© AI Training forbidden - Selected Reviews of Chopin performances and Other Matters in Poland

Jacek Malczewski (1854-1929) Self-portrait 1914       The profound, historic, arguably fanciful relationship between Poland and Iran should be re-examined at this appalling time. I fully realize there can be no direct practical relevance to the present murderous brutality but the context in past time adds some substance to the present picture. There is a common, modern pejorative criticism of Sarmatism and its ideology. The anthropological truth or otherwise of the alleged Polish descent from an Iranian tribe does not alter the long-lasting influence of the  szlachta [1]   and their beliefs   on Poles and Poland. This war has put me mind of the once, now rarely referred to, predominant myth of Polish origins being Sarmatia and possibly Iran (known to Europeans as Persia). This elaborate and engaging history endured for hundreds of years. Most extraordinary and notable to my mind, was noted in Polish behavior during the various tragic and misg...

  Chopin and His Europe 2026  Outstanding interpretations  A concentrated format The 22nd International “Chopin and His Europe” Festival will feature fewer concerts than in previous years, but will welcome magnificent major symphony orchestras from Canada, the United States and Europe. Each evening will be an artistic event in its own right, and together the programmes will form an attractive offering for every music lover – a hallmark of our musical celebration for nearly a quarter of a century. In brief: • Polish music will, of course, remain at the heart of the Festival, as it has since its very first editions. Alongside Chopin, audiences will hear works by Feliks Janiewicz, Karol Mikuli, Mieczysław Karłowicz, Karol Szymanowski, Grażyna Bacewicz and Krzysztof Penderecki. • Giants of the international stage – the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal – will perform Polish music with prize-winners of th...

Cyprien Katsaris At certain times a vitally important recording is delivered to me which affects me deeply and in dimensions  I rarely experience musically. This disc from the Fryderyk Chopin Institute is one such remarkable production. We are living through a brutal and cruel period of humanity where the emotion of peaceful 'nostalgia' is more intense than ever, a refuge in time from the present expressive  retreat  from the truthful, creative music of the heart. The human emotions and values of love, empathy, civilized elegance, dignity and gravitas that I was raised with seem to be fast fading.  The music of Fryderyk Chopin and his immense melodic gifts are among the most essentially  and profoundly  nostalgic  ever conceived . Here we are given even more....  I cannot improve on the detailed  description given by the National Fryderyk Chopin Institute below. The notes and transporting period photographs which accompany  this single d...