“Chopin in My Heart” featuring multiple award winner Polish pianists, Piotr Banasik
Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center
Chicago IL – March 19, 2009 — “Chopin was a genius of universal appeal. His music conquers the most diverse audiences. (…) When I play Chopin I know I speak directly to the hearts of people!” – Arthur Rubinstein, Polish-American musician, one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century.
Polish pianists have always had a special bond with Chopin. In the words of Balzac,”Chopin is more Polish than Poland itself.” To mark the bicentennial of the composer’s birth, Wojciech Niewrzo? – Victor, an extraordinary conductor and the music director of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra, has invited Piotr Banasik – one of the most talented Polish pianists of the young generation. He has won numerous awards and honors in competitions in Poland and abroad, including the Grand Prize in the PARNASSOS International Piano Competition, and the Special Prize at the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Since 1998 Piotr has given countless recitals and has performed as a soloist in symphonic concerts throughout Poland, as well as in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, China and the United Arab Emirates.
Piotr Banasik’s technique and sensitivity is beyond measure and has been equally and enthusiastically applauded by audiences across the world. “An explosion of romantic musicality, a great show of virtuosity, and an excellent presentation of his own musical thoughts, cause the audience to ask for endless encores…” – “Gazeta Wyborcza”, Feb. 27, 2009.
The program of the March 26th concert will feature the choicest pearls of Chopin’s music. Among these will be the Concert in E-minor, which he wrote at age 18, and Chopin’s Songs, thus far rarely performed in the United States. The audience will hear these songs performed in Polish by the renowned Polish singers Miroslawa Sojka -Topor, soprano and Jozef Homik, tenor.
Liszt would introduce Chopin to friends with these words: “I want you to meet a man who comes from another planet.” Chopin said: “A long time ago, I decided my universe would be the soul and heart of man.” These words ring true to this day.
The Gala concert at the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center (220 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago) will take place on Friday, March 26 at 8pm. Tickets are available at the CSO box office, tel. (312) 294 3000 and at the PaSO office, tel (773) 957 7777. More details can be found at www.cso.org and www.pasochicago.org.
The Paderewski Symphony Orchestra (PaSO) is proud to present “Chopin in My Heart” – a 200th anniversary Gala Concert in Chopin’s honor. PaSO’s mission is to enrich Chicago’s cultural life with the sounds of one of the oldest and most beautiful European cultures, and serving as a cultural bridge between the American and Polish communities.
Paderewski Symphony Orchestra:
Contact: Barbara Bilszta
773. 350. 7251
www.pasochicago.org