concerto world wide. It has been recorded on Olympia OCD 392 by Jerzy Maksymiuk. Of the eight works for chamber or string orchestra written by this outstanding woman composer of the 20th century, only thre have been recorded recently: Pensieri Notturni and Divertimento (Olympia OCD 311) and the Concerto on OCD 392). LP recording on the MUZA label are SX 1256 (Concerto); XL 0274 (Pensieri), SXL 0586 (Divertimento) and the Warsaw Autumn taping of Contradizione on M-3xw 890. We have the LPs in the Polish Music Reference Center Archives.
It is my understanding that Marco Polo is planning a disc of the remaining chamber orchestra works. A great idea! The most popular of these works "Music for Strings, Trumpet and Percussion"had been recorded twice by MUZA (SXL 0171 and W 567). Also by Philips PHS 900-141 and the Russian label Melodia D013193-6. This is a great work and deserves to be available on compact disc.
Of special interesty is the "Arioso" for woodwind quintet with Richard Pressley, trumpet by Jerzy SAPIEYEVSKI, a Polish born composer now living and teaching at American University in Washington, D.C.
For further information or application forms you can fax 48 (country code), 61 (city) and 52-89-91. Deadline for applications is June 1, 1996. The competition is open to violinists of all nationalities, up to age 30, i.e., born after October 12, 1966. Lord Yehudi Menuhin is the honorary chairman and the internationally renowned Polish conductor, Stanislaw Wislocki, will serve as chairman of the jury.