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In relation with the decisive steps aiming to stop the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 the crisis management, including the Minister for Culture and National Heritage, has decided to temporarily close from the 12th of March 2020 the cultural institutions, philharmonics, operas, theatres, museums, cinemas as well as schools, academies and art education institutions.
Poznan Philharmonic cancels the concerts planned for the forthcoming weeks. We will notify you of further decisions and actions through our website.
The reimbursement for tickets bought through Bilety24 website will be automatic and done the same way the payment was made, both via bank transfer and BLIK or card payments, subject to the dates indicated by the card operators, that is up to 31 days.
On the 8th of March in Katowice Fryderyk 2020 awards were given for classical music. In the categories of Best Symphonic Music Album and Most Outstanding Polish Music Recording the prize went to the 36-album „100 FOR 100. MUSICAL DECADES OF FREEDOM”.
The album features numerous performers, including Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra which recorded Tadeusz Szeligowski’s „Kaziuki” under the leadership of Łukasz Borowicz.
Before bishop Wojtyla became John Paul II he mainly spent his time in Cracow, though he often gladly visited Greater Poland and Poznan. It was not only because of his close relationship with Antoni Baraniak, Archbishop of Poznan, who Wojtyla valued, respected and who invited him to come to attend numerous church ceremonies, but also to relax and canoe on the rivers and lakes of Notecka Forest. During his pontificate he visited Greater Poland several times: he was twice in Poznan and Gniezno, once in Kalisz and Gorzow Wielkopolski, and during his last visit in 1999 also in Lichen. He passed away in 2005. The mourning in Poznan lasted many days after his death, some called it the 3rd – and the longest – pilgrimage to the “City of Przemysł”.
This text extract comes from the first of eight two-sided boards dedicated to the visits of John Paul II in Poznan and Greater Poland, which appeared in Adam Mickiewicz Square to commemorate this unusual figure. The exhibition accompanies “A Witness to God” concert (7th of March, 6 pm in AMU Concert Hall) prepared by Feel Harmony Foundation and Poznan Philharmonic. The special concert is held in the Year of Saint John Paul II, established in the 100. birthday anniversary of Karol Wojtyła.
Photo exhibition comprises of photo archives of Poznan photojournalists (Andrzej Szozda, Władysław Ruta, Tomasz Kamiński, Karolina Sikorska, Jan Boczko), but also pictures coming from the registry of the Franciscan monastery in Poznan, the Archdiocese Archive from Poznan, archives of “Przewodnik Katolicki” magazine and Gazeta newspaper agency, portrays the bishop visits of Karol Wojtyła in Poznan and Gniezno (since 1968) and papal visits of John Paul II in Poznan, Gniezno, Kalisz and Lichen. The last three boards commemorate the figure of John Paul II in Poznan. The photos are accompanied by descriptions and comments.
“John Paul II in Poznan and Greater Poland” exhibition was prepared by Posnania City Publishing House, the curator is Danuta Książkiewicz-Bartkowiak. The project is co-financed by the city of Poznan.
We encourage you to read the review of the Polish Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert in Frankfurt (Oder), which appeared in the Märkische Oderzeitung newspaper.
Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and the pianist Rafał Blechacz delighted the audience on the guest concert held in Frankfurt (Oder).
History of music has numerous examples of composers who travelled a lot, living out of a suitcase. In many cases these trips were voluntary, in other – forced by current situations. The reasons were various – from political, cultural, religious or ethnic to social. The guest performance of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Łukasz Borowicz held in Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Concert Hall in Frankfurt (Oder), attended also by many Polish listeners, enabled the audience to discover more about Polish emigrant composers. The Orchestra played pieces by Palester, Tansman and Chopin.
Roman Palester belongs to the bygone “forgotten” composers. He was born in the Austro-Hungarian town Sniatyn and died in Paris. His ballet “The Song of the Earth” received a gold medal on the World Exposition in Paris in 1937. An excerpt of this piece, “Wedding Dances”, filled with original rhythms and elements of folklore, could be heard at the concert. The musical meeting began with the thunderous sound of double bass, cello and piano, gradually transitioning into dance orgies. Many motifs remind of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring”, depicting pagan rituals in a form of a ballet. Even in the fortissimo parts we could hear the orchestra’s specific way of playing, not exaggerating in means.
Brilliant interpreter of Chopin
After the impressive introduction the audience listened to Symphonie Concertante No. 3 for Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano and Orchestra written by Tansman. He was born in Lodz, and emigrated to Paris in 1919 to adopt French citizenship a year later. Then in 1940 he moved to USA due to his Jewish origin, and after six years returned upon the river of Seine to live out his days there. The musical story opens with an ensemble of four soloists of the Philharmonic, who also dominated the other parts of the piece by interlacing it with continuous waves of intense sounds. The second part is a distinctive swing in American rhythms, while the orchestra becomes almost a setting for the four soloists. The third part features mostly wind instruments, executing dynamic tones in a marching, rhythmic way. After a storm of dissonance beautiful themes appear, played by a piano quartet. The fourth part, filled with spontaneous, dancing joy is geared towards an explosive ending.
All three composers were drawn by Paris
Frédéric Chopin also chose to live in Paris after emigration. However, before he became the “ambassador of Polish culture” abroad, his Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11 received a warm reception in Warsaw. The brillant style, used mostly in the piano parts, needs to be performed by a pianist who plays with pearl purity, dexterous agility and rich in ornaments fantasy. Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz appeared to be a brilliant interpreter of this masterful piece. After a long, romantic orchestra introduction a captivating wander on the keyboard of clear and brightly-sounding “Steinway” begins. Dynamic figurations, thunderous cascades of tones, reserved and lyrical trills filled with pearl colors and splendid arabesques – the pianist presents the broad repertoire of the sensual art of interpretation in an astonishing way. At the same time he evades different kinds of pastel mollifications, but aims to accentuate the internalized singing, almost like pure poetry. So inspiring! The Laureate of the Chopin Competition held in Warsaw in 2005 thanked for the standing ovation by Frédéric Chopin’ valse and mazurka.
Peter Buske
We recommend you another review from the European concert tour of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra – this time from the concert in Staatstheater Darmstadt. The text appeared in the Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
Rafał Blechacz amazes the audience. He plays Chopin like a child prodigy opening a present.
Silvia Adler
DARMSTADT – Rafał Blechacz has been considered as a complete artist for a long time now. At the age of 19 he won the 15. International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, as the first Pole after Krystian Zimerman. Due to his superiority over the other competitors, the second prize was not granted, and Blechacz was also awarded all four special prizes.
15 years has gone since that moment, though it is hard to believe it when on Friday night Blechacz sits at the piano in Staatstheater Darmstadt to play Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor by Chopin, along with the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. He still has this unique aura of an ingenious, wonder child. This impression stems not only from the artist’s slender figure, but also this dreamy and fanciful approach to Chopin’s music. He immerses himself into it with a peculiar intuition, up to the deepest structures, as if he was unwraping a finest gift.
Solo part in Allegro maestoso is very delicate and enticing. With great virtuosity and fingers, the mobility of which seem not to undergo any natural limits, the pianist joins the art of “brillante” style with the depth of spiritual expression which doesn’t need any external additives. Blechacz does not have the tendency to caricature emotions, though his analytically clear play seems to be fueled by emotionality found directly in the score. Infinitely gentle sounds of descant, as if woven from golden threads, along with the microscopically perfect, absolutely precise phrasing and the culture of playing piano which makes even the most tender tones burning bright – all these factors give his interpretation a form of highly concentrated distillate in which the condensed musical ideas of Chopin seem to be captured in the purest form.
Works of Roman Palester and Aleksander Tansman
Łukasz Borowicz conducts with caution: he lets the orchestra draw the vital forces from the available resources, though at some point he demands an essential discipline in dynamics, which enables the soloist to play even the most subtle pianissimo without the fear of being covered up by the orchestra. The final rondo was also intricately refined, and Blechacz – who received applause and standing ovation from the audience – drew it out from the keys in a playful and masterful way, like some sort of an elaborately carved engraving.
Besides the performance of the world-famous Polish pianist, the gala concert organized on the 20th anniversary of partnership between the region of Greater Poland and Hesse was filled with other attractions. Under the title “Composers Living Out Of The Suitcase” the works of Roman Palester and Aleksander Tansman were performed, who – just like Chopin – spent many years abroad.
Strongly outlining the contours and basing on the temperamental rhythm, the Orchestra played “Wedding Dances” from the ballet “The Song of the Earth” which fluctuates between an archaic folklore and vibrant reverie suspended in void. The piece was written by Palester, born in 1907, whose works were considered by the socialist artistic doctrine to be too “formalist” and weren’t performed in Poland until 1977.
In Tansman’s Symphonie Concertante there is a relaxation of an intense dialogue between the orchestra and the quartet of soloists: Marcin Suszycki (violin), Dominik Dębski (viola), Józef Czarnecki (cello) and Michał Francuz (piano). Exuberant American swing and melancholy-tinted jazz meets classical piano quartet and baroque craft of the fugue.
The concert of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra with the participation of Rafał Blechacz, held on the 14th of February in the Berlin Konzerthaus, finished with a standing ovation. The repertoire included Wedding Dances from the ballet The Song of the Earth by Roman Palester, Symphonie Concertante No. 3 for Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano and Orchestra by Aleksander Tansman and Piano Concerto in E minor Op. 11 by Frédéric Chopin.
Those who couldn’t attend this artistic event (or would like to listen to it once more) will have that opportunity on the 28th of February. That day at 8:03 pm the Berlin concert entitled “Composers Living Out of a Suitcase” will be aired on the national German radio Deutschlandfunk Kultur (online: www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de).
On World Radio Day, the 13th of February, Polish Radio awarded its most important prizes – Golden Microphones. This year editor Róża Światczyńska from Polish Radio Program II, well-known to music lovers from Poznan, found herself among the seven laureates. We can listen to her vivid stories about music during some of the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra’s concerts.
Golden Microphone is a prize of Polish Radio awarded to Maestros by Maestros for their commitment and outstanding artistic achievements. The candidates are chosen from different areas of the radio, including theatre, music, literature, reportage, journalism and sound production. The prize has been established and granted for the first time in 1969. Members of the Golden Microphone Chapter are appointed by the Polish Radio Board from the laureates of the previous editions of the contest.
This year’s award ceremony was held on the 13th of February in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw.
Phonographic Academy has just announced the nominations for Fryderyki Music Awards 2020 presented to the leading publications of classical music released in 2019.
Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra is among the leaders of the nominated symphonic orchestras.
In the Best Choral and Oratorias Music Album category there are two albums recorded by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra led by Łukasz Borowicz: one with mythological cantatas “Milda” and “Nijoła” by Stanisław Moniuszko, as well as the composer’s “Paria”. Both of them are world phonographic premieres published by DUX in the Year of Stanisław Moniuszko.
Nominations in the Most Outstanding Polish Music Recording and the Best Symphonic and Concerto Music Album categories were also given to “100 for 100. Musical Decades of Freedom” album. It was released in cooperation with Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Łukasz Borowicz which performed “Kaziuki” by Tadeusz Szeligowski. The album with “Milda” and “Nijoła” cantatas was recorded by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra along with the soloists: Wioletta Chodowicz (soprano), Maria Jaskulska-Chrenowicz (soprano), Ewa Wolak (alto), Sylwester Smulczyński (tenor), Robert Gierlach (baritone), Szymon Kobyliński (basso), as well as the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir prepared by Violetta Bielecka.
Whereas the album featuring the concert version of “Paria” opera was recorded by the Poznan Philharmonics with the cooperation with such soloists as Katarzyna Hołysz (soprano), Robert Jezierski (basso), Yuri Gorodetski (tenor), Szymon Komasa (baritone), Tomasz Warmijak (tenor) and National Philharmonic Choir prepared by Bartosz Michałowski.
We are happy to add that yet another album under the leadership of the Chief Guest Conductor of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz, was nominated to Fryderyki Awards. This time he conducted the Polish National Radio Symphonic Orchestra in Katowice and Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Choir in Cracow. They recorded, along with the soloists Claudia Barainsky, the album with Krzysztof Meyer’s Symphony No. 8 (DUX), which was nominated in the Best Contemporary Music Album category.
To find out who receives the Fryderyki statues we have to wait till the 8th of March, when the award ceremony for the best publishing of classical music of 2019 is held. It is organized in the headquarters of the Polish National Radio Symphonic Orchestra in Katowice.
We recommend you to read the review of the concert entitled “Halka on Stage and on Screen” by Piotr Nędzyński which appeared on the Maestro website.