news

The Musica Moderna contemporary music festival will be held in Łódź between the 25^th of April and 13^th of May 2022. Works of more then 30, mainly young composers will be performed, many of which by the newly formed Zespół Wokalny Muzyki Najnowszej (Vocal Ensemble of New Music) conducted by Maciej Koczur. The partner of the event is the Polish Composers' Union. Admittance to all events is free.

The programme of the ‘Musical Evening’ (April 25) is dominated by works of artists from Łódź: Olga Hans, Jolanta Smolska, Marek Kunicki, Kosma Szust and Sławomir Kaczorowski, who celebrates the 40^th anniversary of his artistic work.
The concert ‘Young composers, young performers’ (April 26) will present collective compositions inspired by the works of the avant-garde artist from Łódź, Antoni Starczewski, who belongs to the popular ‘Strzemiński circle’.
As part of the presentation of the Electronic Music Computer Studio (April 27), the audience will be able to hear new electroacoustic, electronic and audiovisual compositions for computers, tape, noise-boxes, cameras, light and live electronics. The event will be accompanied by a spatial installation From the corridor to a vision by Agnieszka Szynk and Marcin Barsz, whose sole purpose - as the authors say - will be ‘to evoke merriment’.

Press release

More information and detailed programme: https://www.amuz.lodz.pl/pl/wydarzenia/79-sesja-musica-moderna 

The most important Polish music awards for last year's phonographic achievements in the categories of classical music – ‘Fryderyk - were presented on the 22^nd of April 2022 at the Castle Opera in Szczecin. In the category of classical music, winners have been announced in eleven categories, representing a variety of styles and genres. Moreover, the award for the best composer was awarded and the Golden Fryderyk was announced.

In the Album of the Year - Contemporary Music category, the winner was Paweł Mykietyn - 2nd Concerto for cello and symphony orchestra, Hommage à Oskar Dawicki - performed by Marcin Zdunik and the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic conducted by Bassem Akiki and Benjamin Shwartz (NFM / CD Accord).

The award in the Album of the Year - Early Music category was awarded to DUX for the album Jan Sebastian Bach: French Suites (performed by the harpsichordist Lilianna Stawarz).

In the Album of the Year - Symphonic Music category. was awarded to the publishing house Paweł Łukaszewski: Symphony No.3 / Symphony No. 6 (DUX).

The winner in the Album of the Year - Oratorio and Opera category, was the album by Aleksander Nowak "Syrena" / Szczepan Twardoch "Melodrama aeterna" (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne / Anaklasis).

Album Bruce Liu. Chopin (Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina / Polskie Radio Program Drugi / Deutsche Grammophon / Universal Music Polska) received the award in the Best Recording of Polish Music category.

The Concert Music Album of the Year category was awarded to the album Perfectionist - Maksymiuk - Sinfonia Varsovia (Sinfonia Varsovia).

Karol Marianowski received the award for the Album of the Year - Solo Recital entitled Bach - Cello Suites 1-6 (Orphée Classics).

The Katowice City Singers Ensemble "Camerata Silesia" received "Fryderyk" for the album Words of Mystery. Music for Choir And Cello (Andrzej Krzanowski Society of Music Friends in Katowice).

The award in the category Album of the Year - Chamber Music - Larger Ensemble went to the album Mieczysław Wajnberg - String Quartets Nos. 1, 16 & 17 performed by the Silesian Quartet (CD Accord).

In the new category of the Album of the Year Chamber Music - Duets, the winner was the album Ignacy Jan Paderewski: Songs by Anna Mikołajczyk-Niewiedział and Marcin Tadeusz Łukaszewski (Chopin University Press).

Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos interpreted by Krystian Zimerman and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle (Deutsche Grammophon / Universal Music Polska) was recognized as the Best Polish Album Abroad.

The Golden Fryderyk was awarded to Janusz Olejniczak and Stanisław Gałoński.

The best composer of the young generation was also awarded: Żaneta Rydzewska received the ZAiKS Authors' Association Award.

The coverage of the ceremony of awarding the Fryderyk 2022 in classical music categories will be available on TVP Kultura on the 28^th of April 28 at 22.40.

Gala summary: https://fryderyki.prowly.com/187011-poznalismy-laureatow-fryderykow-2022-w-kategoriach-muzyki-powaznej

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC

The beauty of the human body in motion, unique choreography, perfect synchronization, mastery of dance techniques and suggestive music guarantee an unforgettable experience during the next meeting with the Polish Dance Scene at the National Forum of Music which will be held on the 24^th of April 24 2022 at 7.00 p.m. The performances Tens choreographed by Marta Wołowiec, with music by Wojciech Kiwer, and The Vessel, choreographed by Karolina Kraczkowska with music by Lubomir Grzelak, will be presented.

Tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a method used in pain relief therapy using low amplitude electrical impulses. By placing electrodes on the skin, the current flows to the peripheral nerves and stimulates them in two ways: by blocking the nerve impulse that carries pain information to the brain, and by initiating the formation of painkillers - beta-endorphins.

Tens explores the theme of the body as an energy generator. The artist is looking for organicity resulting from the flow of physical feelings, vibrations, following the voice of intuition and aligning the body and mind. She gives herself time to develop. She also gives viewers time to align their own bodies with that of the performer.

Polish music of the twentieth century still hides many undiscovered works and the discovered ones still need promotion and publicity, so that the efforts of outstanding composers are not forgotten. We will hear them on the 24^th of April 24 2022 at 6.00 pm at the Cracow Philharmonic: Julia Kociuban and the Messages Quartet will perform as part of the National Institute of Music and Dance ‘Polish Music Scene’ programme.

Two piano quintets by Grażyna Bacewicz are one of the most popular chamber works of the artist. By combining the second of the two with the Piano Quintet ‘Musica a cinque by Aleksander Tansman, whose premiere recording was featured on the latest album of the artists, Julia Kociuban and Messages Quartet enter the unknown area of ​​Polish music of the mid-twentieth century. The juxtaposition of these two composers is not accidental, as they are united not only by the common city of birth, but also by numerous travel places on the map of Europe, the initial musical language and their love of chamber music.

On the 24^th of April 2022 at 6 p.m. a concert presenting 20^th century choral music will take place in the National Forum of Music. Diverse works by four composers will be performed by the NFM Choir and conducted by Lionel Owl.

The concert will begin with a piece by Danish composer Bo Holten In Nomine written in 1999 and lasting less than 5 minutes. Then we will listen to the Mass for a double choir by the Swiss composer Frank Martin written between 1922 and 1926. It consists of five canonical sections that make up the ordinarium missae: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei.  

The next composition will be Krzysztof Penderecki's Stabat Mater completed in 1963. The programme will culminate in a monumental arrangement of the Our Father prayer, composed in 1909 by Max Reger.

Press release

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC

More: https://www.nfm.wroclaw.pl