MozART Group – Mozzartissime!

Friday, April 13, 2018, 8:00 PM

Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster
28, rue Münster, L-2160 Luxembourg-Grund

 ⇒ Tickets

"We exist despite the sober formality of great concert halls, despite the boredom of classical musicians' life, despite fanatic lovers of classical music, despite fans of rock, rap or pop who are afraid of classical music. We treat our Muse with a humorous irony and we're sure, she will have nothing against it!"

MozART Group

All four gentlemen of the MozART Group are well educated instrumentalists who graduated from prestigious Academies of Music in Warsaw and Łódz, but they decided to play classical music in a humorous way. The MozART Group created a worldwide unique musical cabaret, where the music, not the words are the source of joy and laugh.

Take a classical composition as canvas, analyze its structure and theme, surround it with musical associations, brilliant, outstanding ideas and while listening to the final product the listener is constantly surprised, amazed, laughing and moved to tears.

The musicians of the MozART Group have been playing together since 1995. At the beginning, they presented short musical jokes on Canal Plus Television and gave their first debut in 1997 at the PAKA competition of young Polish cabarets in Krakow. In the same year, they presented their first cabaret program entitled "Mozart's still alive" and since then, they have given concerts in all of Europe, Canada, the U.S.A and Asia. The quartet also performances with colleagues around the world including shows with the mime Irek Krosny or the multitalent Bobby McFerrin.

The MozART Group is a frequent TV guest including international galas and concerts. The quartet received prestigious prizes like the Grand Prix of the XVIII Festival of Satire and Comedy in Lidzbark; "Pingwin z brazu" (the Bronze Penguin) - the prize given by the cabaret community of Zielona Gora, an informal capitol of Polish cabaret and two GOLDEN TROUGHS at the RYJEK Festival in Rybnik/Poland. In July 2010 the MozART Group was awarded a special prize from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland for outstanding achievements and 15 years on stage. The 31st European Humor Festival GAGY in Slovakia awarded the MozART Group with the 2011 GRAND PRIX. In March 2013 the MozART Group was awarded all three main prizes at the 10th "Festival des Artes Burlesques" in St.Etienne/France: the Grand Prix of the Jury, the Audience Award and the Press Award. 

The first show of the Group, in which they took Antonio Vivaldi as their patron, was entitled "The Four Seasons à la MozART Group". Similar subtitle has their CD "Creatures" where each of the seasons begins the same way as Vivaldi's compositions. Later on, however, it runs freely in the direction of various world songs about spring, summer, autumn and winter. This show provides the listener with over 70 minutes of a sophisticated, perfectly arranged, sublime fun!

In 2008 & 2009 two DVDs of the MozART Group were released with great success and got a huge attention in Poland and abroad. The "Best of MozART Group" DVD was released in February 2010. Two further DVDs followed in 2011 and 2012.

2011 marked a very important artistic year for the quartet. Within seven months The MozART Group visited 24 countries, 4 continents, performing more than 150 public and exclusive shows. The quartet made its debuts in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Latvia, Turkey, Mexico, Costa Rica, U.S.A., Estonia, Slovakia, Portugal and France.

In October 2012, the MozART Group performed for the first time in Moscow and performed again at the Svetlanov Hall in December 2013. In 2013 the quartet visited China for the first time performing with great success at the sould out NCPA in Beijing, the SHOAC in Shanghai and six other venues and cities. 2013 ended successfully with eight shows in Germany at the most important venues of the country like the Musikhalle Hamburg, Gasteig Munich, Tonhalle Düsseldorf. 

In 2013 and 2014 the tour list contained shows in Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Austria, South Korea, Brazil, Turkey, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, China, Canada and the U.S.A..

In 2015 the MozART Group celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala show supported by the BranQ company at the Teatr Polski in Warsaw together with friends and colleagues from Poland and Switzerland. This evening will remain for a long time in our memories. Twenty years on stage is a good reason to show to the audience all the funny and interesting stories which happened during this time! This is why the MozART Group will be presenting "MozART travels!" in the second half of 2016 - a new show, a funny point of view on unexpected situations, regional characteristics, on their and your world.

In 2017 the quartet visited again over 20 countries including France, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Germany. For the first time in history, Just For Laughs - the worlds biggest and most important comedy festival hosted the quartet with a total of twenty shows in Montreal / Canada. The the new DVD has been released in September 2017. 

In 2018 the MozART Group will be touring North America, Asia and Europe. From October 2018 until January 2019 the quartet will be performing a total of 65 shows at the Bobino Theatre in the heart of Paris.

In cooperation with 

Raz, Dwa, Trzy – Important Songs

Friday, April 20, 2018, 8:00 PM

Sang a Klang, 1 Rue des Trois-Glands, 1629 Luxembourg

⇒ Tickets

This concert is a musical journey through the band's musical world. In his ”important songs” Adam Nowak tells a story about life, love and the recesses of the human soul. He looks at our flaws, raises questions about the meaning of life; he wrestles with faith and unfaith.

Raz, Dwa, Trzy

A living proof that you can follow your own path, stick to your own ideas and aesthetics, and still become popular, enjoy the admiration of fans and the incessant appreciation of critics. Raz, Dwa, Trzy started their career at the Student Music Festival in Kraków. They are often classified as a rock band – after all, they performed in the famous Jarocin Rock Festival. Fans and admirers of Raz, Dwa, Trzy love Adam Nowak and his band for their dreamy bossa novas, soothing reggae rhythms, softly enveloping sounds of guitars, an accordion and a double bass. A plethora of instruments, technically perfect arrangements and a passion for creating and playing music are the band’s trademarks. Adam Nowak's lyrics are intricately constructed stories with a deep message; philosophical pills that you want to swallow to expand your consciousness. Adam Nowak does not hesitate to raise questions about difficult or even final things. His lyrics will move you and stay with you for long. Raz, Dwa, Trzy – a phenomenon!

John Paul II: Man and Culture

Friday, April 20, 18:30, Cathedrale Notre-Dame, Luxembourg

The exposition „John Paul II: Man and Culture” exhibits the various aspects of the life of the Polish Pope and his involvement with culture and education. With excerpts from John Paul II himself, the exposition invokes the most important issues of the culture of the lives of the nations, accentuated by the Pope at his appearance in front of UNESCO: „The strength of the speech was that it was not the theory of culture, but the exhibition of culture. The natural exhibition of man, who, on the basis of his own experiences, provides the outlines of what that culture was in the works of his nation and what that culture is in the works of every nation” (John Paull II).

The exposition, which reminds us of the most important fragments of the Pope’s speech at UNESCO, has been illustrated through photography found in the archives of the Museum Dom Rodzinny Ojca Świętego Jana Pawła II in Wadowice, as well as in the archives of Kuria Metropolitalna in Cracow. It also provides a collection of reflections in which John Paul II attempted to discover the roots of what is occuring in the world, in order to give everyone – both individuals and entire nations – the possibility of an awakening through the careful analyis of one’s „memories”, the living feeling of their own „identity.”

The production of the exposition „John Paul II: Man and Culture,” from the Museum Dom Rodzinny Ojca Świętego Jana Pawła II in Wadowice was entrusted to SOWA SZENK s.c. The exposition was presented for the first time in Parisian UNESCO edifice on the 16th of December, 2013.

Exhibition will take place til May 13.

In cooperation with:

The paths to Polish independence in cinematography

Ancién Cinema, Vianden, 23 Grand Rue

film projections

Agenda:
23.05.2018 – 20.00
13.06.2018 – 20.00
04.07.2018 – 20.00
01.08.2018 – 20.00
12.09.2018 – 20.00
24.10.2018 – 20.00
14.11.2018 – 20.00
12.12.2018 – 20.00

‘The Paths to Polish Independence in Cinematography’ is a screening of a selected Polish cinematographic films which show the ideology of Polish independence from different aspects over the last 100 years of Polish history. The films refer not only to the events that occurred in 1918, but – keeping in mind the broader historical context – to the free and independent Polish ideology, exposing important events for Poland and Poles, events where shaping our social and national awareness brought our independence closer to us.

Films:

Ashes and Diamonds [Popiół i diament] 1958, Andrzej Wajda
The Promised Land [Ziemia obiecana] 1975, Andrzej Wajda
Man of Marble [Człowiek z marmuru] 1977, Andrzej Wajda
Warsaw 44 [Miasto44] 2014, Jan Komasa
Katyń 2007, Andrzej Wajda
Volhynia [Wołyń] 2016, Wojciech Smarzowski
Battle of Warsaw 1920 [1920 Bitwa Warszawska] 2011, Jerzy Hoffman
Jack Strong 2014, Władysław Pasikowski

In cooperation with:

The Promised Land

Wednesday, May 23, 20:00, Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

Drama, 1975, PL, 179 min, PL, VO, ENG ST
Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Cast: Daniel Olbrychski, Wojciech Pszoniak, Andrzej Seweryn

„The Promised Land” is an Academy Award-nominated adaptation of the novel of Władysław Reymont. The film presents a capitalist Łódź at the end of the 19th century. Three befriended industrialist, a Pole, a Jew and a German, who rid themselves of their adolescent ideals and accept the rules of the real world, where money is most important, in order to achieve success.
In cooperation with:

The 10th year of the Polish Culture Festival and 10th year of polska.lu asbl

Vernissage: Friday, May 25, 20:00

Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

Exposition

How quickly do 10 years go by? Through the observation of the conitnued editions of the Polish Culture Festival in Luxembourg, counting such amazing cultural events such as the concerts of Stanisław Sojka, Grzegorz Turnau, Tomasz Stańka, the bands „Hey”, „Kult”, „T.Love”, „Nocna Zmiana Bluesa”, „Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa”, the running expositions, workshops and courses organised by polska.lu and meetings with the personalities of Polish Culture? This time has passed by incredibly quickly. We’re left wth great memories and souvenirs i the form of photos, pamphlets and posters. We collected the latter for you in the form of an exposition which sums up the last 10 years of the activity of polska.lu asbl, 10 years of the Polish Culture Festival in Luxembourg, and finally the 10 years since the opening of Ancien Cinema – the biggest and most trustworthy organisational partner of polska.lu asbl. However, the exposition does not only have sentimental value! Our posters are also a show of beautiful graphic design. We are very happy to proudly say that almost all of these were designed by a person particularly close to us – Hania Karczewska.

With this exposition we would like to thank those people and instituations who have supported the continued activity of polska.lu asbl and without who none of the parties, without who the posters could not be beautiful souvenirs this could not have happened. We congradulate all of you for our joint success and invite you to the exposition!
In cooperation with:

Ashes and Diamonds

Wednesday, Juni 13, 20:00, Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

Drama, 1958, PL, 107 min, PL, VO, ENG ST
Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Cast: Zbigniew Cybulski, Ewa Krzyżewska, Wacław Zastrzeżyński, Adam Pawlikowski, Bogumił Kobiela

The film takes place in 1945, just after the end of World War II. Its protagonist is former soldier of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa, AK), Maciek Chełmicki, who whilst working for the underground anti-communist movement receives an order to eliminate Szczuka, a local secretary of the Polish Workers’ Party. With time, doubt begins to plague Chełmicki.

In cooperation with:

‘Poster for Independence’

Ancien Cinema asbl organizes an international competition ‘Poster for Independence’ for independent design and creation of a poster illustrating the 100th anniversary of Poland's independence. Competition is open to artists who are 18 years old and older, including professional artists, students and graduates of art schools and other schools and art courses.

 In cooperation with:

Man of Marble

Wednesday, July 4, 20:00, Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

Drama, 1977, PL, 165 min, PL, VO, ENG ST
Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Cast: Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwiłowicz, Tadeusz Łomnicki

1976. In the corridor of a Television edifice, Agnieszka – a film school graduate – convinces an ‘important’ editor of the importance of a film about Mateusz Birkut, a bricklayer and work leader, who’s brilliant carrier ended suddenly and unexpectedly in 1952. After negotiating, the girl finally receives a tape and the necessary tools. She begins her own private ‘investigation’, who’s goal was to determine the reasons for the rise and fall of Birkut. While learning of his dramatic life, Agnieszka discovers and unmasks the bitter truth of the Stalinist 50’s of Poland.

In cooperation with:

Warsaw44

Wednesday, August 1, 20:00, Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

drama, 2014, PL, 130 min., PL, VO, ENG ST  
Dir. Jan Komasa
cast: Józef Pawlowski, Zofia Wichlacz, Anna Próchniak

This Jan Komasa film, directed with great flair, is a universal story of love, bravery and sacrifice set during the Warsaw Uprising. Stefan and Biedronka, soldiers in one of the most active units in the uprising, follow a bloody battle trail, and will be tested to the utmost in the face of the terror and atrocities of war in the apocalyptic setting of the burning city.

In cooperation with:

Beautiful Luxembourg by the attendees of the photography workshops of the Polish Culture Festival as well as the members of the CIEL Club

The Castle of Bourscheid
Vernissage: Sunday, September 23, 15:00

Photography exposition, which we would like to show you, is the culmination of the intense work of the participants of the photography workshops and plein-airs led by Irek Graff in 2015 and 2016. Some of the authors are clearly beginners (or were at the time!), while others were experienced with a rich and interesting portfolio. On the photos you will discover parts unknown of Luxembourg, or perhaps a perfectly recognisable country but shown in an unrepeatable way. Due to the theme of the workshops led by Irek Graff, the dominating works of the participants are that of landscapes and natural or architectural details.
As the main priority of the Festival of Polish Culture is to create bridges between Poland and Luxembourg, we invited the Luxembourgish EU Institutions Photography Club (CIEL) to cooperate on the creation of this exposition.
The theme ‘Beautiful Luxembourg’ wouldn’t seem out of place on a calendar or on a tourism agency ad. Which was why I wasn’t in favour of this title. We didn’t take pictures with that aim, or with that theme in mind. The beginners tried to identify the photography equipment and to simply take a good picture. I taught them sensitivity and accuracy. I often repeated that you can take a good, honest and worthy picture even nearby, such as in the attic, beyond the fence, in front of the house. There isn’t a need to go to some far off, exotic land.
Different beauty has limits and definitions. Each era, culture, every art direction or philosophy sees it differently. Since ancient times, philosophers argue whether beauty is a real characteristic of various objects, or only our imagination, our evaluation. In ancient, mostly due to Plato, objectivism dominated- beauty was connected to mathematics, harmony and the proportions of specific parts. In the new age, subjectivism and scepticism are on the rise.
We divide intellectual and sensuous beauty, natural beauty as well as that created by man. A mayor may see it and create beauty through innovation differently than a graphics designer, a gardener, a musician, a poet, an architect or… a photographer. But of course, which photographer? 😊
The English phrase says; “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But is it only there? We can certainly find beauty in the eyes of a child and the heart of a mother when she looks at her child lovingly. Were we able to convey and show any beauty of Luxembourg in these photos, despite that our plein-air’s and our meetings in this country were so short? I don’t know… Please check that yourselves. I invite you to the exposition 😊

IRENEUSZ GRAFF
Photographer, teacher, graphics designer, creator of multimedia presentations. Plein-air, exposition, competition, festival of photography of nature organiser and among others, the originator and creator of the Wizje Natury (Visions of Nature) and Foto Natura ZPFP (Photo Nature) festivals as well as the director of each edition up until 2007.
President of the Okręg Mazowiecki Związku Polskich Fotografów Przyrody (ZPFP, Society of Polish Nature Photographers in the Mazowiecki district) from 1994-2004, president of ZPFP from 2004-2007. Organiser and lecturer of almost 80 editions of stationary, correspondence or plein-air photography courses since 2004 as part of his own project ‘Fotokursownia’ as well as for other subjects.
Lover of blues and jazz. Music manager and producer for the CD Magda Piskorczyk: Afro Groove, Mahalia, Magda Live.
www.fotokursownia.com

LIST OF AUTHORS PRESENT THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE EXPOSITION:
Ireneusz Graff (curator, leader of the plein-air/workshops)
Magda Ziembowska
Łukasz Koźma
Marcin Wierzbicki
As well as members of CIEL:
Katarzyna Ziembowska
Maciej Markiewicz
Nikos Zompolas
György Papp
Arnaud Pivet
Orit Israelson

Curator of the exhibition: Ireneusz Graff
The exhibition will take place til November 4

In association with:

Evening with Polish Piano Music

Paweł Kowalski – piano

Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 8:00 PM

Philharmonie de Luxembourg, Chamber hall

Free entry with obligatory reservation til September 30 at: luksemburg.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl

Programme:

Fryderyk Chopin

Ballade in G minor Op. 23 No. 1
Prelude in E minor Op. 28 No. 4
Prelude in F♯ minor Op. 28 No. 8
Prelude in C♯ minor Op. 28 No. 10
Prelude in F♯ major Op. 28 No. 13
Prelude in G minor Op. 28 No. 22
Scherzo in B♭ minor Op. 31
Waltz in C♯ minor Op. 64 No. 2
Waltz in D♭ major Op. 64 No. 1

* * *

Ignacy Jan Paderewski

Nocturne in B♭ major Op. 16 No. 4
Polonaise in B major Op. 9 No. 6

Fryderyk Chopin

Fantaisie-Impromptu in C♯ minor Op. 66
Mazurka in B♭ major Op. 7 No. 1
Mazurka in F minor Op. 7 No. 3
Mazurka in D major Op. 33 No. 2
Mazurka in E minor Op. 41 No. 2
Mazurka in C♯ minor Op. 63 No. 3
Étude in C minor Op.10 No. 12
Polonaise in A♭ major Op. 53

***

In the music, which you will be hearing tonight, Polish hints intertwine with hints of the love for freedom. In the jubilee of regaining Polish independance, we cannot forget the music of Fryderyk Chopin and Ignacy Jan Paderewski – the greatest ambassadors to Polish culture and history in our thousand-year traditions. As such, we will listen to ballads, impromptus and polonais’ from both of these composers, while exploring within them not only nostalgia, but also incredible inner beauty and energy.

***

Paweł Kowalski has made his debut in Warsaw playing a newly written Piano Concerto by Witold Lutosławski with the composer on the conductor’s platform. It was the second performance of the work after the world premiere given by Krystian Zimerman.

Paweł studied piano in Cologne, Warsaw and Vancouver on a personal grant from Witold Lutosławski. He is one of Poland’s most versatile musicians playing works for piano and orchestra by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Paderewski, Saint Saens, Ravel, Poulenc, Scriabin, Rachmaninov, Gershwin, Szymanowski, Górecki, Kilar, Panufnik and Szpilman as well as diverse recital programmes, major works of chamber music and jazz.

Pawel Kowalski performed in forty countries on four continents including at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Tonhalle in Zurich, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Royal Conservatory in Brussels, Auditorio de Zaragoza, Palau de la Musica in Valencia, George Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest, Estonia Concert Hall in Tallin, at the BBC Polish Season in London, Europalia International Arts Festival in Brussels, Carinthischer Sommer, Klavierfestival Ruhr, the Budapest Spring Festival, Warsaw Autumn, International Chopin Festivals in Warsaw, Duszniki, Antonin, Marianske Lazne and Gaming and many others. He has made CD recordings with works by Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Zarębski and Panufnik as well as recordings for radio and television around Europe. He was invited to the jury of six international piano competitions.
Paweł has also gained an enormous popularity by working as commentator for Polish Public Television TVP during the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in October 2015.

‘In Mr. Kowalski I found very a fine performer of my Concerto. He is a very talented pianist and a highly intelligent musician.’
 Witold Lutosławski

‘I’m strongly impressed by his playing which is charecterized by great musicality, sensitivity and perfect technique.‘
Andrzej Panufnik

‘I was tremendously impressed and moved by this wonderful pianist and wonderful musician, by his command of the keyboard, his deep insight into the music and his gifts of profound understanding and communication. This marvellous pianist has fulfilled his human and musical potential and his memory is such that he has a very large repertoire at his command.’
Yehudi Menuhin


www.pawelkowalski.art.pl
www.facebook.com/Pawel.Kowalski.Pianist

The organisers would like to sincerely thank the Ambassador to the Republic of Poland in Luxembourg, Mr. Piotr Wojtczak, his wife, Mrs. Iwona Wojtczak, and the honourary Consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the jurisdiction of the voivodehip Podlasie and Lubelskie, Mr. Adam Byglewski, for their aid in organising this concert.


In cooperation with:          

Volhynia [Wołyń]

Wednesday, October 24, 20:00, Ancien Cinéma, Vianden

drama, 2016, PL, 150 min., PL, VO, ENG ST
Dir. Wojciech Smarzowski
Cast: Michalina Łabacz, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Vasyl Vasylyk

It’s the summer of 1939. Zosia is a Polish girl, head over heels in love with the Ukrainian Petro. Their love is put to the test when her father decides to marry her off to Skiba – a wealthy widower. Immediately after the wedding, the devastated Zosia stays behind with the children when her husband is called up to the front. Meanwhile, violence spreads among the Poles, Ukrainians and Jews living around her. She becomes a victim and witness of tragic events, that will culminate in a slaughter of the Polish population perpetrated by ruthless murderers from the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) as well as Polish acts of self-defence.

In cooperation with:

Traditional singing workshops – Polish wedding songs and other ceremonials

Leading: Ewa Grochowska i Mateusz Kowalski with the accompaniment of the Tęgie Chłopy group

Friday, November 9, 2018, 19:00 – 22:00, INECC Luxembourg
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 10:00 – 17:00, INECC Luxembourg

Sign up and additional informations at: https://www.inecc.lu/base?base=4&record=1473834981477&com=0I0I0I0I

Ewa Grochowska (Female group)

The traditional singing workshops with elements of voice emission and hygiene aim to work on a specific singing technique, white voice, which is characteristic for rural music.
In these workshops you can work on voice emission, vocal expression, physical-respiratory coordination, timbrality and and a whole group of phenomena related to the formation and articulation of sound, intonation, energy and consonance in singing groups. We will devote a lot of attention to shaping correct and useful emission habits, important in singing, which become imbedded in everyday use of speech devices. Classes are not only the process of mastering a particular song repertoire, but above all, work on the vocal style and expanding knowledge about cultural competencies, necessary to understand the specificity of rural singing, its functionality and symbolic content.

The main objective of the course is, above all, 'warming up' the participants, preparing to enter the specificity of traditional singing and encouraging them to get to know and explore the valour of their voice. During the meeting we will be paying particular attention to the traditions of ceremonial singing, which is the hardest stylistically and hardest to perform repertoire. We will be looking at wedding songs from north Małopolska and southwest Mazowsze. There will also be plenty of lyrical and folk songs. We will be concentrating on the stylistic characteristics (dialect, timbre, rhythm, intonation, variations in melody, vocal ornamentation) and we will explore and develop the experience of communal singing.

Expectations for participants: Readiness for learning 'by ear' (without musical notation) and active participation in emission and physical exercises as well as independent work outside scheduled classes. Good humour, a little distance to yourself and a friendly attitude towards other participants of the activities are also welcome.

Number of places: 15 (female group)/Age of the participants: 15+
We invite people of various levels of advancement in work on traditional singing.

Ewa Grochowska – researcher of traditional genres and vocal styles in traditional music (above all, ceremonial) in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
She is the realizer outdoor recordings, she is involved in workshops and concerts dedicated to traditional Polish music and instrumental music from north Małopolska and Lubelskie.
She is the author of many educational and artistic projects dedicated to passing on, reconstructing and popularisation of traditional Polish music.
Student of the violinist Jan Gracy from Przystałowic Małych (from 2000 to 2013), lover of old rural wedding singing, where there is no space to sing ‘insincerely’.
Has been learning this technique from rural singers in Poland and Ukraine since 1999.
Member of various music groups and projects such as: Tęgie Chłopy, Z Lasu, Warszawa Wschodnia, Orkiestra Jarmarku Jagiellońskiego, MZK Toruń.
Scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2006, 2014, 2018). Doctor of humanities.

Mateusz Kowalski (Male group)

We will be using the formula of a singing meet-up – the leader will be giving the melody and after a while the rest of the group joins in. We will be concentrating on religious songs with various melodies from east Mazowsze, while the text will be originating from the Pelpliński Song-book. The duration and the structure of the songs – repetitive with multiple verses – provide us with the possibility of concentrating on the singing on its own while minimalising the analysis of the songs. As such, we will work on singing as a group and gaining experience in a form which will allow each participant to find the best place for thei voice with with their own strength and timbre.

Mateusz Kowalski – singer, violinist and acordionist, student of Jan Gacy. Leader of Kapela Mateusza Kowalskiego and the co-creator of the bands: Tęgie Chłopy, Warszawska Orkiestra Sentymentalna, Kompania Adama Struga, Monodia Polska, Kapela Macieja Filipczuka. Works with children and teenagers, among others as part of the 'Tratwa' Association in Olsztyn and the Dom Tańca Association in Warsaw. Took part in 'Spotkania z Muzyką' organised by the National Philharmonie in Warsaw. Also leads workshops about playing instruments (Tabory Domu Tańca, Ambasada Muzyki Tradycyjnej, Międzynarodowa Letnia Szkoła Muzyki Tradycyjnej, Wszystkie Mazurki Świata festival). Along with Tęgie Chłopy, he’s been learning about Kielecka music for five years from the master and good spirit of the group – Stanisław Witkowski.

This project is co-financed by the Association "Polish Community" with funds received from the Chancellery of the Senate of the Republic of Poland in the framework of assistance of the Senate to the Polish Diaspora and Poles living abroad.

in cooperation with :  

Concert of the ”Tęgie Chłopy” band

Saturday, November 10, 2018, 19:00

Sang a Klang, Luxembourg

Ticket Prices:

-Presale (reserve via reservations@polska.lu alongside a payment to the polska.lu bank account IBAN: LU76 0030 3219 2617 0000 - Normal ticket: 15 €, reduced (ages 10-15): 10 €, children under 9: free

or

-online sale (until November 9^th) via https://e-ticket.lu/en/detail/7030 – Normal ticket: 16 €, reduced (ages 10-15): 11€

or

-Buy directly before the concert at the counter (cash only)- Normal ticket: 20 €, reduced (ages 10-15): 15 €, children under 9: free.

Tęgie Chłopy band, established in 2013, has performed at some of the top Polish folk festivals, including Cross Culture Festival in Warsaw, CODES – The Festival of Traditional and Avant-garde Music in Lublin, Crossroads Festival in Cracow, Festival of Folk Bands and Singers in Kazimierz Dolny, also in the Szczecin Philharmonics, Polish Radio, Polish National TV (TVP Kultura, TVP 2) and many other prominent events related to folk music. Now, the band's aim is to go with it's unique music abroad and share it with other cultures. Currently the band is working on it's new album, focusing on traditional wedding music.

The band continues the traditions of live dance music of Kielce region, Central Poland. The general aim of the band is to revive the music that used to be performed in the villages in the old days. Kielce region is known for its brass orchestras -– that is why Tęgie Chłopy include a strong brass section. The members of the band are the disciples of village musicians. One of their most important masters is Stanisław Witkowski from Opatów, an 80-years old clarinet player. The band’s members put effort and attention to recall the sound and characteristic groove of the village music and give it a second life, bringing back its erstwhile practical function.

Members:
Maciej Filipczuk – violin, vocal
Ewa Grochowska – violin, vocal
Marcin 'Kabat' Kowalczuk – tuba
Mateusz Kowalski – accordion
Mikołaj Kubicki – trumpet
Michał Maziarz – violin, tenor sax
Dorota Murzynowska – drums
Michał Żak – clarinet, saxophone
Marcin Żytomirski – violin, vocal

Albums:
Dansing (2015)
Mariage (2017)

Video links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnBdrvnddo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSHBrIo2Djs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwrnOWpJ8ic

Projet cofinancé par l'Association 'Wspólnota Polska' à partir de fonds reçus de la Chancellerie du Sénat de la République de Pologne dans le cadre de son programme de soutien aux communautés polonaises et les Polonais à l'étranger.

In cooperation with:

Concert of Sacred Polish music celebrating the centenary of Polish independence

Hoquetus Ensemble:

Agnieszka Wierzbicka, Aneta Wierzbicka – soprano
Olga Gajda-Lüpke, Anita Eydt-Schmit – alto
Jeff Mack, Marcin Wierzbicki – tenor
Szymon Bielecki, Henryk Mazur – bass

Sunday, November 11^th, 2018, 19:30

Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg

Free entry

Programme:

Wincenty z Kielczy – Gaude Mater Polonia (1253)
F. Nowowiejski – Polish Fantasy op. 9 no. 1 (1911) for organ
F. Nowowiejski – Christe Rex (1929)
K. Szymanowski – Stabat Mater. Spraw niech płaczę (1926)
S. Wiechowicz – Nie nam, nasz Panie! (Non nobis, Domine. Psalm 115; 1927)
B. Szabelski – Sonate for organ, cz. III Allegro molto (1943)
A. Koszewski – Zdrowaś Królewno Wyborna (Ave Regina; 1963)
H. M. Górecki – Totus tuus (1987)
Z. Bujarski – Veni creator spiritus (1983) for organ
J. Łuciuk – Oremus pro pontifce Joanne Paulo Secundo (1992)
M. Borkowski – Regina caeli (1995)
P. Łukaszewski – Jubilate Deo (1996)
T. Paciorkiewicz – Preludium and fuga no. 1 (1985) for organ
M. Sawa – Ego sum panis vivus (1996)
M. Sawa – Deo Gratias (1994) on organs
R. Twardowski – O gloriosa Domina (1999)
J. Świder – Boże wiecznej mocy (2013)
R. Kania – Imrpvissation on the theme of Rota by F. Nowowiejski for organ
A. Kościów – Gaude Mater (2018) for vocal ensemble and organ
M. Wierzbicki – Ave maris stella (2018) for vocal ensemble and organ

* * *

On this most solemn day, one hundred years after Poland regained its independence, we would like to present music that is not only Poland’s most beautiful, spiritual and profound, but is also highly relevant to the occasion. Polish Sacred music of the past 100 years is not only beautiful and rewarding - it is a witness to Polish history, which for centuries has been intertwined with Christian history in Europe. It should come as no surprise then that we begin the concert with one of the first Polish national anthems - the anthem dedicated to St. Stanislav, Gaude Mater Polonia. In the programme you will find echoes of key moments in Polish history- Fantazja polska for organ, written by Felix Nowowiejski on the eve of Poland regaining its independence, an organ improvisation on a theme of the same composer's Rota, and the finest piece of sacred music - Stabat Mater by Karol Szymanowski, as well as Totus Tuus by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki and Oremus pro Pontifice by Juliusz Łuciuk - commemorating the pontification of John Paul II, or finally the newest works, by composers like Paweł Łukaszewski or Aleksander Kościów. It is no coincidence that the programme is dominated by Marian pieces (O gloriosa domina, Zdrowaś Królewno Wyborna, Ave maris stella or the above-mentioned Totus tuus). The Virgin Mary had always played a special role in the spiritual life of Poles; the concert venue – the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg - is of course also a Marian sanctuary, a place of the cult of Maria Consolatrix Afflictorum.

The concert celebrating the centenary of Polish independence will follow the Holy Mass for our motherland at 18:00 in Notre-Dame Cathedral.

* * *

Hoquetus Ensemble is a Polish vocal quartet that was formed in Luxembourg in 2011. Its main focus was originally early music, but through hard work over the past few years, the group has expanded its repertoire and currently performs not only classical music - sacred or secular - but also jazz, gospel and pop. The ensemble is happy to take on contemporary repertoire too. It takes part in larger group projects, such as Musicals, Pops and More... – in collaboration with the Bourscheid, Reisdorf-Bettendorf and Vianden choirs, as well as the Vianden orchestra, where members of the group also performed as soloists. The group has participated many times in larger music events in Luxembourg, such as the Tour de la Musique, National Sangerdag, House Full of Music and Arts in Diekirch, Bicherfest in Vianden, RIFF World Village and Nocturnes at Bourscheid Castle. In 2017, the group was invited to take part in a carnival concert in the Łódz Music Theatre, performing from the Luxembourgish repertoire. The ensemble is often invited to take part in official national or international ceremonies. In 2013, the group provided musical accompaniment for the official award of the Mérite Européen Gold Medal to Prime Minister Donald Tusk by Jean-Claude Juncker and in 2016 they sang at the official dinner held by the Heir to the Throne of the Grand Duchy, Wilhelm, for representatives of the world of business and politics. In 2017 and 2018 the group sang at the official celebrations of the May 3rd Polish National Day in Luxembourg.
Aneta Wierzbicka (soprano), Olga Gajda-Lüpke (alto), Marcin Wierzbicki (tenor) and Henryk Mazur (bass) make up the core quartet. The group's other regular members are Agnieszka Wierzbicka (soprano), Iza Malec (alto), Arek Malec (tenor), and Szymon Bielecki (bass), as well as Robert Kania (organ).

Robert Kania is a pianist, organist, harpsichordist, as well as a composer and orchestrater. Right after finishing university, he worked in the Silesian Philharmonie and the Silesian Theatre in Katowice, and later at the Grand National Opera Theatre in Warsaw for 10 years. He has composed music for multiple children’s and adult’s ballets, performed in opera theatres in Poland. For many years he has been interested in early music; he himself is a proponent of historical re-enactment. Without a doubt, J.S. Bach remains in the centre of his interests, and a great portion of his artistic work focusses on improvisation and realisation basso continuo, however he takes great pleasure in performing jazz music as well.

* * *

The organisers would like to extend their sincere thanks to the Republic of Poland’s Embassy in Luxembourg for their great help in organising the concert, as well as Kulczyk Investments SA for their substantial financial aid in this project.


Main sponsor of the concert: