Elżbieta Chojnacka photographed by Martine Franck
The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice conducted by Tadeusz Strugała performs a "Matinée" concert at the Upper Silesian Centre of Culture along with a guest appearance by Elżbieta Chojnacka - a vocalist whose interpretation of contemporary harpsichord music is considered among the most oustanding in Europe
Among the presented pieces is Igor Stravinsky Circus Polka, Francis Poulenc's Concert champêtre for harpsichord and orchestra as well as a symphonic tone poem Don Juan written by Richard Strauss. The concert is a continuation of the Matinee series that began in January honouring the occassion of the NOSPR's 75th anniversary and celebrating its most venerated conductors of past years.
In recognition of his achievements and promotion of Polish music abroad, Tadeusz Strugała has received awards and medals from the Minister of Culture, Minister of Foreign Affairs and "Polonia Restituta Commandor Cross with Star" from the State President. He was appointed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage a member of the NOSPR's Programme Committee. He was also presented with a prestigious Kulturpreis Schlesien des Landes Niedersachsen, and a Doctor Honoris Causa of the Wrocław Music Academy.
Elżbieta Chojnacka is considered among the most foremost harpsichordists specialising in the performance of contemporary harpsichord music. He is admired for her extraordinary temperament, energy, perfect sense of rhythm, marvellous technique and deep musicality. Her art inspired some of the most prominent authors of the second half of the 20th century, whose music pieces, dedicted to her, would unveil the new and unexpected capabilities of this old instrument: Iannis Xenakis, György Ligeti, Maurice Ohana, Bussotti, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Sofia Gubaidulina, Michel Nyman, Toshi Ishyanagi.
In 1999, to honour her outstanding position in the art world, she was awarded the French L'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour). She is two-time laureate of the Orpheus Award (1981, 2000) for the best rendition of a music piece by a Polish composer at the Warszawska Jesień / Warsaw Autumn festival. In 2009 she received the Golden Medal Gloria Artis and an award from the Polish Composers' Union.
The concert honouring the 75th anniversary of The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tadeusz Strugała takes place on Sunday, February 20, 2011 (at 12:00 PM) at the Orchestra's headquarters in Katowice.
The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice
Plac Sejmu Śląskiego 2, 40-032 Katowice
Music Director: Jacek Kaspszyk
tel. (+48 32) 251 89 03, 255 32 61
link*www.nospr.org.pl*http://www.nospr.org.pl****Source: polmic.pl, www.nospr.org.pl