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Szymanowski Gala

Celebrating the 125th Birthday of Poland’s Greatest Modern Composer, Saturday, October 13 at 2pm, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall

Featuring:

The Penderecki String Quartet;
Pianist Anna Kijanowska;
Mezzo Edyta Kulczak (Metropolitan Opera) and Pianist Steven Eldredge and;
Violinist Hanna Lachert (NY Philharmonic) and Pianist Helene Jeanney

The Polish Sejm has declared 2007 the Year of Szymanowski, and the Kosciuszko Foundation is presenting a special concert in his honor, which I am inviting you to attend and support.

Marek Jurek, Speaker of the Sejm, described Szymanowski’s achievements:

After a period of stagnation in Polish music following Chopin’s death, it was he [Szymanowski] who provided it with an invigorating impulse for further development. Today he is recognized as the spiritual father of 20th-century Polish music. He developed his own musical style, introducing elements of folk music, which became a guiding star for generations of Polish composers. Without his output, which has been seeing a huge renaissance over recent decades, Polish music culture would not have achieved a standard that gives it a prominent place in the world.

To mark the 125th birthday anniversary of Poland’s greatest modern composer, the Kosciuszko Foundation will present a —Szymanowski Gala Concert—on Saturday, October 13, at 2 PM, at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall.

Renowned Polish artists are featured in a concert of chamber, vocal, and piano solo music giving an overview of Szymanowski’s work. The Penderecki String Quartet will play both of his quartets; mezzo soprano Edyta Kulczak, from the Metropolitan Opera, will sing two groups of songs, including the folk-based —Kurpian Songs—. Folk music from Zakopane was likewise the inspiration for Szymanowski’s Mazurkas, from which Anna Kijanowska will play a group; and violinist Hanna Lachert, of the New York Philharmonic, will perform his Violin Sonata.

Tickets: $ 25 / $15
Special Discounts for KF Members / Students
Information / Reservations / Details: Call the Kosciuszko Foundation 212-734-2130
Concert supported by the Cierpik Szymanowski Fund.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

Year of Szymanowski Concert in Philidephia

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation announces its third annual summer concert, taking place Sunday, August 19, starting at 3:00 PM, at the Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

This year’s concert is dedicated to Karol Szymanowski in the 125th year of his birth, declared the Year of Szymanowski by the Polish Sejm. On this auspicious occasion, the national Kosciuszko Foundation, headquartered in New York, joins the Phildephia Chapter in honoring this seminal figure of 20th century music by co-sponsoring the event.

The concert features noted virtuosi and Szymanowski scholars, Blanka Bednarz, violinist and Matthew Bengtson, pianist, performing a musical program drawn from a cross-section of Szymanowsk’s works, including Etudes op. 4, Myths for Violin and Piano op. 30, Masques op. 34 and Mazurkas op. 50.

Blanka Bednarz performs regularly as part of the Atma Trio and together with Sinfonietta Polonia, a unique orchestral training program based in Poznan, Poland. Closer to Philadelphia, Dr. Bednarz is Professor of Music at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, where she is also concertmaster of the Dickinson Orchestra.

Matthew Bengtson is a pianist, fortepianist and harpsichordist with a special interest in Karol Szymanowski’s music. His 2002 recording, “The Complete Mazurkas of Karol Szymanowski,” presents the subject of his doctoral dissertation, which was honored with the 2003 Stefan and Wanda Wilk Prize for Research in Polish Music.

Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is regarded as the father of contemporary Polish music. Active in many genres, Szymanowski composed four symphonies, the opera “King Roger,” (which I saw when it was performed in Buffalo in 1992) the ballet “Harnasie” and his choral masterpiece “Stabat Mater.” Today these works enjoy a growing appreciation throughout the world.

Doors will open at 2:30 for refreshments before the concert. Following the concert, the artists will greet guests as they enjoy coffee and Polish pastries from Julia Bakery. Tickets are available in advance for $35 ($15 for students) from Fred Wolanin at 267-987-5347 or 215-752-9270, or at the door for $40 ($20 for students). Convenient off-street parking is available at the Parkway Corporation garage at 1845 Walnut St for a flat rate of $12 with validation at the concert.

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation gratefully acknowledges support from the Cierpik Fund administered by the Kosciuszko Foundation, Swift Mailing Services and the Szyszko Family, Julia Bakery and the Parkway Corporation.

Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Plugged in tomorrow night, and live on Dec. 1st.

The famous Polish folk song and dance troop Mazowsze will be featured on my local PBS station, WMHT, tomorrow night. The details are as follows:

WMHT (Channel 17): Music and Dance of Poland: Mazowsze, Thursday, June 7, 7:30pm

A performance by Polish folk group Mazowsze, which includes music and dance styles representing more than 30 regions in Poland. Narrated by Bobby Vinton. From the Polish National Opera House in Warsaw.

In addition, Mazowsze will be touring the United States in the late fall. The tenative tour schedule is as follows:

Poland - Polish - Polonia,

65th Annual Meeting of the American Center of Polish Culture

The Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America (Polski Instytut Naukowy w Ameryce) in cooperation with The National Polish Center (The American Center of Polish Culture) cordially invites you to its 65th Annual Meeting to be held at Georgetown University’s Inter-Cultural Center, Washington, DC 20057 on Friday, June 15, and Saturday, June 16, 2007

This national multi-disciplinary conference on Polish and Polish American studies is sponsored by PIASA (208 East 30th St., New York, N.Y. 10016) in cooperation with The National Polish Center (2025 “O” St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036). All persons attending the conference, including panelists and presenters, are required to register and pay a registration fee.

Advance registration by mail is strongly recommended on forms provided. These forms can be found at the PIASA website.

Affordable housing is available on the campus of Georgetown University in newly renovated Village C Residence Hall. All rooms include private baths. Reservations with full payments can only be made directly with the Polish Institute by May 24, 2007.

The final detailed official program with full titles of presentations, room assignments and schedule will be printed later and distributed at the Annual Meeting. It will also appear on PIASA’s website as it becomes available. The following is an incomplete list of sessions and panels that will make up the 65th Annual meeting program. The final version of the program will include additions and some corrections.

PLENARY AND CONCURRENT SESSIONS AND PANELS

1. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic: Getting Away From the Past
Piotr S. Wandycz, Yale University; Stephen Szabo, Johns Hopkins University; Frank Hadler, Leipzig University; Igor Lukes, Boston University, TBA: Diplomats from the German, Polish and Czech Embassies in Washington, D.C.

2. Perspectives on Polish Literature: The Ghost of Shakespeare, Kresy, Tatra Mountains and the New World
Michael J. Mikos, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Anna Frajlich-Zajac, Columbia University; Anna Gasienica Byrcyn, University of Illinois at Chicago; George Gasyna, University of Illinois at Chicago.

3. Rethinking Poles and Jews
Robert Cherry, Brooklyn College CUNY; Mieczyslaw B. Biskupski, Central Connecticut State University; Shana Penn, Taube Foundation; Carolyn Slutsky, The Jewish Week; Charles Chotkowski, Polish American Congress.

4. Reshaping the Landscape: Polish Contemporary Theatre
Co-sponsored by the Polish Cultural Institute with video taped excerpts from Wojcieszek’s theatrical productions. Krystyna Lipinska Illakowicz, New York University; Agata Grenda, Polish Cultural Institute; Przemyslaw Wojcieszek, Independent Film and Theatre Director from Poland.

5. New Directions in Polish Music: Preservation, Reaction and Reception
Anne Swartz, Baruch College & Graduate Center CUNY; Luke Howard, Brigham Young University; Anna Gasienica Byrcyn, University of Illinois at Chicago.

6. Polish Cinema
M. Marek Haltof, Northern Michigan University; John M. Grondelski, independent scholar, Washington, D.C.; Sheila Skaff, University of Texas at El Paso.

7. Polish American Texts: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry
Grazyna J. Kozaczka, Cazenovia College, NY; Thomas J. Napierkowski, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Czeslaw Karkowski, Nowy Dziennik, NY.

8. Economics, Politics, Society in Contemporary Poland
Jan Napoleon Saykiewicz, Duquesne University; Lucja Swiatkowska Cannon, Center of Strategic and International Studies; Richard J. Hunter, Seton Hall University; Susanne Lotarski, Polish American Congress, Washington Metropolitan Area Division; Krzystof Bledowski, Manufacturers Alliance; and Edward Basinski, Embassy of the Republic of Poland.

9. The United States and Solidarnosc
Idesbad Goddeeris, University of Leuven, Belgium; Jakub Grygiel, Johns Hopkins University SAIS; Gregory Domber, Indiana University REEI; and Donald Pienkos, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

10. Exploring the Culture of American Polonia
James S. Pula, Purdue University; Thomas J. Napierkowski, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Jerome Krase, Brooklyn College CUNY; and Geraldine Coleman, Loyola Academy, Chicago.

11. John Paul II the Great
Barbara Miller, Polish Women’s Alliance of America; Dennis Martin, Loyola University of Chicago; Francis Borkowski, Appalachian State University, NC; and Margaret Ryznar, Polish Women’s Alliance of America.

12. The Kosciuszko Legacy in the Polish Airforce
Michael A. Peszke; Wakefield, RI; James S. Pula, Purdue University; Mieczyslaw B. Biskupski, Central Connecticut State University; Veterans of the Polish Air Force in-exile during World War II: Jan Koniarek, Kazimierz S. Rasiej and Jerzy Glowczewski.

13. Jamestown (Un) Remembered. On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown
Angela Pienkos, PAHA and PIASA; Donald Pienkos, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Deborah M. Majka, American Council for Polish Culture, and James S. Pula, Purdue University.

14. The Poetry of Anna Frajlich
Roundtable discussion combined with a poetry reading.
Regina Grol, Empire State College, SUNY; Anna Frajlich, Columbia University; Joanna Rostropowicz-Clark, Princeton Research Forum and Jaroslaw Anders, Washington, D.C.

15. Regina Salomea Pilsztynowa: A Peripatetic Polish Physician in 18th Century Istanbul
Paul W. Knoll, University of Southern California; Wladyslaw Roczniak, Bronx Community College CUNY; Lynn Lubamersky, Boise State University, Idaho.

16. Polish Peoples Republic 1945-1989
Anna Cienciala, University of Kansas; David T. Curp, Ohio University; Idesbad Goddeeris, University of Leuven, Belgium; and Ashby Crowder, Ohio University.

17. Newest Historical Research
Neal Pease, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Marek Payerhin, Lynchburg College, VA; Thaddeus V. Gromada, New Jersey City University.

18. Polish Saturday Schools and Polish Scouting: Their Impact on Polonia Case Studies, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Bozenna Buda, University of Maryland; John Armstrong, Department of State, and TBA.

19. First Navigation of Canyon Colca by Polish Explorers: 25 Years Later
Zygmunt Malinowski, John Wiley Publishers; Andrzej Pietowski, Bowling Green University, and Piotr Chmielinski, HP Environmental.

20. MDM: Marszalkowska Housing District, a Major Socialist Housing Project
A documentary film will be presented, followed by a roundtable discussion. Irena Tomaszewski, Canadian Foundation for Polish Studies; Eric Bednarski, National Film Board of Canada; Ella Chmielewska, University of Edinburgh and Bart Bonikowski, Princeton University.

Friday, June 15, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland (2640 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009) for registered participants and guests. ID and tickets required.

Saturday, June 16, 2007, 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Pre-banquet reception (Cash Bar), South Gallery, Georgetown University Conference Hotel.

Saturday, June 16, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Gala Banquet – Salons CHF, Georgetown University Conference Hotel (Events by
Marriott). Tickets required at $60.00. Reservations must be made in advance by June 2, 2007. Banquet speaker TBA.

Directions to Georgetown University as well as parking, campus map and other information will be posted at PIASA.

For more information regarding the program, registration, reservations, contact Dr. Thaddeus V. Gromada or Janina Kedron.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

Michal Urbaniak in New York at the Polish Film Fesitval

Michal Urbaniak plays New York City again and performs as a part of the Polish Film Festival in New York at the Europa Night Club, 98-104 Meserole Ave., (corner of Manhattan Ave.) Brooklyn, NY this coming Sunday, May 6th at 7pm.

After his extensive European tour, he is back home. Michal Urbaniak will appear with his legendary all stars outfit including Donald Blackman on keys and vocals, Barry Johnson on bass, and Lenni Christian on drums, the team that created the hit —Funking for Jamaica— and is a part of Michal’s famous Urbanator Band.

Mika Urbaniak who is just recording her first solo album, will lend her smoky vocals in her New York debut.

Among the films featured during the festival will be Who Never Lived/Kto nigdy nie żył.

Kto nigdy nie zyl

Synopsis: A young priest works with drug addicted youth. His supervisors do not like his attitude towards his work and the fact, that he is very well liked by his pupils. When he gets an order to start studies in Rome, he is convinced the authorities are attempting to isolate him from his believers.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective

Chocolate Jesus

Seems the problem really was, according to the earliest press release, that, (HORRORS!) Jesus was depicted naked… you know like it really happened

From Huw Raphael in Catholic League has trouble w/ reality.

I read about this, and that was the first thing that came to my mind as well. People are scandalized by Jesus Christ’s manner of death.

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

I don’t really care what the artist’s motivations are, and obviously Mr. Donohue only represents a limited number of Roman Catholics. But I would suggest to anyone who calls him or herself a Christian that they reflect on the image of the crucified Christ, in all its horror, disgrace, and indignity and as we pray in one of the versions of the Stations of the Cross we do in our parish, say together: “This is for me.”

Everything Else, ,

Supporting adoption

From Christian Newswire: Brownback, Kudlow Help CFF Promote Adoption at Lincoln Center

Gala Benefit will help fund Pregnancy Resource Centers and Safe Haven Program in the Tri-State Area

Pro-life U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, and Larry Kudlow, CNBC host, will speak at the Children First Foundation’s “Gala Concert for Adoption” at Lincoln Center on Wednesday evening, April 11, 2007, at 6:30pm.

CFF’s “Gala Concert for Adoption” is part of a national effort to raise greater awareness about the important “Safe Haven Laws” that have been enacted in 47 states during the month of April so that, as stated by Tim Jaccard, “not one single baby is ever thrown in the garbage pail again.”

Senator Brownback, the Gala’s keynote speaker, is an adoptive parent and a congressional leader who understands the importance of promoting adoption, family values and a Culture of Life in our nation and the world. Larry Kudlow, the benefit’s emcee, is a renowned economist, host of CNBC’s “Kudlow & Company” and a strong advocate of conservative values in the media.

The Children First Foundation’s “Gala Concert for Adoption” will begin at 6:30 pm with a New York Philharmonic performance of the Shostakovitch Violin Concerto No. 1 followed by a Post-Concert Reception on the Grand Promenade at 8:00 p.m. CFF will honor Tim and Aedan Jaccard of the AMT Children of Hope “Safe Haven” Program and six Pregnancy Centers located in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

“The Gala’s important goal,” says Dr. Elizabeth Rex, CFF’s President and Co-Founder, “is to help fund these outstanding organizations that generously provide desperate women with the financial and moral support they so often need in order to choose life and consider adoption for unwanted pregnancies or unwanted newborns.” Charles Rex, a CFF Director and Co-Founder, is a concert violinist with the New York Philharmonic and helped organize CFF’s festive fundraiser at Lincoln Center.

CFF’s Benefit Committee includes leaders of the New York State Right to Life Committee, the Connecticut Right to Life Committee, the New Jersey Family Policy Council and the Family Institute of Connecticut, organizations that support CFF’s efforts to promote Adoption and Safe Havens as positive, compassionate and life-saving choices that deserve greater public understanding, appreciation and support.

Benefit Tickets begin at $250 and must be purchased in advance. Please call the Children First Foundation toll-free at 1-877-386-3236. Donations are greatly appreciated and are tax-deductible.

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