Celebrating Poland: Lutosławski, Penderecki and New Music Now

“Celebrating Poland: Lutosławski, Penderecki and New Music Now” is a unique event prepared by Q2, the Web station run by WQXR – the classical music station of New York City. The station prepared a series of 24-hour music marathons. The occasion for such a spectacular production is the centenary of Witold Lutoslawski and the 80th birthday of Krzysztof Penderecki. The first marathon took place on Friday, and the programme included a broadcast of a concert from New York’s Symphony Space, performed by the Penderecki Quartet, Ensemble PI and musicians from the Yale School of Music, featuring soloists Matthew Lipman (viola) and Jay Campbell (cello). The programme also included an onstage interview with Krzysztof Penderecki. Penderecki’s work will also figure prominently in the second marathon, which celebrates Halloween with a focus on soundtrack scores – among them Penderecki’s works that were used in “The Exorcist” and “The Shining”. Wojciech Kilar’s scores will be featured as well. The third marathon will celebrate Lutosławski. It will present, among others, Lutosławski’s student and composer Steven Stucky. Q2 will also pay tribute to Lutosławski with a concert streamed live from Symphony Space on 13 December, during which the American Contemporary Music Ensemble will perform works by the Polish composer and his student.
The whole project is featured in The New York Times.