news
It has become customary that subsequent records by The Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra get nominations for the Fryderyk Award. This time, it is a recording of Feliks Nowowiejski’s pieces that has found itself among the nominees for the 2023 Fryderyk Award in the Album roku – muzyka koncertująca (Album of the Year – Concert Music) category. It features two concertos by Feliks Nowowiejski—piano in C Minor, Op. 60 (Slavic), and cello, Op. 55—recorded by The Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra under Łukasz Borowicz with soloists Jacek Kortus (piano), and Bartosz Koziak (cello).
Both recordings are phonographic premieres. Although performing tradition of the pieces does exist, to date both works have been presented merely a few times.
Łukasz Borowicz, who took the effort of preparing and recording the pieces with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, writes in the album booklet: ... orchestra material of the concertos has been thoroughly analysed and compared with the manuscripts which miraculously survived war-time desolation. These comparisons made it possible to refine instrumentation, tempo, and articulation details.
Released by DUX, “Felix Nowowiejski, Piano Concerto in D Minor, Op. 60, Slavic, Cello Concerto, Op. 55”, which is a world phonographic premiere, has been co-funded by Fundusz Promocji Kultury (Culture Promotion Fund). A state-earmarked fund operated by the National Institute of Music and Dance within the “Muzyczny ślad” (Musical Trace) programme, it is an entity of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Łukasz Borowicz, chief conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director of the Poznań Philharmonic, has been furthermore nominated for the 2023 Fryderyk Award for two more albums: “Grażyna Bacewicz, Complete Symphonic Works Vol. 1 (Symphonies 3&4)” recorded with WDR Sinfonieorchester for cpo (nomination in the Najlepszy album polski za granicą, or the Best Polish Album Abroad category), and “Roman Palester. Dzieła nieznane” (Roman Palester. Works Unknown) recorded with Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiej Filharmonii Bałtyckiej and Izabela Matuła, and released by Polska Filharmonia Bałtycka im. Fryderyka Chopina in Gdańsk (nomination in the Album roku – muzyka orkiestrowa, or Album of the Year – Orchestral Music category).
Reviews of the newest album release by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra of concertos by Feliks Nowowiejski recorded with conductor Łukasz Borowicz, as well as soloists, cellist Bartosz Koziak (Cello Concerto, Op. 55), and pianist Jacek Kortus (Piano Concerto in D Minor, Op. 60, Slavonic) have been published in February by the French music magazine ClicMag, and Belgian music portal Crescendo Magazine.
The album marks another world phonographic premiere by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra.
You can find the reviews here:
Crescendo Magazine www.crescendo-magazine.be
ClickMag www.clicmusique.com
On 27 December, Marek Woźniak, Marshall of the Wielkopolska Province, and Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of the Town of Poznań, signed at the Wielkopolska Province Marshall’s Office an agreements on transfer of institutions of culture between the Wielkopolska Province and the Poznań Municipality.
Following decisions of relevant self-government bodies, as at 1 January 2023, the self-government of the Town of Poznań becomes the founding institution of the Poznań Philharmonic, while the self-government of the Wielkopolska Province – this of the Archaeological Museum, as well as of the Wielkopolska Museum of Independence.
Marshall Woźniak also communicated the intention to set up Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising, a truly 21st century facility, while Mayor Jaśkowiak imparted the decision to locate the seat of the Poznań Philharmonic – intended to be the most beautiful and modern facility of the kind in Europe – in the grounds of Poznań International Fair.
Two concertos by Feliks Nowowiejski – piano in C Minor, Op. 60 (known as Slavonic), and cello, Op. 55 – are contained on the newest album recorded by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz, and featuring the pianist Jacek Kortus and cellist Bartosz Koziak.
Both pieces are phonographic premieres; although performing tradition does exist, to date the works have been presented only a handful of times.
Łukasz Borowicz, who took the effort of preparing and recording the pieces with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, writes in the album booklet:
…. orchestra material of the concertos has been thoroughly analysed and compared with the manuscripts which miraculously survived war-time desolation. These comparisons made it possible to refine instrumentation, tempo, and articulation details.
Since an alternative denouement of Cello Concerto exists in the manuscript, we decided to record both versions of the ending (throughout his entire life, Nowowiejski frequently altered already finished pieces, or left their alternative versions).
With Piano Concerto, we decided to use the edited version of the work developed by the composer’s son, Kazimierz Nowowiejski. The numerous abridgements made by the pianist significantly change the length of the composition and contribute to its formal cohesiveness, which (in our opinion) makes it more accessible to the listener.
As performers of the phonographic premiere, we harbour a profound conviction that both compositions will find a place on the concert circuit. It is something quite astounding that concertos by one of the most important Polish composers of the early-20th century should wait for their phonographic premiere for… eighty years.
The world phonographic premiere, the album, which was co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, has been released by DUX.
Things were solemn and moving, joyful and surprising…
To celebrate its jubilee, on Thursday night, the Poznań Philharmonic organised 75th Anniversary Concert. Staged traditionally at the University Auditorium, the event was held exactly 75 years after the first official concert by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. At the time, the ensemble played under the baton of its founder (and chief conductor in the decade to follow), Stanisław Wisłocki; now, it was led by the current chief conductor and music director of the Poznań Philharmonic, Łukasz Borowicz. Then, the outstanding, world-famous pianist Raul Koczalski was the star of the evening; today, it was another outstanding, world-famous pianist, Rafał Blechacz. The jubilee evening was hosted by Róża Światczyńska and Antoni Hoffmann.
Before, however, music was performed, Andrzej Dera, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland, presented Poznań Philharmonic‘s musicians and staff members with state distinctions awarded by the President of the Polish Republic.
Officer’s Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta have been awarded to Wojciech Nentwig (for meritorious service to Polish culture, as well as for outstanding achievements in organisational and social work), and to Łukasz Borowicz (for outstanding achievements in artistic and creative work, as well as for promoting musical culture), while Knight’s Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta – to Tomasz Gubański and Sławomir Jarmołowicz (for meritorious service to Polish culture). Musicians and staff members of the Poznań Philharmonic have also received gold, silver and bronze crosses of merit, as well as honorary decorations “For Meritorious Service to the Province of Wielkopolska”, which were presented by the Marshall of the Province, Marek Woźniak.
Several beautiful words of congratulations and gratitude for the entire staff of the Poznań Philharmonic were uttered from the stage on this unique evening, including Marshall Woźniak’s address, in which he recalled that since 1999 the Poznań Philharmonic had been an institution of culture of the Wielkopolska Province Self-Government, and added that as at January 2023, it would be taken over by the Municipality of Poznań. Jacek Jaśkowiak, the Mayor of Poznań, recognised the Philharmonic with the Silver Seal of the Town of Poznań (complete with a pledge to quickly complete construction of the institution’s own seat).
The musical part of the evening opened with Uwertura komediowa (Comedy Overture) by Tadeusz Szeligowski, the first director and patron of the Poznań Philharmonic, which was performed in the presence of the composer’s granddaughter Bogumiła Szeligowska-Wojtecka, and grandson Tadeusz Szeliga-Szeligowski.
After the overture, it was Rafał Blechacz who took to the stage, this time… with a microphone.
– How come you play in Poznań so often? – the pianist admitted such questions are by no means rare. But he answers them with a question: – And why are we always eager to return home? The Poznań Philharmonic has become my home, and if this home celebrates a jubilee, I just have to be here.
He added it was his tenth concert with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, and twelfth in Poznań.
And then the Piano Concerto in A minor by Robert Schumann sounded; there were, naturally, encores and standing ovations.
The latter part of the evening was devoted to Polish music: Rapsodia litewska (Lithuanian Rhapsody) by Mieczysław Karłowicz, and Kościelec 1909 by Wojciech Kilar.
Several-minute long standing ovations wrapped up the evening – this is how music-lovers thanked the musicians for the beautiful concert, and the entire team of the Poznań Philharmonic for their efforts.
The jubilee is over… Our institution has entered the seventy-sixth year of its operation. On Friday, another concert is coming…
photo: Piotr Skórnicki, Antoni Hoffmann
Album 75/75 or 75 Minutes of Music to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Poznań Philharmonic has been released to mark the occasion.
Besides fragments of archival and newest recordings by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, the album also features words from its conductors, incl. its founder, Stanisław Wisłocki.
The accompanying booklet recounts the history and the present day of the Poznań Philharmonic.
When did Poznań Philharmonic originate? Where have the Poznań Nightingales sing? Who was the Pro Sinfonika movement intended for? What is the phenomenon of the Poznań Concerts all about? Answers to these, as well as to several other questions can be found in the anniversary album. The publication also features archival photographs of the orchestra (of which the oldest comes from March 1948), as well as reminiscences of the famous violist Stefan Kamasa, who was a member of the Poznań Philharmonics’ original line-up, and of Marek Sewen, another violist, who played in our irchestra in the early-1950s.
The commemorative albums premieres today; it will be available at the 75th Anniversary Concert (University Auditorium, 7:00 p.m., 10 November 2022).
Romuald Połczyński Is Dead
(29 Dec. 1933 – 2 Nov. 2022)
It was only yesterday that we appended the Friday concert programme book with his minor corrections. He had a good way with words and excellent journalistic competence: an editor with the Express Poznański for over four decades, he climbed the career ladder all the way to the position of editor-in-chief of this once popular evening paper.
Retired for several years, he never stopped writing. Particularly, about his beloved music, as he could not imagine life without it. Associated with Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, he co-organised the Wieniawski Competitions. He had a permanent seat at philharmonic concerts in the University Auditorium, and unless illness or some extraordinary event stood in his way, he was always there.
Sixty-one years ago, it was him to have thought up the Poznań Concerts; and he was very proud of them. In the early-January, when we celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of musical meetings that no other place in Poland has seen, he talked from the stage about the beginnings of this concert series, remembered the first Poznań Concert, and thanked all those who contributed to their organisation over the six decades. And musicians and music-lovers thanked him for the very idea that has been developing so splendidly.
He was looking forward to the 500th Poznań Concert, which will be held on Friday, on the night of 4 November. He wrote a special text about his “musical child” for the concert programme. And closed it with words that sound almost like his last will today:
The Poznań Concerts were born in a different world. There is no Express anymore, gone are the-then trade unions, gone are a number of us who remembered the premiere event and lived to see the 500th edition of the still much-needed musical meetings. Singing the joyful Magnificat, we harbour hope that although born in the previous century, the event is still very much alive, and is yet to see many a round anniversary.
Romuald Połczyński died on 2 November 2022. We shall miss him.
Łukasz Borowicz, Music Director and Chief Conductor of Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra has received today (5 October) the silver “Gloria Artis” medal awarded by Piotr Gliński, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, for excellent services rendered to culture.
The ceremony was held as part of the inauguration of new academic year at Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow, where Łukasz Borowicz holds a professorship.
Besides Łukasz Borowicz, two other conductors, Professors Paweł Przytocki and Włodzimierz Siedlik were also awarded silver “Gloria Artis” medals.
Sincere congratulations to all medal recipients!
In the picture (from left): Łukasz Borowicz, Prof. Paweł Przytocki, Prof. Rafał Jacek Delekta, Prof. Włodzimierz Siedlik
Today (21 September), annual Polish Composer Union Awards were presented at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
Due to the pandemic, awards for 2021 and 2022 were given.
We take pleasure and satisfaction in informing you that one of the awarded persons is Łukasz Borowicz, Principal Conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director of the Poznań Philharmonic.
Maestro Borowicz was awarded the 2021 Honorary Award for reviving and promoting unjustly forgotten symphonic and opera works of 19th- and 20th-century Polish music; winner of the award and his accomplishments were presented in the laudation delivered by musicologist Andrzej Kosowski, former director of Polish Music Publishers, and the first director of Institute of Music and Dance.
The same trophy for 2022 was awarded to Jerzy Maksymiuk for his indefatigable work – full of passion and dedication – in favour of Polish music.
Sincere congratulations!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
we wish to inform you that the box office of the Poznań Philharmonic opens on 5 September (A. Mickiewicz University Auditorium, 1, Wieniawskiego st., entrance hall).
Opening hours in the 2022/2023 artistic season:
- September: Monday through Friday, 1:00 – 5:00 pm,
- October – June: Tuesday through Friday, 1:00 – 5:00 pm,
- on concert days, the box office further opens 30 mins. prior to concert and stays open till end of intermission.
DL and SG season tickets booked can be purchased between 5 and 29 September.
KP season tickets booked can be purchased between 12 and 22 September.
MW season tickets booked can be purchased as of 26 September.
Holders of 2021-2022 electronic tickets are requested to carry these while purchasing 2022-2023 tickets.
***
Ticket reservations as well as enquiries about new season should be made by e-mail at rezerwacje@filharmoniapoznanska.pl, or by phone at tel. no. 618 536 935 or 618 522 266.
In September, you can contact us in box office opening hours at University Auditorium; for reservations, you are requested to contact us remotely.
***
Ticket sales commence on 19 September at box office of Poznań Philharmonic, at Centrum Informacji Kulturalnej (Cultural Information Centre, 44, Ratajczaka st.); for online sales, go to bilety24.pl.
Should pandemic alert and related guidelines be put in place, we reserve the right to change the above schedule of season and individual ticket sales, as well as alter the concert schedule.