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Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Prof. Klaudiusz Baran, PhD. Habil. invites you to a meeting devoted to the publication Arvo Pärt. Audible light by Andrew Shenton, which will take place on 3 December 2019 at 6 p.m. in the Karol Szymanowski Hall (2 Okólnik St.).

This is the first monograph in Poland devoted to the work of Arvo Pärt (born in 1935). This world-famous Estonian composer has gained recognition not only of musicologists and music lovers, but also of the creators of broadly understood mass culture and its recipients. The composer's genius and character traits, above all modesty and kindness, contributed to his icon status and popularity.

The book, published by the Chopin University Press, appears only a year after the composer was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (26 November 2018) and a year after the premiere of the English version. The presentation will be complemented by a performance of the Chopin University Modern Ensemble conducted by Ignacy Zalewski. The artists will perform pieces by Arvo Pärt and Aleksander Kościów.

Admission to the event is free!

The final concert of the "Autumn in Lusławice" series will take place on 1 December 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music.

"Autumn in Lusławice" is a series of 6 unique musical events characterized primarily by the stylistic diversity of the presented repertoire, as well as the participation of excellent Polish and foreign musician. During the final concert of this year's series, the Symphony Orchestra of the Music Academy in Kraków conducted by Rafał Jacek Delekta will perform two monumental works by Ludwig van Beethoven: the 'Coriolan' Overture, Op. 62 and Symphony No. 3 in E flat major 'Eroica', Op. 55. The programme will also include Polish contemporary music: Concerto for two flutes by Janusz Bielecki, with solo parts performed by flutists Agata Kielar-Długosz and Łukasz Długosz.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

Full programme available at: https://penderecki-center.pl/ 

The first performance of Chistian Danowicz's Concerto Grosso will take place on 30 November 2019 at 6 p.m. at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. The concert of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra will be a journey through various periods of music history. It will start with works of Baroque and Classicism, and end with compositions created by contemporary artists. The common denominator of all works is that they are concertante works in which solo parts were written for one or several members of the ensemble.

The collection of Johann Sebastian Bach, now known as the Brandenburg Concertos, was entitled in the original Concerts avec plusieurs instruments ("Concertos for various instruments"). In 1721, the composer dedicated his works to the Margrave of Brandenburg, Christian Ludwig, and hence their name. We do not know if these works were performed during Bach's lifetime. They were published only in 1849 and have enjoyed great popularity since then. Concerto No. 3 in G major is full of temperament and energy, and although it is a catchy work, it sets serious requirements for the performers.

Sinfonia concertante KV 364 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was originally intended for the violin and viola, but during the concert we will hear an arrangement of this work for violin and cello. The work was created in 1779, during Mozart’s tour including visits to Mannheim and Paris. It represents a genre at the boundary of symphony and concerto, popular in the Classicist era; the solo parts are more integrated here with the orchestra part than in a traditional concerto. The work is light in the mood, and its second movement is distinguished by lyricism and singing melody.

The second part of the concert will be filled with works by contemporary composers. Mikołaj Górecki, born in Katowice, will be represented by the Concerto-Notturno for violin and strings, written in 2000. It is a catchy three-movement composition, and as promised in the title, atmospheric, sometimes even dark. The last work performed that evening will be the Concerto Grosso by Christian Danowicz, concertmaster of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra. This will be the first performance of this work, so there is an opportunity to be among those who hear it for the first time.

More inforamtion at: https://www.nfm.wroclaw.pl/en/component/nfmcalendar/event/7276

A concert of the winners of the Kazimierz Serocki 16th International Composers' Competition will take place on 30 November 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Concert Studio in Warsaw.

A meeting of the Jury of the Kazimierz Serocki 16th International Composers' Competition took place on 4-6 October 2019 in Radziejowice. 144 scores were submitted for the competition, held under the honorary patronage of the Polish Composers' Union. The jury composed of Fredrik Österling (Sweden), Paul Patterson (United Kingdom) and Dariusz Przybylski (Poland), awarded four prizes and three honorable mentions.

The first prize of PLN 13,000 was awarded to Jinseok Choi – a composer from South Korea – for the work Pathos. Adam Vilagi (Finland) received the second prize of PLN 8,000 for the work Directions. The third prize of PLN 4,000 was awarded to Hugh Collins Rici (Great Britain) for the work Canto Celato. Jinseok Choi also received a Special Award of the PWM Edition for the youngest laureate (a set of Polish contemporary scores). Honorable mentions went to: Youngwoo Yoo (South Korea), Minzuo Lu (China) and Zhaoyu Zhang (China). The awards were funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Polish Society of Authors and Composers ZAiKS, Witold Lutosławski Society and the Association of Polish Musicians.

The Winners' Concert, co-organized with Polish Radio Programme 2, will feature works by the Competition's patron – Kazimierz Serocki, Jinseok Choi, Adam Vilaga and Hugh Collins Rice. The compositions will be performed by outstanding artists specializing in contemporary music: Łukasz Długosz and Agata Kielar-Długosz, Hashtag Ensemble, Seweryn Zapłatyński, Franciszek Olszowski, Alicja Kieruzalska, Łukasz Łacny and Krystyna Wiśniewska. The concert will be recorded and broadcast in the Programme 2 of Polish Radio, and then offered to the European Broadcasting Union.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

The second edition of the Stefan Stuligrosz Grand Prix of Polish Choir Singing will take place in Poznań from 29 November to 1 December 2019.

The idea behind ​​this musical event is the confrontation of the winners of the six oldest and most recognized Polish choir competitions, who will compete in the capital of Greater Poland for victory in the "competition of competitions". This year, the following choirs will participate in the Grand Prix of Polish Choir Singing: University of Warsaw Academic Choir, "Schola Cantorum Bialostociensis" Female Choir, "Our Voice" Youth Choir from Działdowo, "Kosy" Girls' Choir from Poznań, Chamber Choir of the Academy of Art in Szczecin and "Rondo" Vocal Ensemble from Wroclaw. The organizers of the undertaking are the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań and the "Stuligrosz Choir – Poznań Nightingales" Foundation.

The event will be complemented by workshops conducted by conductors and specialists in the field of voice emission, as well as concerts of invited choirs in various parts of the city, among others a concert to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Affabre Concinui ensemble and the 80th anniversary of the Poznań Philharmonic Boys' and Men's Choir. Polish contemporary choral music holds an important place in concert and competition programmes.

Admission is free, although free admission cards are required for some events.

More information at: www.grand.prix.stuligrosz.pl 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/grand.prix.stuligrosz