Polish sounds will make their way to the Japanese stages between 20 and 22 October 2024. The “Sounds of Poland” project – a collaboration between Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne and Adam Mickiewicz Institute – will bring the masterpieces of the 20th century Polish music closer to Japanese professionals and music enthusiasts. The repertoire of master concerts and classes will include works by outstanding Polish composers such as Henryk Wieniawski, Ignacy Paderewski and Grażyna Bacewicz.
Wieniawski, Paderewski and Bacewicz on Japanese stages
Polish music will be listened to in Japan as part of the “Sounds of Poland” project. It will be presented by acclaimed Polish musicians: Agata Szymczewska and Wojciech Szymczewski. Agata Szymczewska is a violinist who received the first prize at the 13th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznań. Her brother Wojciech is a piano virtuoso. Both have toured internationally. For several years now they have performed concerts together.
3 concerts, the programme of which includes works by Henryk Wieniawski, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Grażyna Bacewicz and Emil Młynarski, are planned to take place between 20 and 22 October 2024 in Himeji, Kyoto and Tokyo. The concerts will be accompanied by education and popularisation meetings. Agata Szymczewska will conduct 2 master classes based on Polish violin literature, while on 21 October there will be a meeting promoting the Japanese translation of a book “One Hundred Years of Polish Music History” by Danuta Gwizdalanka.
3 days of Polish music in Japan
Events forming part of the “Sounds of Poland” project will begin on Sunday, 20 October, in Himeji. Next, on Monday, the artists will perform in Kyoto and then will travel to Tokyo. A detailed schedule is as follows:
Himeji – Sunday, 20 October 2024
Place: Arcrea Himeji (Exibition Hall)
Event: Concert of Agata Szymczewska and Wojciech Szymczewski as part of the Polish Festival
Programme:
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Polonaise in D-major, Opus 4”
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski – “Melody” (arranged by Stanisław Barcewicz)
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Oberek”
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Legend, Opus 17”
Kyoto – Monday, 21 October 2024
Place: University of Fine Arts in Kyoto
Event: Concert of Agata Szymczewska and Wojciech Szymczewski
Programme:
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Polonaise in D-major, Opus 4”
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski – “Melody” (arranged by Stanisław Barcewicz)
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Oberek”
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Lullaby”
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Legend, Opus 17”
- Emil Młynarski – “Mazur”
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Overture”
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Piper”
Accompanying events:
- Promotion of the Japanese translation of the publication “One Hundred Years of Polish Music History” with the participation of Prof. Taichi Shiraki, Maki Shigekawa and Dr Daniel Cichy.
- Master class by Agata Szymczewska
Tokyo – Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Place: Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
Event: Concert of Agata Szymczewska and Wojciech Szymczewski
Programme:
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Polonaise in D-major, Opus 4”
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski – “Melody” (arranged by Stanisław Barcewicz)
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Oberek”
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Lullaby”
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Legend, Opus 17”
- Emil Młynarski – “Mazur”
- Grażyna Bacewicz – “Overture”
- Henryk Wieniawski – “Piper”
Accompanying events:
- Master class by Agata Szymczewska
For several years now, PWM, in collaboration with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, has been organising subsequent editions of the Sounds of Poland project to promote Polish music in foreign concert halls. The Polish Institute in Tokyo is a partner of the Sounds of Poland project. The project is co-organised by AMI. It was co-financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.