Conference Celebrating the Centennial of Poland’s Rebirth in Georgia
Valdosta – Students, faculty, and local citizens attended a conference celebrating the centennial of Poland’s rebirth on 9 November 2018. Sponsored by the History Department of Valdosta State University (VSU), it was also supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington D.C., the Polish American Historical Association, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Faculty of History, University of Gdańsk (UG).
The conference featured four components: academic papers, a Polish lunch and trivia game, a student essay competition, and a film screening. Organized by visiting professor Anna Mazurkiewicz (UG) and John Dunn (VSU), their goal was to provide an introduction to Poland’s history and culture. This started with a collection of posters graciously provided by the Polish Embassy in Washington. These gave a real sense of the tremendous strides made by Poland in the last 30 years, along with enticing images that encourage students to consider a study abroad experience in 2019.
Mazurkiewicz established a focus of academic presentations, one that showed how America responded to crises in Polish history. The keynote speaker, Dr. Neal Pease, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM), started with a concise look at why Poland’s rebirth was important in an international context. Dunn followed up with an account of Paul Eve, the only native-born American who served with insurgents during the November Insurrection (1831), while Dr. Mathew Adams, Savannah State University, told of the many American connections to Poland’s 1918-1921 struggles, ranging from the Grey Samaritans to the Kościuszko Squadron. The academic papers concluded with Mazurkiewicz explaining 1980s America’s part in “Poland’s way out of Communism.”
With a sense that students were still hungry for knowledge about Poland, the next component featured an east-central European lunch. Guests were offered barszcz, bigos (regular and vegan), piernik and of course pierogi. Dr. Yakov Woldman, VSU Chemistry, earned a special distinction for making 100 of the pierogi Russian style, while Ewa Barczyk gained honor for bringing a suitcase full of pierogi and sausage from Milwaukee. An hour later, only a few slices of bread remained on the tables.
Barczyk, former director of the Library at UWM continued support for the conference by allowing students to submit encyclopedia entries for her upcoming book, A Guide to Polish Historical Sites in North America. Two students produced entries worthy of reward: Ms. Logan Mabey of Georgia, and Ms. Aylar M Chijayeva, a native of Turkmenistan. Both obtained a certificate, plus an award of $50.
The conference concluded with a screening of the Fourth Partition. This 2013 documentary directed by Adrian Prawica, tells the story of Polish emigration to America, all the way back to Jamestown. Following this, select participants enjoyed a celebratory banquet. Rumor has it Żubrówka, complete with bison grass, may have been served.
Participants judged the conference a success, as it helped cement the already good relations between Gdańsk and Valdosta Universities. Future plans include continuing exchanges of professors and students, while furthering a mutual interest in Polish History.
Eagle at the Garrison Church on Podwale St. in Warsaw, Poland
Music has been a crucial part of Polish national identity especially during the 123 years of partitions, when Poland disappeared from the maps of Europe, yet Polish culture survived in Polish homes and concert halls. Thus, music is a crucial part of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Poland's Regained Independence. There are many concerts planned for this weekend, and some have already taken place.
100 for 100 Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York
PWM Edition and the Polish Cultural Institute New York present Oratorio Society @ Carnegie Hall - a Concert Commemorating the Centennial of Poland's Regained Independence and the Armistice of the First World War on November 11, 1918 (Sunday at 2 pm). On this special occasion, the legendary and award winning Oratorio Society of New York will perform at Carnegie Hall featuring masterpieces by renowned Polish composers, Henryk Górecki and Karol Szymanowski, as well as an English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams. The concert is part of the NYC Chapter of the 100 for 100. Musical Decades of Freedom program. The program includes Henryk Górecki, Euntes ibant et flebant; Karol Szymanowski, Stabat Mater, Op. 53, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, Dona Nobis Pacem.
The Oratorio Society of New York (OSNY) is one of the city's oldest cultural organizations and since its foundation in 1873 has been an essential part of New York City's cultural fabric. OSNY has performed internationally across Europe, Asia, Latin and South Americas, and has won numerous awards including a UNESCO Commemorative Medal and the Cocos Island World Natural Heritage Site Award for its series of benefit concerts in Costa Rica.
Karol Szymanowski is considered one of the most renowned Polish composers of the Young Poland modernist movement. Rather than rely on the traditional Latin text of the Stabat Mater, Szymanowski based his piece on a modern Polish version by the writer and philosopher Józef Jankowski. Szymanowski's Stabat Mater, Op. 53 (Composed in 1925-26), combines authentic folk materials from the Tatra Mountains, echoes of old church songs, and post-Romantic orchestration.
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki became a leading figure of the Polish avant-garde in classic music, bringing together a genuine interest in Polish "roots" culture and folk traditions with a minimalist focus in his Euntes Ibant et Flebant, Op. 32 (Composed in 1972).
Ralph Vaughan Williams is the great symphonists and a composer of the utmost importance for English music of the 20th century. In spite of incorporating music written much earlier, Dona Nobis Pacem is all of a piece, aided by motivic evolutions that course almost instinctively through the entire work.
This concert is a part of 100 for 100: Musical Decades of Freedom is co-organized by PWM edition to celebrate the centenary of Poland regaining independence. On this day, ensembles from around the world are performing 100 works by Polish composers. It is held under the National Patronage of Andrzej Duda, the President of the Republic of Poland to mark the Centenary of Regaining Independence and financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the Multi-Annual Programme Niepodległa 2017-2021. This concert is also presented in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
Chicago Philharmonic Proudly Celebrates Polish Classical Music
with Ground-Breaking Five Day Festival
As Chicago’s vibrant Polish community celebrates the 100 year anniversary of the regaining of Polish independence, Chicago Philharmonic honors the rich music traditions of Poland and the importance of the community in the cultural history of Chicago in Chicago Philharmonic Festival: Poland 2018, November 7-11.The ambitious festivalwill present world-class Polish musicians and soloists, Polish-Chicago music and arts organizations, music from Polish composers, the Chicago Philharmonic orchestra, and Artistic Director Scott Speck across five concerts presented in five days throughout the city of Chicago culminating in a free performance on November 11 – the day celebrating the 100th year of independence and Armistice Day. The festival comes following a tour of 10 Chi Phil musicians to Poland in April of this year and this is the first project of its kind from the organization, with plans to celebrate Chicago’s many diverse communities with similar festivals in the future.
The festival opened on November 7 with a guest performance from award-winning Polish string ensemble The Silesian Quartet performing at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago. The quartet is known for their skilled, enthusiastic interpretations of Polish repertoire both timeless and contemporary; “The highest level of performance. They play like devils.” (NRC Handelsblad) The ensemble showcased their stunning textural range and artistry in masterful 20th century string quartets. Featured were trailblazing female composer Grażyna Bacewicz’s driving, expressive String Quartet No. 4, written in post-WWII Poland in 1951; String Quartet No. 2 by Karol Szymanowski, who took inspiration for the piece from the folk music of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland; and String Quartet No. 1 by Henryk Górecki, which is centered around the 16th century Polish church song “Already it is Dusk”. Rounding out the program was String Quartet No. 3 (“Leaves of an Unwritten Diary”) by beloved Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki.
On November 8, the festival continued at the stunning St. John Cantius Church (named “The Most Beautiful Church in America” in 2016) with a solo performance from Kraków born and raised organ master Andrzej Białko. Recipient of the Polish Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis, Białko performed organ music from Poland, Eastern Europe, and North America on the church’s historic 92-year old Casavant Frères pipe organ. The program began with Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt as the composer explored the popular B-A-C-H motif in music. Also featured were pieces by Polish composers including church and organ composer Mieczysław Surzyński, living sacred choral music composer Paweł Łukaszewski, and a Christmas Carol-inspired fantasy Christmas Eve on Wawel Hill by Feliks Nowowiejski. Also performed was an excerpt from prominent Czech composer Petr Eben’s“Job” for Organ cycle. In addition to these Eastern European composers, Białko completed the program with English-Canadian Healy Willan’s Five Preludes, influenced by the composer’s love of Gregorian chants.
In partnership with the Polish Museum of America, the Chicago Philharmonic will present jazz pianist Piotr Orzechowski on November 9 at the museum in an evening event with music, food, and drink. Orzechowski will bring his 24 Preludes and Improvisations, based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s pivotal 24 Preludes and Fugues. The first ever Pole to win the prestigious 1st Prize at Montreux Jazz Festival, Orzechowski’s 24 Preludes and Improvisations allow his extraordinary composition and improvisational talents to shine.
On Saturday, November 10, the festival’s first full orchestral concert, Celebrate Polonia, will take place at the Copernicus Center. Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago Piotr Janicki will introduce this concert. Joined by young piano virtuoso Łukasz Krupiński, the Chicago Philharmonic and Principal Conductor Scott Speck will perform legendary Polish pianist, composer, and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s Piano Concerto and Frédéric Chopin’s dazzling, technically demanding Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante for solo piano and orchestra.Also featured is Karol Szymanowski’s Concert Overture, masterfully orchestrated in the style of the composer’s contemporary Richard Strauss. Finishing the program is the Tragic Overture by 20th century composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik, composed in secret during World War II and later reconstructed by the composer from memory after the score was lost in the devastating fires of the Warsaw Uprising. Pre-concert entertainment will be provided by the Lira Ensemble singers, Chicago’s premier Polish music ensemble.
November 11 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the regaining of Polish Independence and Armistice Day. Chicago Philharmonic will join in the worldwide celebration with a free performance of Polish composer Wojciech Kilar’s Missa pro pace (Concert for Peace).Kilar has composed for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, and soloists, but is best known for his film score compositions including those for The Pianist and Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Kilar’s 2001 Mass, Missa pro pace, was composed for a full symphony orchestra, mixed choir, organ, and a quartet of vocal soloists. The piece is inspired by the composer’s deeply spiritual background, and was performed in the presence of Pope John Paul II, the first Polish pope. The performance will be presented in a liturgical setting in Chicago’s stunning St. Hyacinth Basilica. Chicago Philharmonic will be joined by Kilar expert conductor Marek Mośand guest vocal soloists. Also included in the program is the world premiere of Fanfara by Krysztof Penderecki, commissioned by PWM edition and being performed in 11 cities around the world all on November 11.Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago Piotr Janicki will speak before the concert on this historic day.
Celebrate Polonia, November 10, 7:30pm, Copernicus Center, 5216 W Lawrence Ave,
Scott Speck conductor, Łukasz Krupiński, piano: Paderewski Piano Concerto; Chopin Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante; Szymanowski Concert Overture; Panufnik Tragic Overture
Concert for Peace, November 11, 1:30pm, St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3636 W Wolfram Street,
Chicago Philharmonic with members of Paderewski Symphony Chorus, Marek Moś conductor, Natalia Rubiś soprano, Katarzyna Sądej mezzo-soprano, Jesse Donner tenor, Kurt Link bass, Andrzej Białko organ. Program: Wojciech Kilar Missa pro pace (Mass for Peace). chicagophilharmonic.org
(312) 957 0000
Polish Organ Music at the Cathedral in Los Angeles, November 10, 2018
Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles invites to concert of Polish organ music performed by Jan Bokszczanin professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. The program will include music by Karol Szymanowski, Mieczysław Surzyński, Feliks Borowski, Feliks Nowowiejski, Marian Sawa and Johann Sebastian Bach. The concert will take place on November 10, 2018, at 18.00 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W Temple St., 90012 Los Angeles. The organ concert will be held directly after the Mass for the Homeland on the Centenary of Poland's Regaining of Independence (the service will start at 17.00)
Professor Jan Bokszczanin graduated from the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw in the class of prof. Joachim Grubich in 2000. In later years he was a doctoral scholarship holder at the University of North Texas (USA), where he studied under the direction of an eminent pedagogue prof. Jesse E. Eschbach (graduate of master classes Marie Claire Alain and Marie Madeleine Durufle). He also completed the class of Chamber Ensemble and Baroque Game Practice under the supervision of prof. Lenory McCroskey (graduates of master studies of Prof. Gustav Leonhardt).
He has performed in most of Europe, Russia, Asia and the USA. He has given organ recitals at such prestigious venues as: Notre Dame de Paris, Freiberg Cathedral, Bruges Cathedral, University Chappell in Glasgow, Catholic Cathedral in Moscow and Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas (USA). He has held over 50 organ recitals in philharmonic halls around the world.
Organ at the Garrison Church in Warsaw, Poland
Jan Bokszczanin has recorded over twenty CDs with organ music for renowned record labels. Four notebooks with Marian Sawa's works were published by the Polihymnia Lublin publishing house. Many contemporary composers wrote for him, among others, Marian Sawa, Krzesimir Dębski, Adam Sławiński, Paweł Łukaszewski, Miłosz Bembinow, Alicja Gronau-Osińska, Dariusz Przybylski, Weronika Ratusińska, Piotr Tabakiernik, Ignacy Zalewski and Paweł Wróbel. Marian Sawa dedicated him to eight of the eleven compositions composed for him.
Jan Bokszczanin works as a professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (Białystok). He also holds the position of a Deputy Dean at the same university.
Kate Liu Photo by Mary Kubal
Pianist Kate Liu Appears in a Gala Concert in Los Angeles
A Gala Concert to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence 1918-2018 took place at Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles, on November 5, 2018, with American pianist of Singaporean descent, Kate Liu. Organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland with the assistance of Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club, the Gala Concert was sponsored by the Polish National Foundation (concert) and Polish Investment and Trade Agency (reception). The program included works by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Fryderyk Chopin (mazurkas) and Beethoven's sublime sonata Op. 110. This was a star studded evening, with Poland's Senator Anna Maria Anders, Secretary of State for International Dialogue who flew in for one night! Also, many celebrities, including Wojciech Kocyan, pianist, Katarzyna Sadej, mezzosoprano, Kasia Smiechowicz and Marek Probosz aktors, Marcin Gortat from the Clippers, and many representatives of Polish American organizations from San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco.
Kate Liu with Maja Trochimczyk and Consul Jaroslaw Lasinski.
Born in Singapore in 1994, Kate Liu began to study piano at the age of four and moved with her family to the Chicago area when she was eight. She continued her studies at the Music Institute of Chicago and graduated from the New Trier High School in 2012. Currently she is studying at Curtis Institute of Music. Winner of the First Prize at the 2010 New York International Piano Competition in New York City and at the 2015 Chopin Competition in Daegu, South Korea, Katie Liu was also a prizewinner at the 2010 Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition in Oberlin, 2011 Hilton Head International Piano Competition for Young Artists in Hilton Head, 2012 Eastman Young Artist International, and 2014 Montreal International Musical Competition. In 2015 Kate Liu was the Third Prize winner at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw and the recipient of the Polish Radio Special Prize for her performance of Chopin’s Mazurkas. Widely popular with the Polish public, Kate Liu received the highest number of votes cast by listeners of the Second Program of the Polish Radio, and won the “My Chopin” contest. In the opinion of listeners, she was the best pianist of the 2015 Chopin Competition.
Maciej Swirski of the Polish National Foundation with Minister Anna Maria Anders
Photo by Anna Krusiewicz
Katarzyna Sadej in 100 Years of Poland in Music Concert in Beverly Hills
The concert "100 Years of Poland in Music" featured Katarzyna Sadej (mezzosoprano) and Basia Bochenek (piano) with a special guest appearance by film composer & pianist Miro Kępiński. The event was held at Beverly Hills, CA, on Saturday, October 20, 2018, 6 p.m. and organized in collaboration with the Polish Film Festival of Los Angeles.Program included Zakazane piosenki – Inspiracje / Forbidden Songs – Inspirations, by Miro Kepinski, based on songs from the 1946 musical about occupied Poland, e.g. Zielone Jabłuszko, Hymn Szarych Szeregów, Kto handluje ten żyje, and a vocal recital by Sadej and Bochenek featuring patriotic songs, Hej, Orle Biały / Hey White Eagle
(1917) by Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941); Dziś do Ciebie przyjść nie mogę / I Cannot Come to You Tonight by Stanisław Magierski, written for the Home Army in German-occupied Poland during WWII, and Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino / Red Poppies on Monte Cassino (1944) by Feliks Konarski (text) and Alfred Schütz (music), written for the Polish II Corps of Gen. W. Anders. The program included Five Songs by Derwid (Witold Lutoslawski) from the upcoming CD by Sadej and Bochenek, as well as "100 Years of Poland in Music– Remarks" by Maja Trochimczyk, Ph.D. President of Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club.
Photo by Iga Supernak
Miro Kępiński is an award-winning film composer, producer and performer. His music mixes minimalism with a ‘rawness’ of the north and a Slavic melancholy blended with classic themes. Miro’s recent credits include: a multiple-award winning feature documentary, The Wounds We Cannot See; a dark-comedy, Suicide For Beginners (with Sig Haig and Corey Feldman); In This Gray Place, his feature debut (with Phil LaMarr) and Lord Finn.
Photo by Lucyna Przasnyski
Katarzyna Sadej, a Polish-Canadian-American Mezzo-soprano was born in Wrocław, Poland, and is based in Los Angeles, California. Her international, eclectic career spans concert, opera, chamber music, oratorio, recital and voice-over performance. She has performed numerous world premieres and has had over a dozen new works composed especially for her. Recent opera performances: L.A. Opera debut as the Page of Herodias in Strauss’ Salome, SOPAC Ottawa debut as Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s Cendrillon, and the title role of Bizet’s Carmen in the Palm Springs Opera Guild annual gala. Upcoming highlights include her debut with the Chicago Philharmonic as the alto soloist in Wojciech Kilar’s Missa Pro Pace, her Chinese debut at Opera Chengdu as Giannetta in Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore, and her debut with conductor Alexander Shelley as Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the NAC Ottawa. Her debut at Walt Disney Hall was with the Pacific American Chorale (alto solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony). Other notable debuts: Industry Opera, Carnegie Hall, Festival Mozaic, the National Theater in Taipei, the Nuits Blanches Festival of Toronto, San Diego Opera, the Ravinia Festival as a Steans Fellow, the 2012 London Olympics, the Ojai International Music Festival, the Montenegrin National Theater, the Lviv (Ukraine) and Banatul (Romania) Philharmonics, the Music Biennale Zagreb, the Bard Summerscape Music Festival, the Cartagena International Music Festival, Harvard University, and more notable venues. www.katarzynasadej.com
Basia Bochenek, a Polish-American pianist, is an avid performer of classical music, whose passion and dedication for collaborative arts brought her to venues throughout the U.S. and Europe,working with world-renowned composers, incredible musicians and great conductors. Basia has made Los Angeles her home. Her performances include world premieres and new interpretations of art songs as well as chamber music. Basia has worked with Robert Jason Brown, Richard Faith, Anne LeBaron, Lori Laitman, Libby Larsen and Sofia Gubaidulina, among others. In the exploration of performing lesser known music by Polish composers as well as art songs, Basia works with Katarzyna Sadej. Their dedication to exploring new approach to art songs began at Songfest. Basia has worked at the California Institute of the Arts, coaching young artists, accompanying opera productions, recitals, classical works and musical theatre. Other engagements include accompanying the studios of acclaimed artists, such as LA Philharmonic concertmaster Martin Chalifour, Vermeer Quartet violist Richard Young, baritones Rod Gilfry and Sherrill Milnes. Her collaborations include performances with mezzo-sopranos Suzanna Guzman, soprano Ashley Maria Bahri, violinists Roberto Cani, Mark Menzies, Lorenz Gamma and Cheryl Norman-Brick. www.basiabochenek.com
And let us end with quite another concert: greetings from Lithuanian Railways to Poland, with the train horns performing the Polish national anthem; quite an amusing presentation, indeed.
