Centenary Festival of the Polish Composers’ Union: Concert of the Warsaw Branch

The Witold Lutosławski Chamber Philharmonic in Łomża under the direction of Jan Miłosz Zarzycki, together with soloists, will present works by 18 composers of the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union in the Concert Hall of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music on November 8, 2025 (Saturday) at 7:00 p.m. Admission free.

"At present, the Warsaw Branch has 132 members, including 54 composers and 78 musicologists. For the centenary concert, we were, by necessity, compelled to make a selection — certainly not a perfect one. It was decided to present 18 composers who have distinguished themselves through their activity for the benefit of the Branch, working as members of its Board or supporting its initiatives. Due to time limitations, the program therefore includes only short compositions or fragments proposed by the composers," invites Sławomir Czarnecki, President of the Warsaw Branch.

In the first part of the concert, compositions for string orchestra by Weronika Ratusińska, Maciej Zieliński, Edward Sielicki, Piotr Moss, Miłosz Bembinow, and Sławomir Czarnecki himself will be performed.

The second part will feature solo and chamber music performed by recognized artists specializing in contemporary repertoire: Dorota Całek (soprano), Piotr Hausenplas (cello), Antoni Lichomanow (piano), Robert Morawski (piano), and Artur Pachlewski (clarinet).

In their interpretation, works by Zygmunt Krauze, Krzysztof Baculewski, Jan Oleszkowicz, Jerzy Kornowicz, Aleksander Kościów, Zbigniew Bagiński, Artur Cieślak, Władysław Słowiński, Sławomir Zamuszko, Filip Matuszewski, and Romuald Twardowski will be presented

We will also witness the world premiere of Kantylena by Jarosław Siwiński for cello and piano!

Festival program – available at https://100latzkp.org.pl/wydarzenia.php

The event is co-organized by the National Institute of Music and Dance, co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the City of Warsaw, and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The event is co-organized by Polish Radio Channel 2.

Partners: Society of Authors ZAiKS, National Philharmonic, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Polish Music Publishers (PWM).

Media patronage: Polish Radio Channel 2, Presto Magazine, Waw4Free, Wolna sobota, NaM!, naszemiasto.pl.

Editorial cooperation: Polish Music Information Centre (POLMIC).

Program:

Weronika Ratusińska – Sinfonietta for Strings, Part I (2009)
Maciej Zieliński – Shining II for string orchestra (2006)
Sławomir Czarnecki – Venedian Concerto for clarinet and string orchestra, Part I Moderato (2022)
Edward Sielicki – Mazurkas for string orchestra – Nos. 1, 2 and 5 (2016)
Piotr Moss – Variations sur un thème de Mozart for string orchestra (2018)
Miłosz Bembinow – Little Fantasy for string orchestra (2003)

//intermission

Zygmunt Krauze – Five Pieces for Piano (1958)
Krzysztof Baculewski – Etude No. 5 in E and Etude No. 9 in A-flat (2006)
Jan Oleszkowicz – Quasi una sonata, Part II Quasi una romanza for piano (2021)
Jerzy Kornowicz – The Purple Ribbon – In the Clutches of a Waltz for piano (2002)
Aleksander Kościów – Nenia for clarinet and piano (2002)
Zbigniew Bagiński – Solo V for clarinet (2001)
Jarosław Siwiński – Kantylena for cello and piano (2025, world premiere)
Artur Cieślak – Cellofonia for solo cello (2014, 2017)
Władysław Słowiński – Definitions – song for soprano and cello (1989)
Sławomir Zamuszko – Als die Nazis for soprano solo (2022)
Filip Matuszewski – Desires for soprano and piano (2023)
Romuald Twardowski – Dilectus meus for soprano and piano (1994)