Contemporary Classical Music

The greatest since Chopin

That's how critics and music journalists describe Poland's generation of distinguished 20th century composers. Karol Szymanowski and Witold Lutosławski have achieved international renown, as have as those associated with the Polish Composers’ School including Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki and Wojciech Kilar. All of these names have earned a permanent place on the Polish music scene, appearing not only in orchestral repertoire but also in concert programmes geared towards a wider audience. Their compositions also act as an important point of reference for many younger artists, particularly those who are developing their own style at the intersection between classical, jazz and pop-music styles.

From Bach to Aphex Twin Penderecki’s compositions have been given a new lease of life by Aphex Twin and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, as has the solo from Górecki’s Third Symphony (The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs), which was performed by Beth Gibbons from the band Portishead. Szymanowski’s works have also served as inspiration for the exception-

The sound of the future

The eminent Polish opera singers Piotr Beczała, Aleksandra Kurzak and Mariusz Kwiecień have managed to conquer the most distinguished opera houses in the world. These have included New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Milan’s La Scala and London’s Royal Opera House, where they have taken on the title roles for Mozart’s, Donizetti’s and Verdi’s greatest operas. Polish Opera has also been releasing new works. For the last few years, Warsaw’s National Opera has been running ‘Projekt P’ helping the most promising of Poland’s young composers to debut their operas, including Jagoda Szmytka, Wojciech Blecharz, Sławomir Wojciechowski, Marcina Stańczyk as well as Sławomir Kupczak and Katarzyna Głowicka. ‘Making opera the music of the future is the apple in my eye; we’re looking for the next Penderecki’ explains Mariusz Treliński, Artistic Director for the National Opera, talking about the project• 

ally versatile Polish group Kwadrofonik. Another group, Lutosphere – consisting of jazz pianist Leszek Możdżer, cellist Andrzej Bauer and dJ m.Bunio.s – was created in memory of Lutosławski, whose spirit also lives on in the works of the two classically trained composers: Paweł Szymański and Paweł Mykietyn. True masters of music, Poland's 20th century composers successfully worked across a variety of historical styles, and were bold enough to have drawn upon the works of musical giants such as Bach or Mozart.

Their own musical voice.

The current Polish music scene is positively buzzing. Young artists are igniting artistic and intellectual excitement across the globe, appearing at some of the most important festivals and winning prestigious international prizes. Although it would be impossible to mention all of them, some of these artists include: Agata Zubel, Andrzej Kwieciński, Jagoda Szmytka (oPPoSITe PaGe), Wojciech Ziemowit Zych, Dobromiła Jaskot, Wojciech Blecharz, Dominik Karski, Cezary Duchnowski, Sławomir Wojciechowski and Aleksandra Gryka, all of whom are tirelessly working to develop their own musical voice. They use new types of media, artfully take advantage of new possibilities for recording and reworking sounds and images, as well as enriching their compositions with elements of performance. For over 10 years the magazine, Glissando, has played a huge role in popularising their work and is the first periodical dedicated to reporting on the most interesting developments in contemporary music. It has also recently begun publishing in English •

Who’s raising the temperature?

Early music – Persona Grata

The baroque orchestra Arte dei Suonatori was set up in 1993 by two violinists Ewa and Aureliusz Goliński. This excellent ensemble performs early music and are well know on the international music scene, having received generous awards by critics for their subsequent CD recordings. Arte dei Suonatori also hosts the early music festival ‘Persona Grata’ , which takes place throughout the year in various towns across Poland • Eugeniusz Rudnik (AbOVE)

At the end of the 1950s, Polskie Radio (Polish Radio) set up the Experimental Studio, one of the first electro-acoustic stations in Europe. Eugeniusz Rudnik was initially given the job of technician, but later moved on to become sound engineer. He also assisted composers coming to work at the station (both from Europe and the USA) to bring their artistic ideas to fruition. Rudnik took an active part in the creative process, assisting and advising along the way, as well as producing the final product. He also experimented as a composer in his own right, and has won awards at many prestigious international festivals. Tape recordings of his work are now kept in the archives of the French National Library, among other places, as well as Rudnik’s own personal stash which he keeps in his sofa-bed. Many these pieces have also been released on CD. A documentary entitled 15 Corners of the World celebrating his artistic work was made in 2014. The director, Zuzanna Solakiewicz, received an award for her depiction of the composer at the Festival del film in Locarno • Rafał Blechacz (LEFT)

At the age of twenty, pianist Rafał Blechacz secured a spectacular win at the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 2005, achieving not only first place (second prize was not even awarded!) and lots of public attention, in addition other special prizes and distinctions. Over the past 10 years, he has continued working assiduously, recording CDs for the Deutsche Grammophon record company and appearing in concerts across the globe. The 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth in 2010 even saw him exceeding his annual average of 40–45 concerts a year. ‘I think this is a good number’ , he revealed in an interview with a local paper. ‘It allows me to have some balance in my life, meaning that I can develop my other interests and find time to relax’. Rafał has also found time to pursue his doctoral studies at the Institute of Philosophy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Studying philosophy, he claims, helps him to understand the real essence of a piece of music. He was awarded to prestigious Gilmore Artist Award in 2014 • Kwadrofonik

Consisting of two pianists – Emilia Sitarz and Bartłomiej Wąsik, and two percussionists – Magdalena Kordylasińska and Miłosz Pękala, Kwadrofonik specialises in contemporary music, taking on commissions and debuts from young Polish composers. Their second – but by no means less important – love is Polish folk music, having kicked off their career with a victory at the folk music festival ‘Nowa Tradycja (New Tradition) •