Peter Jablonski, Soloist
At the end of October I, CULTURE Orchestra’s multi-national group performed at the Kiev National Opera, performing the works of Karol Szymanowski
Ukraine's Culture Minister Mykhailo Kulyniak and Polish Ambassador Henryk Litwin were among the illustrious guests at the first official concert of the I, CULTURE Orchestra's international tour at the Kiev National Opera.
I, CULTURE Orchestra is an ambitious undertaking by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, which forms one of the most important projects of the Cultural Programme of the Polish Presidency 2011.
The Kiev concert was performed under the baton of conductor Paweł Kotla, featuring Peter Jablonski as a piano soloist. Jablonski has performed on five continents and is the artistic director for the annual Karlskrona Chamber Music Festival in Sweden and for Altara Records. The New York Times in August 2010 wrote: “Jablonski unleashed torrents of octaves and floods of grumbling chromatic scales during the ominous episodes, then brought tenderness to the wistful lyrical flights and mystical harmonies.” Drawing upon his Polish heritage, Jablonski makes a point to promote Polish composers such as Lutosławski, Szymanowski and Wojciech Kilar.
The evening’s programme included Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite, Op. 20, Karol Szymanowski’s Symphony no. 4, Op. 60, and Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 5 in D minor, Op. 47.
The orchestra is formed of 104 young musicians from Poland and neighbouring Eastern countries, including: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldavia and Ukraine. The orchestra, in being formed, in large part, by musicians from countries outside of the European Union, Poland wants to highlight the importance of eastern and western influences on joint European cultural identity. The project also allows young people to take part in a unique project and perform in some of the best concert halls in Europe.
I, CULTURE Orchestra continued it’s European tour in Lublin, southeastern Poland, on the 22nd of October, following concerts in Gdansk and Stockholm. The orchestra will continue on to Berlin, Brussels, London, Madrid and wrap up in Warsaw.
For more information, see I, CULTURE Orchestra.
Date: 27th of October, 2011
Venue: Tarasa Szewczenki National Opera, Kiev
Organised by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
The I, CULTURE Orchestra is a flagship project of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
Source: Adam Mickiewicz Institute