Festival Update:
Note the change of date from November 3, 2012 to December 15, 2012
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Gala Concert at the Polish Consulate
When:
Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 8 PM
Please arrive at 7 PM for better seats
Where:
Consulate General of the Republic of Poland
233 Madison Avenue (37 Street)
New York, NY 10016
Admission: by invitation
PROGRAM :
1. ROBERT SCHUMANN – Adagio & Allegro for Violoncello and Piano, Op. 70
2. CLAUDE DEBUSSY – 2 Preludes for Piano
Bruyères (Book 2, No.5)
Le vent dans la plaine (Book, No.3)
3. FRANZ LISZT – Auf dem Wasser zu Singen ( transcription after Schubert) S.558
4. FRANZ LISZT – Tarantelle di bravura d’après la tarantelle de La muette de Portici S.386
5. JOHANNES BRAHMS – Wie Melodien zieht es Mir
6. HECTOR BERLIOZ – Le spectre de la rose
7. PIETRO MASCAGNI – O, Pallida from L’Amico Fritz
8. FREDERIC CHOPIN – Sonata for Violoncello & Piano in G minor, Op. 65
Allegro Moderato
Scherzo
Largo
Finale: Allegro
9. JAN ROSZKOWSKI – “The Aquarian Age” (2011)
Gina Perregrino -mezzo-soprano
Italian-American mezzo-soprano Gina Perregrino has worked alongside legends such as Catherine Malfitano, Mignon Dunn, and Sherrill Milnes. She has performed as a soloist throughout Switzerland and Tuscany, where she studied under scholarship at the University of Siena in Italy. While in Siena, she received a certification in Italian Language and was introduced to Gianluigi Gelmetti, conductor of Sydney Symphony Orchestra, who encouraged her operatic studies by offering his support at any point in her career. In October, Gina sang with the Hellenic Music Association’s Symphonic Orchestra and performed the lead role of Dolores with the Teatro Lirico de D.C. in La Dolorosa, a zarzuela by José Serrano. Last year, Gina sang twice in Avery Fisher Hall alongside the New York Philharmonic and performed one of two solo recitals in her hometown with Opera Delaware. She spent two summers at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Blacksburg, VA, where she participated in master classes with Sherrill Milnes, Ruth Falcon, and Diana Soviero. Gina is a recipient of the Liberace Scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music and her other credits include Dritte Knabe in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and Mercedes in Carmen.
Jan Roszkowski – cello
Cellist Jan Roszkowski draws attention for his charisma and passion for music whether presenting a classical concert, composing a new piece or playing at the Jordanian Princesses’ dinner party. In May 2012, thanks to the Hans & Klara Bauer and Fulbright Scholarships Jan has completed a Master’s Degree in Music Performance at Manhattan School of Music (NYC), where he also studied Jazz Piano and Composition. He is a laureate of the 27th National Chamber Music Competition in Wroclaw (3rd prize), Warsaw Chamber Competition for Young Musician (1st prize) and in the National Cello Competition in Elblag (laureate).
Together with his brother, violinist Adam Roszkowski, Jan co-founded a professional Violin-Cello Duo that has already garnered a following. In June of 2011, the brothers launched a 7-concert tour around Poland, including a performance at the 14th Festival of Baroque Music in Pasym and in May 2012, they appeared with a recital at the Polish Slavic Center (NYC). Their repertoire explores music form J.S.Bach to the contemporary composers.
Jan also collaborates with Polish-American concert pianist Nina Kuzma-Sapiejewska. In the ’09-’10 season, the duo gave a tour of 15 concerts in Poland and USA. The last Gala Concert was on November 11th commemorating the anniversary of the Polish Independence in the largest castle in the world, the XV century Castle of Malbork. He also has presented solo and chamber performances at the Jay Heritage Center (USA) East Poland House (Brussels), Hotel des Invalides (Paris) and on the festivals including : International Mozartiana (Gdansk, Poland), America Romantica Versus Chopin (Opinogora, Poland), Swietojanskie Swietowanie (Gdansk, Poland) and the XII International Chopin & Friends in New York City.
In 2009, Jan Roszkowski appeared as soloist with the Camerata Dell’ Arte Orchestra playing Haydn C-Major Concerto in his hometown, Suwalki, Poland and he has had the opportunity to perform with such acclaimed artists as Janusz Olejniczak, Zbigniew Namyslowski and Steven Lutvak.
Jan began playing at the age of five. He is a graduate of the Frederic Chopin University in Warsaw. His major teachers were Professors Kazimierz Michalik and David Geber. He pursued further musical education at many summer courses and festivals like Viersen Music Sommer (Germany), II Internationale Cello Akademie (Schlitz, Germany) Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Siena, Italy) studied with Elias Arizcuren, Andrzej Bauer, Bonnie Hampton, Tobias Kuhne, Daniel Muller-Schott, Troels Svane and Tomasz Strahl. He concertized in Italy, France, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, USA, Russia, China and recorded many music programs and CD’s released for Polish Radio, TV, Radio BIS, DUX and Kayax.
Peter Fancovic – piano
Peter Fancovic was born in Slovakia to a musical family. He performed at an early age as a soloist with the Conservatory’s Symphonic Orchestra and Bratislava Chamber Orchestra, obtaining first prize in the National Conservatory Competition.
Mr. Fancovic has been awarded prizes in the J. N. Hummel Competition held in Slovakia (the best representative from his country) and, in the Czech Republic, the Marianske Lazne International Chopin Competition and the Hradec International Beethoven Competition, where he received first prize and a special prize as the best interpreter of Beethoven. He was selected to participate in the “New Virtuosi On Tour” concert series in various concert halls in Holland, including the prestigious Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Mr. Fancovic has participated in the international masterclasses in Bad Aussee (Austria) and Dolny Kubin (Slovakia) as well as in the International Music Sessions in Holland. He performed recitals in various cities in Spain as a part of Mikowsky’s International Piano Festivals and was invited to play a recital in the Louisiana Piano Series. Most recently, Fancovic entered the International Concerto Competition for Pianists organized by New York Concert Artists & Associates where he was chosen as one of six finalists from 38 competing pianists.
Mr. Fancovic’s musical interest is not only in the classical music. He performed his own jazz transcriptions and renditions of early jazz piano music in the “Tribute To Stride Piano” at Manhattan School of Music.
Throughout his studies in Slovakia, Fancovic has performed Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Bratislava State Conservatory Symphonic Orchestra as well as Mozart’s Concerto KV 415 with The International Youth Orchestra. As the latest concerto performance, he played Mendelssohn’s Concerto as a selected winner of the annual concerto competition held at the Manhattan School of Music.
Mr. Fancovic is also active in chamber music. He collaborates with string instruments and singers and plays for the voice lessons, recitals at Manhattan School of Music and in NYC venues. In the summer 2011 Peter Fancovic received a full scholarship in a music festival in Fontainebleau, France ( Philippe Entremont, Frédéric Aguessy , Christian Ivaldi, Noel Lee, Jay Gottlieb). In the school year 2011 – 2012 Mr. Fancovic is participating international competitions, and performing in NYC, Washington D.C., Kansas, and North Carolina.
Exhibition of Tapestry by Swava Launay
Swava Launay was born in Poland. She studied literature at the University of Cracow and later at the Sorbonne in Paris. She now lives in Mougins, South France, where she devotes her time to her work.
Of Swava’s tapestry it can be said that it runs in two complementary directions. On the one hand, there is the pure weaving where although forms are mainly ethereal, colors remain rich and vivid in well-blended tones. What prevails here is a water-color impression blurring the more figurative style to allow what is essentially the flow of lines and movements to freely emerge to the surface. The intertwining of textiles of different textures gives a moving quality to her bold compositions, which depict landscapes, portraits, seascapes, and picturesque villages. On the other hand, thanks to a very personal technique she creates impressive mosaics of textile of great pictorial quality and beauty. The work of Swava, midway between patchwork and pure weaving, could be called ‘contemporary tapestry.’
Like a painter disposing a rich palette, she draws freely from different materials mostly haute couturier cuts such as wool, silk, cotton, velvet of different colors and textures either printed or painted. Swava creates with much virtuosity and fantasy compositions springing from her own imagination. The softness of different velvets, the brilliance of silks and satins, the texture of linen, the inherent strength of damasks and the vibration of taffetas give a sensuous effect to the work. Her choice of materials and her design support her artistic concept.. Harmonizing details create a visual symphony in which every detail is necessary to the overall work. Size is an aspect of the work not to be neglected. Designed to be seen from a distance, which gives the work a dominating presence, these tapestries enhance any space they occupy.