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December abounds in occasions for gift-giving. The Poznan Philharmonic experienced it on the 10th of December. Jacek Jaśkowiak, President of Poznan, Marek Woźniak, Marshal of the Wielko-polska Region and Tomasz Kobierski, President of the Poznan International Fair Group announced that on the premises of the Poznan International Fair new musical centre will arise, including the new headquarters of the Poznan Philharmonic.
‘There is no better address for culture and music than the premises of the Poznan International Fair, located in the centre of Poznan, nearby the railway station and the bus station’, said Jacek Jaśkowiak, President of the city. ‘We have proven on many occasions that the city can cooperate with the government of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. I am convinced it will be the same this time’.
President Tomasz Kobierski underlined, that the idea to build the hearquarters of the Poznan Philharmonic fits in the strategy of Poznan International Fair Group, which is going to develop along two directions: the trade fair one, as well as a place for culture and art. ‘Within this strategy a Culture Zone comes into being, which includes pavilions 1, 2 and 12, and the square between them, plus the future building of the Poznan Philharmonic.
Marshal Marek Woźniak, who complimented the contribution of the Managing Director Wojciech Nentwig for the Poznan Philharmonic, stated that the time has come for that institution to get a modern building according to its high status, as well as to the expectations of the audience, at-tending concerts in large numbers. As planned, the building is to be multifunctional, modern and beautiful.
‘We already know the conditions under which it can be constructed, so next year an international architectural competition for a project that would take all our expectations into account will be announced’, added Marek Woźniak. ‘We have allocated PLN 450 thousand for that purpose. The building should contain a concert hall of 1,400 seats and chamber music hall for 300 seats, rehear-sal rooms, dressing rooms and the administrative component. Concert halls, besides having excel-lent acoustics, shoud also meet the requirements of the recording studio’.
Marshal Marek Woźniak makes no secret about the fact that new headquarters should ensure not only the safety and suitable working conditions the artists of Poznan Philharmonic but, when available, also other artists from Poznan, Poland and the whole world.
The authorities of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship estimate that the investment costs may amount to PLN 350 million. The money can come from several possible sources. The most optimistic option is Union perspective for 2021-2027.
Marshal Marek Woźniak expressed his hope that ‘the Philharmonic will still have an opportunity to perform from time to time in the AMU Concert Hall, one of the best-sounding halls in Poland’.
‘10th of December 2021 is an important and, I believe, a happy date in the history of our institu-tion’ said Wojciech Nentwig, the Managing Director of Poznan Philharmonic.
With reference to new guidelines set by the Minister of Health we remind that those holding an appro-priate certificate are not considered in the limit of people accepted to take part in the concert. We would be very grateful to each listener willing to voluntarily show the certificate – it would enable us to invite more people to the AMU Concert Hall. Thank you very much!
As many as three albums recorded by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra led by Łukasz Borowicz have just been nominated for the prestigious ICMA award 2022. Poznan Philharmonic is the only Polish musical institution and symphonic orchestra with such a number of nominations. Two of the albums have been recorded with the participation of Poznan Chamber Choir (prepared by Bartosz Michałowski) – the only Polish choir to receive two ICMA 2022 nominations.
Following albums have been nominated for this most prestigious phonographic award in the world:
– in the Assorted Programs category – ”Michał Bergson, Concerto symphonique pour piano et orchestre op. 62 /Music from the opera Luisa di Monfort” (Jonathan Plowright – piano, Jakub Drygas – clarinet, Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk – soprano, Łukasz Borowicz – conductor, Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra);
– in the Opera category – ”Kashchey the Immortal” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov led by Łukasz Borowicz and performed by Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, soloists (Savva Khastaev – tenor, Antonina Vesenina – soprano, Irina Shishkova – mezzosoprano, Yaroslav Petryanik – baritone, Mikhail Kolelishvili – bass) and Poznan Chamber Choir prepared by Bartosz Michałowski;
– in the Premiere Recordings category – ”Faniska” opera by Luigi Cherubini featuring Natalia Rubiś (soprano), Krystian Adam (tenor), Katarzyna Belkius (soprano), Robert Gierlach (bass-baritone), Tomasz Rak (baritone), Justyna Ołów (mezzosoprano), Piotr Kalina (tenor), Poznan Chamber Choir (prepared by Bartosz Michałowski) and Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra led by Łukasz Borowicz.
All the records were published by DUX label.
It is not the first time the recordings of Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra appear on the ICMA list. The ensemble received this prestigious award in 2018 for the Feliks Nowowiejski’s ”Quo Vadis” album recorded by distinguished soloists: Wioletta Chodowicz (soprano), Robert Gierlach (baritone), Wojtek Gierlach (bass), Sławomir Kamiński (pipe organ), as well as Opera and Philharmonic Choir prepared by Violetta Bielecka and Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Łukasz Borowicz.
In 2019 the album with the 2nd and 3rd Symphony by Feliks Nowowiejski received an ICMA nomination, while in 2021 – ”Cantatas Milda/Nijola” by Stanisław Moniuszko.
This year the Poznan albums compete with almost 400 nominations from all over the world. We will find out who the finalists are on the 14th of December, while the winners will be announced on the 20th of January 2022. The prize-giving ceremony and the gala concert will be held on the 21st of April 2022 in the Luxembourg Philharmonic.
We would like to inform our audience that, concerned about their safety, due to the epidemiological situation in our country some changes have been introduced in the traditional Poznan Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve Gala including surprises. The New Year’s Eve Concert including surprises will start at 7 pm and will not last longer than 9 pm.
Therefore the prices of the tickets to that event have changed – the tickets in the VIP zone cost 200 PLN, in the first zone – 175 PLN and in the second zone – 150 PLN.
Those who have purchased the tickets in the more expensive price can return them in the Poznan Philharmonic ticket office (Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm, phone number: 61 853 69 35) and via bilety24 (if purchased by internet) and then buy them in the lower price (mentioned above).
We warmly invite you to spend the last evening of year 2021 together with music.
The memorial plaque commemorating the cooperation of Maestro Marek Pijarowski and the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music was exposed on Friday evening (5th of November 2021) in the Avenue of Stars in front of the NFM building on Freedom Square in Wroclaw. This unusual event predated the jubilee concert during which Maestro, who this year celebrates his 70th birthday anniversary and the 50th anniversary of his artistic work, conducted the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra and performed Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The plaque of Marek Pijarowski in the NFM Avenue of Stars, which was created in 2016 and marks the affiliations of the most brilliant artists with Wroclaw, has found itself in a distinguished company. The first unveiled plaque belonged to Christoph Eschenbach. Today the Avenue commemorates such artists as John Eliot Gardiner, Krzysztof Penderecji, Zubin Mehta, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Krzysztof Jakowicz, Paul McCreesh or Giovanni Antonini.
We cordially congratulate Prof. Marek Pijarowski, who since 2007/2008 until 2020/2021 season held the position of the Chief Conductor of the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra!
Can you remember 235 orchestras you have conducted? Only Maestro Antoni Wit can answer this question. You can pose it during an unusual meeting which on the 13th of November will precede the 491. Poznan Concert dedicated to the memory of Stanisław Wisłocki on his 100th birthday anniversary. The meeting will start at 5 pm in the Lubranski Hall, while the concert featuring the pianist Krzysztof Książek and Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra – at 6 pm in AMU Concert Hall.
Maestro Antoni Wit will be the guest of the meeting led by Marlena Gnatowicz, while the reason for the discussion is a book entitled ‘Conducting. A Matter of Life and Death’ which is an extensive interview ran by Agnieszka Malatyńska-Stankiewicz, a music journalist from Cracow, with the world famous Polish conductor. The book was published by Czytelnik publishing house.
In sixteen chronologically and thematically composed chapters Antoni Wit talks about his life, family, interests and, above all, rich artistic output. Daniel Passent wrote that ‘the artist tells about his life and work in a similar way to conducting a magnificent orchestra’. Therefore the book (and the meeting) seems very promising, especially as the conductor himself underlines in the introduction that when he made a decision about the origin of the book he also made an assumption that ‘it must be true and frank, even if it contained facts or affairs he was not proud of’.
We invite you for the meeting with Maestro Antoni Wit on the 13th of November in AMU Lubranski Hall at 5 pm.
The admission cards for the meeting with Maestro Antoni Wit can be collected in the ticket office of the Poznan Philharmonic (AMU Concert Hall, Wieniawskiego Street 1) from Saturday, 6th of November (in the ticket office opening hours).
After the competition and concert marathon he changed the piano keyboard into… the steering wheel. And he was just as much focused on it as during the contest auditions or the magnificent concert he gave on Saturday evening with the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra and won the hearts of the audience. However, Bruce Liu’s memories from Poznan will not only involve the fantastic ovation of the listeners (and the three encores he gave), but also the surprise we have prepared for him.
When Wojciech Nentwig, the Managing Director of the Poznan Philharmonic, found out about Bruce Liu’s carting passion, he decided he would enable the pianist to drive go-karts. The idea was carried out thanks to the courtesy of the owner of the indoor kart track E1Gokart in Skórzewo near Poznan.
He didn’t go on track alone though, but with a formidable opponent – an 18-year-old Kacper Nadolski from Poznan, National Karting Team contestant who represented Poland in the international competition in the KZ2 category. When Kacper, currently competing with the best karting drivers in the world, heard about the Chopin Piano Competition winner’s hobby, he got in touch with us. We joyfully welcomed his offer to race against Bruce. Soon it turned out that Kacper also managed to contact Bruce via social media. A correspondence was established.
First they met after the rehearsal for the Saturday concert, and then on track on Sunday. It was a very emotional moment given the fact that Bruce got on the go-kart after… a two-year-long break caused by the pandemic.
They both like competition. After the final concert Bruce Liu said: ‘Contests help musicians develop. Some say they are not good for musicians, but for me they are inspiring. If you are passionate about something, just keep doing it. Don’t look at others, what they say or think. Follow what you feel is good for you. You will always encounter failures, problems and negative people on your way, but in these moments you have to keep going and not give up.’
‘You can’t compare emotions accompanying the races with anything else. It is my greatest passion’, admits Kacper Nadolski. ‘That’s why I work hard every day to follow my dream: become the… Formula One World Champion.’
Bruce Liu left Poznan with unforgettable impressions, not only musical ones. In a few days he is going to give concerts in Japan. Four-months-long world tour and plenty of concerts await him. When we inquired about his immediate plans he honestly confessed that right now he dreams about… having a decent sleep.
Poznan Philharmonic would like to extend our thanks to Mr Tomasz Gontarek, owner of E1Gokart, for sharing the karting track to Bruce Liu.
The piano on which Bruce Liu is going to play during the concert in the Poznan Philharmonic on Saturday is already in the AMU Concert Hall.
The Fazioli instrument is the exact one on which Liu won 18th Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The piano entered the concert hall in a vertical position, on a special device called Pianolift, intended for the transport of grand pianos. Only one person is needed to control it, though in critical moments our technical assistance was glad to help.
The piano’s ”journey” on the steps of the auditorium looked particularly striking, as well as the moment when the piano was set down on the stage from the vertical position.
We are delighted that the winner of the 18th Chopin Piano Competition, a brilliant Canadian pianist Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu, will perform in the Poznan Philharmonic on the 30th of October 2021!
The Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, who will accompany him in the Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11 by Frédéric Chopin, will be led by Maestro Łukasz Borowicz.
We are looking forward to this unusual event.
We are happy and proud to present you a new album of the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, which is also the ensembles’ world phonographic premiere. The CD includes rediscovered, ge-nuine but little known works of Stefan Bolesław Poradowski – a prominent composer, educator and organizer of cultural life, whose contribution for the Wielkopolska region can hardly be over-stated: Violin Concerto Op. 70, Double Bass Concerto Op. 26 and Symphony No. 3, Op. 29. The Orchestra, led by Łukasz Borowicz, is accompanied by superb soloists – Marcin Suszycki and Piotr Czerwiński. The album can be purchased in good music stores and during the concerts of the Po-znan Philharmonic.
Co-financed with resources from the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport coming from the Culture Promotion Fund in the framework of the ”Musical Trace” program carried out by the National Music and Dance Institute.
