Celebration of Mazurkas

Saturday, April 14, 2012 @ 7:00pm

Polish Hall

3832 N Interstate

Fine regional pianists: Ruta Kuzmickas, Art Maddox, Lisa Ann Marsh, Sung Eun Roh; perform mazurkas of three immortal Polish composers: Fryderyk Chopin, Karol Szymanowski, Roman Maciejewski.
+ Agnieszka Laska Dancers with Ruta Kuzmickas!

Following the successful launch (with superb soprano Maria Knapik) Portland's newest classical music series, Polish Music at Polish Hall, continues with CELEBRATION of MAZURKAS - Series Director Laska's brainchild.

Poland’s most distinctive music is as sweet as its finest dessert; Mazur and Mazurek, respectively (Mazurka in English); baked only at Easter time. The weekend following Easter this year, we’ll be enjoying both at Polish Hall — admission: $10, all inclusive (entertainment and desserts).
Mazurek cakes, baked in local Polish kitchens, will be served with coffee and tea. Selected fine Polish liqueurs will be available (in moderation, of course) at Grandpas' cafe, in the lower level of Polish Hall.

The musical mazurka (in Polish, mazurek ) traditionally accompanies a Polish folk dance in triple meter, usually at a lively tempo, accented on the second or third beat, though there are slower, more lyrical ones as well. We will provide some education about this, not too much of course (after all it's a festive soiree, not a pedantic lecture) and Agnieszka Laska Dancers will demonstrate the traditional dance.

Those joining the celebration will be treated to mazurkas by 3 immortal Polish composers: Fryderyk Chopin, (best known), Karol Szymanowski (less well known) and Roman Maciejewski, (least known). His mazurkas, from a 2-volume collection of 39, are very likely Portland concert premieres. Maciejewski was born exactly 100 years after Chopin, was highly acclaimed by Szymanowski, a student of Kaimierz Sikorski and Nadia Boulanger; he is best known from his monumental Requiem for victims of war.

New Year's Concert - Maria Knapik

Friday, January 6, 2012 @ 7:30pm

St. Stanislaus Church
3916 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR

Renown soprano performs songs by Chopin, traditional Polish Christmas Carols, plus famous opera arias from Carmen, Tosca, Adriana Lecouvreur and Madame Butterfly.

Hailed by the New York Times as the magnetic center of attention and the clear star of the show, young Polish-Canadian soprano Maria Knapik shines equally bright on the opera stage as in concert and oratorio performances. Soprano Maria Knapik frequently appears as soloist with major orchestras and in many demanding roles with opera companies throughout Europe and North America. With her captivating stage presence and passionate singing, Ms Knapik breathes life into her roles, most notably the title roles of Puccini's Tosca and Verdi's Alzira with the New York Grand Opera, the latter at Carnegie Hall. In addition to performing as soloist at the Kennedy Center with Maestro Robert Shafer with his Grammy award winning Washington Chorus, Ms Knapik has also been invited to appear as a special guest artist at the Annual Puccini Foundation Concert at Alice Tully Hall of New York's Lincoln Center.

An accomplished musician, Canadian conductor Michel Brousseau is currently Conductor and Artistic Director of the New World Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the Ottawa Classical Choir, Les Chanteurs de Sainte-Thérèse Choir, the Choeur Tremblant and the International Choir

Reception with artists to follow at Polish Hall, 3832 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227

More info and tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/216912!