2009 PADEREWSKI LECTURE-RECITAL

The Polish Music Center at USC presents the annual Paderewski Lecture-Recital on Sunday, 4 October 2009, at 3:00 pm at USC’s Alfred Newman Recital Hall. Co-sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in L.A., this year’s event features Polish composer Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, who visited the USC campus in 1997 to conduct his famed 3rd Symphony. PMC Director Marek Zebrowski will give a multi-media presentation about the life and music of Górecki, and some of Los Angeles’ most talented musicians will perform chamber music representing the full range of Górecki’s career. Performers include: the Denali Quartet, Irene Gregorio – piano, and Amy Tatum – flute. A reception will follow the concert. Please join us for an evening honoring one of Poland’s greatest living composers.

2009 Paderewski Lecture-Recital featuring Henryk Mikołaj Górecki
Sunday, 4 October 2009 | 3:00 pm
Alfred Newman Recital Hall (AHF), USC
3616 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA
Free Admission
Parking: PSX at Gate #3, $8
Directions to campus

MINISTER SIKORSKI IN PASO ROBLES

Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a short visit to Paso Robles in early August. His private stopover was scheduled between official appearances in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Minister Sikorski was interested in becoming acquainted with the legacy and ties to Paso Robles of Ignacy Jan Paderewski—pianist, composer, and humanitarian, and the first Prime Minister of Poland in the years following World War I.

A private dinner in honor of the Minister’s visit was hosted by Steve and Alice Cass, owners of the Cass winery where the 2006 “Paderewski Reprise” that re-started the Paso Robles Paderewski Festival was held. At dinner the Minister met with local political leaders, including the San Luis Obispo County Supervisor, Frank Mecham, and the current Mayor of Paso Robles, Duane Picanso. Also present were members of the Paderewski Festival Board, whose contributions to maintaining cultural and commercial ties to Poland were also a part of the informal agenda. The Minister was accompanied by Robert Kupiecki, Poland’s Ambassador to the United States, Marcin Knapp, Embassy Chief of Protocol, Paulina Kapuścińska, Consul General of Poland in Los Angeles, and Małgorzata Cup, Consul for Culture and Press at the Consulate of Poland in Los Angeles.

Left to Right: Steve Cass with daughter Kristen, son Bryan, Alice Cass, Minister Sikorski,
Consul General Paulina Kapuścińska, and Polish Ambassador to the U.S., Robert Kupiecki.
Photo credit: Paso Robles Magazine

The evening began with informal introductions over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a recital of works by Paderewski and Chopin given by Marek Zebrowski, Artistic Director of the Paderewski Festival. Over a gourmet dinner prepared by Chef Jacob Lovejoy, Paderewski Festival Director Joel Peterson gave the Minister a detailed précis of the Festival’s history in Paso and plans for this year’s concerts.

Several members of the local press were on hand to document the evening. Writing for the Paso Robles Magazine, Melissa Chavez gathered the following interesting quotes from the Consul General and the Minister:

“I’m very privileged to be the host of his trip in California,” says Consul General Kapuscinska. “We came for two reasons: For one, it is a city where Paderewski used to live. Second, is that we have such a wonderful American community supporting the Paderewski Festival.”… “Poland is known as a country that has fought for freedom and made good use of it,” says Minister Sikorski, a former political refugee and Solidarity supporter. “And America, being a country that’s always promoted democracy around the world...we can help each other in that way.”

Local politicians seem to agree with the Minister’s positive outlook for cooperation. San Luis Obispo County Supervisor and former Paso Robles Mayor, Frank Mecham, has been very involved in the Paderewski Festival and subsequent opportunities for cultural and economic exchange between Poland and California that have arisen. Josh Petray of the Paso Robles Press captured Supervisor Mecham’s enthusiasm for this effort in his article “Polish dignitary visits Paso Robles” from August 10th:

“There are so many parallels between our countries that it’s very easy to talk to them and very easy to engage where we can become better partners in a lot of ways.”… “It’s an honor to have them here and a thrill to be here tonight,” Mecham said of the special visit. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our whole area. Who knows where it’s going to go from here.”

Minister Sikorski and Consul General Kapuścińska discuss with
Paderewski Festival Board President, Joel Peterson (left), and Supervisor Mecham (right).

After resting overnight in downtown Paso Robles, the Minister was invited for breakfast at the residence of one of Paso’s greatest Paderewski fans, Mr. Hy Blythe. Afterwards, Minister Sikorski departed for Southern California, to speak at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

[Sources: “Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Paso Robles” article in Paso Robles Magazine (not available online), Paso Robles Press, Polish Embassy]

RECENT DONATIONS

During his recent trip to Poland, new friend of the PMC Oscar Williamson acquired a copy of the program for the Chopin and His Europe Festival and has donated it to the PMC collection. This program is over 350 pages long, and is full of detailed information in Polish and English about the composers and performers featured in the Festival, which took place from August 16-31, 2009. This program will be an invaluable resource for researchers at the PMC.

Also, outgoing Consul General Paulina Kapuścińska has donated two different versions of the Fryderyk Chopin edition of the “Composers and the Art of their Time” series to the PMC. Of the two versions, one provides extensive liner notes by Irena Poniatowska in English and one in Spanish. Created by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the “Composers and the Art of their Time” series also highlights Szymanowski, Lutosławski, and Music of the Polish Baroque. Consul General Kapuścińska’s donation is just one of the many fruitful and generous collaborations that have taken place between the PMC and Consulate during her long tenure in Los Angeles. We will miss her attention to and support of the arts in L.A. as she moves on to her next post.

PENDERECKI’S PREMIERE FOR PEACE

On Tuesday, September 1, the World Orchestra for Peace came together for an extraordinary concert in Kraków marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII. The concert featured the World Premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Prelude to Peace, commissioned by the orchestra especially for the occasion.

The World Orchestra for Peace (WOP) is an expression of harmony on all levels. It was founded in 1995 by Sir Georg Solti to reaffirm, in his words, “the unique strength of music as an ambassador for peace.”  Its 95 players come from orchestras in 35 different countries, many of them concert masters and section leaders in their own right, and the orchestra has no existence outside the very special occasions that call it into being. For this concert, the players had only 72 hours to rehearse with colleagues they rarely see.

Below are excerpts from the CNN report on the event:

In a note for the program for Tuesday's concert, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan—a former honorary patron of the orchestra—writes that the group represents "a practical demonstration of humanity's potential for harmony, tolerance and cooperation."

"Listening to the beautiful music performed by this Orchestra helps us to connect with our fellow human beings across different languages, cultures and traditions," says Annan. "The existence of this orchestra reminds us that peace in our world is possible."…

"We are playing because we've got something to say and music can bring that over. When you play a beautiful piece of music with the emotion and the passion that Gergiev and 95 of the best musicians in the world bring to it, people say they can feel there is something at work here. It sounds daft but music has that power" [said WOP Director Charles Kaye].

This concert was broadcast live both on Polish television and CNN.com. Highlights of the concert are available for viewing here.

[Sources: CNN article, www.worldorchestraforpeace.com, www.bbcmusicmagazine.com]

PENDERECKI PREMIERE IN ŁÓDŹ

On August 29th in the Grand Theater in Łódź, Krzysztof Penderecki premiered his new work, Kadisz. Łódzkim Abramkom, którzy chcieli żyć. Polakom, którzy ratowali Żydów [Kadisz. To Abramek’s from Łódź, who wanted to live. To Poles who saved Jews]. The work was written in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the liquidation of the ghetto in Littzmanstadt (the name for German-occupied Łódź).

The 20-minute work for orchestra, male choir and solo voices uses the biblical text, Kadisz Jatom [grieving prayer], and poems of Abram Cytryn. The work consists of three parts. The first part consists of the soprano, performed by Olga Pasiecznik, singing fragments of Cytryn’s poetry. The second part is based on Old Testament texts in the form of narration, performed by actor Daniel Olbrychski. The third part is the Kadisz Jatom, sung by cantor Alberto Mizrahi, and is musically based on melodies and traditional forms found in Galicia, Ukraine and Romania.

[Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, Gazeta Wyborcza]

US PREMIERE: OPERETTA

Photo Credit: Lukasz Gawronski

Well, the thing about revolutions is that we don’t see them coming.
− Michał Zadara, director of Operetta

A fashion-conscious count pines for a young beauty and wants to dress her. The young beauty just wants to go around naked. A rival suitor proclaims his love. There’s a duel! There’s a ball! A Marxist revolution staged by pickpockets! A camel falling from the sky!

Music, fashion, dancing, and chaos—and a cast of 22—dominate this wild fable of the 20th-century’s elite running out of ideas. The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, with the support and on the initiative of the Polish Cultural Institute, presents the North American professional debut of Operetta, a major work by Polish literary giant Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969), re-envisioned by Michał Zadara, one of the most innovative Polish theater directors of his generation (and a Swarthmore College graduate). Each production of Operetta is scored anew; and for this latest staging, Poland’s multiple-award-winning jazz pianist Leszek Możdżer composed an eclectic score that ranges from heart-wrenching ballads to punk rock. An operetta is the romantic comedy of opera, and Gombrowicz adopted the form for this, his final play, in order to present 20th-century transitions to totalitarianism in a grotesque way. Now, Zadara’s adaptation of the prophetic musical farce explodes the form—and our expectations.

In an interview in Time Out New York, Chair of the Swarthmore College Theater Department, professor Allen Kuharski, described Gombrowicz as "Poland's counterpart to Jean Genet, but with Joe Orton's sense of humor. Gombrowicz's most powerful political weapon is his humor." Village Voice critic Charles McNulty called Gombrowicz's works "unbeatable sources of absurdist adrenaline"; and Louis Begley, writing in the Washington Post, deemed the Polish writer an "eccentric genius."

Other artists involved in this production are - Choreography: Tomasz Wygoda; Stage scenery: Magdalena Musial; Costumes: Julia Kornacka; Lights: Ewa Garniec; Video: Lea Mattausch; Musicians: Dariusz Kaliszuk, Rafal Karasiewicz, Cybulka Marzena, Katarzyna Mirowska, Ewa Mizerska, Katarzyna Ruda, Magda Sniadecka Skrzypek, Elzbieta Wolenska; Stage Performers: Ewelina Adamska, Krzysztof Boczkowski, Arkadiusz Brykalski, Jacek Gebura, Michal Juzon, Ewa Klaniecka, Ryszard Klaniecki, Rafal Kronenberger, Piotr Malecki, Miroslaw Owczarek, Bartosz Picher, Michal Pietrzak, Cezary Studniak, Justyna Szafran, Marek Szczygiel, Tomasz Sztonyk, Marek Szydlo, Tomasz Sztonyk, Lukasz Wójcik, Bogna Wozniak.

OPERETTA
SEPTEMBER 10-13
Tue.-Sat., 7:00 PM & Sat.-Sun., 3:00 PM
Post-show discussion: Sept. 10
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival
The Wilma Theater
265 South Broad St., Philadelphia PA 19107

THE THEATER OF GOMBROWICZ & ZADARA
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
1:00 PM, Free admission
Panel discussion with Rita Gombrowicz, Michał Zadara, and Thomas Sellar,
Moderated by Prof. Allen Kuharski
The University for the Arts
Arts Bank
601 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19147
tel. 215.413.1318

[Source: Polish Cultural Inst. NY]

US PREMIERES FOR PENDERECKI & HANS

With generous support of the Polish Cultural Institute NY, the internationally renowned Cello Octet Amsterdam (COA) will make its New York debut at (Le) Poisson Rouge on September 8. The group will present an adventurous program featuring U.S. premieres for composers Krzysztof Penderecki – “Agnus Dei” from his Polish Requiem, Olga Hans – Piesni sloneczne [Songs of the Sun], and Terry Riley – ArchAngels. ArchAngels, a protest piece written after the U.S. attack on Iraq following the events of 9/11, was composed especially for the Cello Octet Amsterdam. Arvo Pärt 's O Antiphonen and Cristobal Halffter's Fandango will also enjoy their New York premieres at this performance. Read more about the composers at lepoissonrouge.com.

The Dutch ensemble Cello Octet Amsterdam (formerly Cello Octet Conjunto Iberico) is a unique ensemble that has quickly become one of the most renowned on the international music scene, with 13 CDs and over 60 premieres to its name. The group was founded in 1989 by Elias Arizcuren, who served as their conductor until 1997. Since then, Polish cellist Robert Putowski has served as principal cellist and artistic director. The unique configuration of the ensemble demands specially written music, and the Octet has inspired many great composers to write pieces for them, including Arvo Pärt, Terry Riley, Mauricio Kagel, Theo Loevendie, Franco Donatoni, and Luciano Berio. Below is a sampling of what reviewers say about COA:

"Riding the wave of distinction as the world's only full-time cello octet, [COA] has been busy quelling skeptics and winning friends since 1989." - Los Angeles Times

"Total technical perfection, intensity and colorful interpretations." - The Strad, London

" The richness of their sound, their expression and the technical mastery of this ensemble are unimaginable." - El Pais, Madrid

September 8, 2009, 9:00 PM
Cello Octet Amsterdam play the music of Penderecki, Pärt, Riley, Halffter, & Olga Hans
(Le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleeker St. at Thompson St., New York, NY

[Source: Polish Cultural Institute NY]

CONVERSATIONS WITH CHOPIN

During the 2009-2010 season, Jeffrey Siegel’s “Keyboard Conversations” series will explore the repertoire of Frederic Chopin, through 4 concert installments: Chopin for Lovers, Chopin the Patriot, Chopin the Storyteller, and Chopin and the Future. These concerts will be presented in venues throughout the U.S., including Escondido, Livermore, Merced, Modesto, and Palm Desert in California. Please see www.keyboardconversations.com/schedule.html for a full schedule of all venues and dates.

American pianist Jeffrey Siegel enjoys a flourishing career and has appeared with every major American orchestra as well as in the leading music capitals of the world. His enthusiasm is contagious, his credentials are world-class, and his virtuosity is astounding. Join Jeffrey for a season full of informative and entertaining Keyboard Conversations, four full concerts with the stories behind the music’s creation. These experiences begin with an insightful and entertaining prologue on the music and its composer, are followed by a full performance of the works, and end with a lively question-and-answer session.

[Sources: Polanki Newsletter, September 2009 issue - Polish Women’s Cultural Club, Artist's website, WI Luteran College website]

FONTANA JOINS CHOPIN IN WARSAW

Prof. Cecilio Tieles Ferrer has been invited to present his thesis Julian Fontana; The Introducer of Chopin in Cuba in Warsaw, as a part of the worldwide celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Frederick Chopin in 2010. This is recognition of the many years of dedicated research the Prof. Tieles has conducted as well as recognition of Julian Fontana's importance in the life, music and legacy of Chopin.

QUINTOPHONIQ PROJECT

Quintophoniq is a joint project of friends, including Tomasz Gołębiewski, Concertmaster of the Łódź Philharmonic and Leszek Kułakowski, a visionary of Polish jazz. The collaborating artists will include Krzesimir Dębski, Krzysztof Herdzin, Leszek Kułakowski, Adam Manijak, Paweł Serafiński, Maciej Strzelczyk, Michał Urbaniak and Jan Walczyński, who are composing works for violin duos and jazz trios. The project will combine the classical violin sound with the typical textures of a jazz trio ensemble.

Performers will include the Q4Q Duo of Małgorzata Korpysz & Tomasz Gołębiewski, members of the Łódź Philharmonic who have for many years participated in such ensembles as the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra or the Rubinstein Quartet. Their continuing love of traditional chamber music by the well-known masters will expand to include experimental jazz works by the best-known Polish jazz violinists, Krzesimir Dębski, Michał Urbaniak and Maciej Strzelczyk. The Q4Q Duo will collaborate with pianist Leszek Kułakowski and the Hammond Organ virtuoso, Paweł Serafiński.

Tomasz Gołębiewski, Małgorzata Korpysz, and Krzesimir Dębski

The Quintophoniq Project will also include members of the Leszek Kułakowski Trio (Leszek Kułakowski, piano; Jacek Pelc, drums; and Piotr Kułakowski, bass). This group has concertized throughout the world mainly as a jazz ensemble, but their leader’s interest in classical music has also resulted in numerous experiments in the area of chamber and symphonic music. The Quintophoniq Project will make its debut appearance on 27 February 2010 at the Artur Rubinstein Philharmonic in Łódź. Other concerts will include the philharmonic halls of Lublin, Gdańsk, Rzeszów, and Wałbrzych, and other cities.

[Sources: Quintophoniq, polmic.pl]

JUTRZENKA CELEBRATES 75 YRS

Thanks to its dedicated and loyal members, and choral director Izabella Kobus-Salkin, South Brooklyn’s Jutrzenka Singing Society #226, the female chorus of the Polish Singers Alliance of America, will acheive 75 years of existence this September.

Jutrzenka’s 75th anniversary celebration will take place on September 20 in the Imperial Room of the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street, from 12-5 p.m. Eddie Dziuba will supply music for listening and dancing pleasure. For reservations, call Adele at 718-748-3699 or Mary at 917-856-7677.

Jutrzenka members will also celebrate by singing the 6:30 p.m. Mass on September 5 at Our Lady of Czestochowa in South Brooklyn. The Mass will be dedicated to the memory of Jutrzenka’s late supporting member, Mary Donderewicz, who passed away on May 17. During the Mass, the chorus will remember all deceased members and supporters, including their most recent follower, Gerard Sussillo, who died July 11.

Additionally, on September 27 at 3 p.m., Jutrzenka will participate in a gala concert at the Polish Center, 92 Waverly Street in Yonkers, NY in celebration of Polish music and musicians as a prelude to Polish Heritage Month. The concert is dedicated to the memory of St. Padre Pio, Pope John Paul II, and Ann Duchynski-Cherko. For reservations and information, call 718-543-1273or 646-724-0487.

WWII COMMEMORATION MASS

The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles and the Polish American Congress, Southern California Division, are presenting a Holy Mass to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Outbreak of WWII on Sunday September 6th at 3:30 p.m. It will be held in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles’ beautiful and immense downtown cathedral. Sacred and patriotic music will be provided by organist Szymon Grab and selected vocalists. The principal celebrant will be Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, who serves as vicar for the Archdiocesan Office of Ethnic Ministry.

Sunday September 6th, 2009 - 3:30 p.m.
Holy Mass to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Outbreak of WWII
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA
Cathedral Parking - $5.00

For further information, contact:
Ms. Malgorzata Cup – Consul for Culture: 310/442-8500 ext. 109 or malgorzata.cup@msz.gov.pl
or
Mr. Andrew Ettinger – President Polish American Congress, So. CA Division: 323/240-8525, (fax 323/464-6444)

SUPPORT POLISH FILM FEST AT EUROPA CONCERT

The Laserium at Hollywood & Vine is featuring Polish singer/songwriter Ilona Europa on September 17, 18 and 19.  With the promotion code “AF1178,” 25% of your ticket price will be donated to the Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles when tickets are purchased online here.   

High-Energy singer-songwriter Ilona Europa and Producer/DJ Josh Harris blend their hottest Rock/Electronica/Pop/Euro-dance music with lasers, video-multimedia and visuals at the Laserium. Billboard Charting Ilona Europa layers vocals in over three octaves producing mesmerizing hooks that stick with you for days. Ilona Europa's producer Josh Harris slices and dices, adds live keys and spins the discs in real time.

ILONA EUROPA AT LASERIUM
September 17, 18 and 19
Laserium at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood, CA
Purchase tickets here with promotion code AF1178