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Piotr Beczała and Katarzyna Bąk-Beczała will answer your questions on our website, Facebooku profile and YouTube channel on Saturday, 6th of June at 6 p.m. We invite you to take part in this event!
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It was his first gala concert in Poland, held in Poznan Philharmonic. Piotr Beczała sang in AMU Concert Hall on the 14th of April 2007 and he blew away everyone! Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra was then led by Łukasz Borowicz.
For years now Piotr Beczała has been sharing his time between the most famous opera houses in the world – from Metropolitan Opera in New York (where for a couple of years he has been in an elitist group of stars who perform in MET every season), through Covent Garden in London, to La Scala in Milan. He is considered to be the leading tenor in the world. His wife, Katarzyna Bąk-Beczała, also a singer, supports him in the artistic career.
They both come from a Silesian town Czechowice-Dziedzice. They met in high school, in a choir, though she attended school of music and he was a student of a technical college, in the field of Mechanical Engineering. They both graduated from Academies of Music – Katarzyna in Warsaw, Piotr in Katowice. She started her professional singing career during her studies, but shortly before her debut in La Scala…. she resigned from the performance. She chose a life with her husband and, as she emphasizes in interviews, she never regretted it. They have been together for 25 years. Katarzyna attends Piotr’s rehearsals, performances and recording sessions. And it’s her opinion that the artist respects the most.
They were in New York when the pandemic broke – Piotr Beczała was preparing for the premiere of Jules Massenet’s “Werther” staged in Metropolitan Opera, in which he was to sing the title role. They managed to return to Poland, to their home in the Beskid Żywiecki mountains at the beginning of April. Today on the artist’s facebook page you can admire his fascination for nature and cuisine, read the great reviews of his lates album “Vinceró!” which was released in May and discover the tenor’s recommendations of interesting online performances and concerts prepared by artists from the most renowned opera houses in the world.
Next Friday, on the 29th of May at 7 p.m. we invite you to another Internet Concert of Poznan Philharmonic. This time the musicians of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra will present works prepared especially for our auditors in these difficult pandemic times. The evening will be filled with lyrical sound of violin, as well as vibrant jazz and a contemporary perspective on traditional Polish dances. Surely everyone will find something from oneself in it.
1st PART OF THE CONCERT
Performers:
Marcin SUSZYCKI violin
Ewa SUSZYCKA violin
Dominik DĘBSKI viola
Program: Antonín Dvořák – Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74
Introduzione. Allegro ma non troppo
Larghetto
Scherzo. Vivace
Tema con variazioni. Poco adagio
2nd PART OF THE CONCERT
Performers:
Damian KUREK trumpet
Marek GALUBIŃSKI trumpet
Marcin CHRZANOWSKI French horn
Wojciech JELIŃSKI trombone
Mateusz KUREK tuba
Program:
Ewa Fabiańska-Jelińska – Three Polish Dances on 2 trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba
Mazur
Kujawiak
Oberek
Tuba Tiger Rag (from the repertoire of Canadian Brass)
We invite you to take part in the continuation of the unusual event based on the popular Q&A (questions and answers) formula. This time the responses to your inquiries will be given by Katarzyna Bąk-Beczała and Piotr Beczała.
It was his first gala concert in Poland, held in Poznan Philharmonic. Piotr Beczała sang in AMU Concert Hall on the 14th of April 2007 and he blew away everyone! Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra was then led by Łukasz Borowicz.
For years now Piotr Beczała has been sharing his time between the most famous opera houses in the world – from Metropolitan Opera in New York (where for a couple of years he has been in an elitist group of stars who perform in MET every season), through Covent Garden in London, to La Scala in Milan. He is considered to be the leading tenor in the world. His wife, Katarzyna Bąk-Beczała, also a singer, supports him in the artistic career.
They both come from a Silesian town Czechowice-Dziedzice. They met in high school, in a choir, though she attended school of music and he was a student of a technical college, in the field of Mechanical Engineering. They both graduated from Academies of Music – Katarzyna in Warsaw, Piotr in Katowice. She started her professional singing career during her studies, but shortly before her debut in La Scala…. she resigned from the performance. She chose a life with her husband and, as she emphasizes in interviews, she never regretted it. They have been together for 25 years. Katarzyna attends Piotr’s rehearsals, performances and recording sessions. And it’s her opinion that the artist respects the most.
They were in New York when the pandemic broke – Piotr Beczała was preparing for the premiere of Jules Massenet’s “Werther” staged in Metropolitan Opera, in which he was to sing the title role. They managed to return to Poland, to their home in the Beskid Żywiecki mountains at the beginning of April. Today on the artist’s facebook page you can admire his fascination for nature and cuisine, read the great reviews of his lates album “Vinceró!” which was released in May and discover the tenor’s recommendations of interesting online performances and concerts prepared by artists from the most renowned opera houses in the world.
Thanks to our Q&A cycle it is possible to pose questions to the tenor and his wife oneself. You can ask how they endure the compulsary pandemic break and what are their plans, as well as anything that you would like to find out about this couple.
The questions can be sent by an internet form till the 31st of May: the form
The answers to the most interesting inquiries will appear on our website and Facebook profile on the 6th of June at 6 p.m.
We encourage you to pose questions!
On the 22nd of May falls the 3rd death anniversary of Zbigniew Wodecki. With reference to this date, four young violinists of Poznan Philharmonic prepared a video recorded at their homes featuring one of the first – yet how symbolic – hits of the prematurely deceased “bow friend”. The piece was arranged by Radosław Mateja – husband of one of the performing artistis.
We encourage you to watch the video and listen to the music.
Zbigniew Wodecki – Begin with Bach
Performers:
Anastazja Kołodziejczak – violin
Kosma Müller – violin
Magdalena Mateja – violin
Weronika Stabrawa – violin
Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to inform you that on the 2nd of June we open the box office of Poznan Philharmonic (Wieniawskiego street 1).
The box office will be open from 2nd of June till 25th of June 2020 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Next Friday 22nd of May at 7 p.m. we invite you to another Internet concert of Poznan Philharmonic. This time we will bring back the memories of a concert that we waited so long for; concert which was one of the artistic meetings that you never forget. It was a delight, but also a challenge for Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra to play under the baton of one of the most famous world’s known conductors of the 2nd half of the 20th century. Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra performed, among other works, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The album with the recording of the live performance was released a few months later by Poznan Philharmonic and DUX label.
Performers:
Sir Neville MARRINER – conductor
Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra
Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
Larghetto
Scherzo (Allegro)
Allegro molto
Stefan was his peer, they simply liked each other…
The choir sang, the Pope joined its ranks…
Millions of people… Never before or since I performed before such a huge auditorium…
These are only three quotes from the film prepared by Poznan Nightingales choir for the 100th birthday anniversary of Karol Wojtyła – Pope John Paul II. This unusual documentary was interlaced from memories of choristers and their photos kept at home albums, as well as the archives of Poznan Philharmonic and its Choir.
The emotions that accompanied choir singers performing for John Paul II (and having the opportunity to meet him) have remained written in their hearts for ever. And as the Nightingales sang for the Polish Pope numerous times – in Poland and in Vatican – many images can be brought to mind.
You will not hear these stories anywhere else. We invite you to the websites and Facebook profiles of Poznan Philharmonic and Poznan Nightingales on Monday morning, 18th of May.
Midori, an excellent violinist, resident artist of Poznan Philharmonic in the artistic season 2019/2020, was to perorm on Friday 15th of May with Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. Unfortunately, the pandemic disrupted these plans and we will not listen to her playing the Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig van Beethoven. The third concert of the resident artist will not take place. We miss her, and she misses us. So today instead of music she will share a few words with us:
Music has survived through many world disasters and catastrophes. Moreover, it has also supported us and helped us gain strength to continue pursuing beautiful elements in our lives. I believe that music will again prove to be a powerful agent to unite all of us together, so that we can rejoice with and console each other.
I am so sorry that we do not have an opportunity this week to meet in Poznan, and I will especially miss collaborating with the Orchestra. Until we are able to be in each other’s company, I will keep my fond memories of Poznan and look forward to being able to be in your city again when it becomes possible.
Next Friday 15th of May at 7 p.m. we invite you to another Internet Concert of Poznan Philharmonic. This time it is a Chopin evening featuring Aimi Kobayashi (piano) and Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra led by Marek Pijarowski. The concert, which opened the “Chopin Our Contemporary 2010. Celebrating the 200th Birthday Anniversary” Festival organized by Poznan Philharmonic, was held on the 21st of February 2010 in AMU Concert Hall. The event was recorded on DVD and CD.
PERFORMERS:
Aimi KOBAYASHI – piano
Marek PIJAROWSKI – conductor
Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra
PROGRAM:
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
- Piano Concerto in F Minor, Op. 21
Maestoso
Larghetto
Allegro vivace - Mazurka in C sharp Minor, Op. 63 No. 3
- Valse in E minor [op. posth.]
- Nocturne in C sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
When 10 years ago she gave her first concert with Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marek Pijarowski, she was only 15 years old, though has already gained international recognition as a child piano prodigy. Aimi Kobayashi started her piano lessons at the age of 3 and performed the first time with an orchestra when she was 7. Two years later she started an international career. Then prizes in international competitions came, performances in prestigious concert halls and continuing education. Currently the Japanese pianist studies with Meng-Chieh Liu in Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
On Sunday, the 10th of May, at 6 p.m. we invite you to another musical surprise prepared for music lovers by the musicians of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and cooperating artists. This time on our website we will be able to listen to Wojciech Jeliński, our trombone player and soloist, graduate of Herbert von Karajan Academy, associate of Berliner Philharmoniker, as well as the pianist Natalia Domańska. They will perform “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla, the most famous composer of Latin America.
It was 1974 when Astor Piazzolla, then residing in Rome, composed eight short pieces prompted by his Italian manager. Despite a variety of problems, the album was recorded and released in Milan the same year. As among these eight works “Libertango” particularly stood out, the whole album was named after this piece.
“Libertango” soon became a smash hit. As the composer said himself, ‘ I gave it that title, using the words “freedom” and “tango”, so it can sound like a hymn of freedom’.
“Libertango”, which originated as an instrumental piece, soon was also arranged as a vocal version – 1990 Uruguayan poet Horacio Ferrer, who cooparated with Piazzolla, added Spanish lyrics.
Today it is hard to count all the arrangements and performances of this hit. Wojciech Jeliński, trombone player and soloist of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and Natalia Domańska (piano) will play Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango” arranged by Nikolaj Bentzon and Ebbe Ringblom.
Performers:
Wojciech Jeliński – trombone
Natalia Domańska – piano
Program:
Astor Piazzolla – “Libertango” – arr. Nikolaj Bentzon/Ebbe Ringblom