Contemporary folklore inspirations - Lodz Philharmonic Choir and it's guests on a new DUX album The album refers to the long tradition of folklore in Polish classical music. It is continued by the creators of the arrangements of folk melodies dedicated to the Lodz Philharmonic Choir. The album refers to the long tradition of folklore in Polish classical music. It is continued by the creators of the arrangements of folk melodies dedicated to the Lodz Philharmonic Choir and featured on the album. The arrangements vary - from those closer to popular music, through sounds typical of national folk song and dance ensembles, to those representing a classical approach, with rich harmonies and inconspicuous folk motifs. The abundant number of performers is noteworthy - in addition to the excellent choir with a typically classical sound, the recording also features traditional singing, a string quartet in jazz and folk aesthetics and vocals typical of popular music. Each of the composers is inspired by folklore in a slightly different way, which makes the compositions sound fresh and intriguing. The performers are artists with comprehensive experience, which is reflected in the creative approach they adopt to interpret both well-known and lesser-known traditional Polish melodies.

The pieces by Polish composers refer to the Hebrew word 'hevel', which can be translated as 'fleeting' and 'transient'. On his debut solo album, Jan Wachowski, a young successful pianist and composer, encourages listeners to take a moment to reflect and surrender to their emotions. The sophisticated concept of the album goes hand in hand with an excellent performance - the artist's playing style is characterised by virtuoso technique and musical maturity.

The album features arrangements of well-known Piazzolla pieces inspired by tango, originally written for two pianos, the full of contrasts and dissonances Poulenc Sonata - one of the most popular works for this instrumental setup - and the famous paraphrase of the Viennese waltz, often referred to as Ravel's most enigmatic work, in the composer's own transcription. The instrumentation of two pianos presents works originally written for quintet or symphony orchestra in a new light - the sound is more powerful, the harmony more distinct, and the articulation more precise. Duo La Valse '89 maintains the dance-like character of the pieces while playing with dialogues and building tension. The duo's long years of experience - the ensemble has been around for 35 years - is evident in the cohesive phrasing, complementary articulation, and tone, which are characteristic of truly well-blended ensembles.

Spanish music

Paderewski Orchestra plays Paderewski - youth and energy on a new DUX album The album features recordings of two compositions by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, both willingly played by pianists and both Polish to the core - the Concerto in A minor and the Polish Fantasy. The album features recordings of two compositions by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, both willingly played by pianists - the Concerto in A minor and the Polish Fantasy. They were created in the youthful period of the composer's oeuvre, but they are still characterized by a mature compositional technique, rich melodies and bold instrumentation. Both the Fantasy and the Concerto ooze the spirit of Polish music, which can be seen in the structure of motifs, harmony and vital rhythms of mazur and krakowiak. The pompous orchestral fragments intertwine with the lyrical ones. Particularly noteworthy are the beautiful piano solos accompanied by the solo violin and cello in the second movement of the concerto. Both compositions are distinguished by a clear virtuoso feature; however, it is subordinated to the musical contents. The young performers perfectly feel the character of Paderewski's music; in their interpretation, it is full of passion, pride, nostalgia, but also wit, expressing the unchanging qualities of the Polish soul.

The album contains compositions for female and mixed choir by a young artist, Zuzanna Koziej, fascinated by traditional culture. They are based on Kurpie, Vilnius, Lublin and other melodies present in many variants in various regions of Poland. These compositions are a response to the need to show a nostalgic, lyrical version of folk music. The works are largely improvised - the parts written down in the score are supplemented by solo vocal and instrumental improvisations. The latter is the responsibility of Tomasz Drozdek, a multi-instrumentalist who perfectly plays the cimbalom, bells, pipes, percussion instruments, pump organ, zither and lyre. In the works by Zuzanna Koziej, folk melodies take on a shape no less natural and authentic than in their original context. Their author speaks her own, honest language, in which the musical layer closely coincides with the text. The Astrolabium Choir fits perfectly into the magical sound aura of the entire album, bringing to mind the old tradition of polyphonic singing, present in the everyday life of the inhabitants of the Polish countryside.

The album features songs by Polish composers created during the 20th century. The entire collection is highly diverse in terms of style. From Zarzycki's late-Romantic songs, in the musical and textual layer, through Rogowski's cycles - inspired by the Orient and Croatian folklore - and Sawa's songs (recorded for the first time on this album), using new expressive techniques, to Lukaszewski's songs, completely contemporary, whose musical language refers to the meditative Hindu music. Rogowski's cycle is exceptionally beautiful, where the soprano and the piano are accompanied by the violin in virtuoso cadenzas. Songs for an extended ensemble, with cello and saxophone, provide artists with an opportunity to show the potential of outstanding chamber musicians, and all songs are saturated with the expressive singing of Dorota Calek.

The first Polish recording of the full cycle of Franz Liszt's Transcendental Etudes in their final version from 1851. Radoslaw Sobczak is a pianist equally endowed with virtuoso instinct and great musical sensitivity; his recitals have graced prestigious events on four continents; winner of an honourable mention in the International Chopin Piano Competition. On the album, he faces one of the most demanding piano pieces, the difficulty of which lies not only in the technical layer, but also, and perhaps especially, in the musical one. Behind the extremely dense texture and the cascades of chords and passages, there is the composer's musical idea, and sometimes even programmatic contents - as in the famous Mazeppa etude. Out of the rush of sounds, lyrical motifs emerge, while complex harmonies reflect an entire range of emotions that need to be conveyed to the listeners. The artist copes with this challenge excellently; his pianism perfectly harmonizes with the spirit of Liszt's virtuosity. Metaphysics and contemplation collide in his interpretations with the saturated, deep sound of the piano.

On the CD Musica Warmiensis Vol. 4, we can discover further sacred pieces from the second half of the 18th and first half of the 19th centuries, performed by church music ensembles active in the historic region of Warmia. Scores from that period were found in the collections of the Library of the Higher Theological Seminary of the Warmia Metropolis "Hosianum" in Olsztyn by the Reverend Father Tomasz Garwolinski, who is also the originator and main implementing party of the project. These are mostly sacred vocal and instrumental compositions, but also songs and symphonies. The pieces are written for an ensemble known from other religious centres in Poland, including a four-part choir, soloists, a group of string and wind instruments and an organ - a total of from a few to a maximum of seventeen musicians. The album features world premiere recordings of joyful compositions, full of vitality, which - in excellent interpretations of the orchestra and soloists - will certainly again captivate listeners with their radiant tones.

The album contains concise, stylistically diverse works by 20th- and 21st-centuries Polish composers. A double fugue, a rhythm-driven toccata, improvisational echoes of folk melodies, rustic dance motifs, lyrical minimalism - a piano duo is an ensemble with unlimited possibilities concerning the form and mood. The Reverie Piano Duo, prizewinner of the International Competition of Polish Music in Rzeszow, is at ease with it's virtuoso repertoire thanks to it's excellent chamber music partnership.

The compositions of Andrzej Nikodemowicz, an artist closely associated with Lviv and Lublin for many years, form an auditory image of our times. Sonoristic techniques, a rich instrumental ensemble, and aleatoricism, along with a virtuoso, expressive solo violin part, create a picture of music filled with emotions-dynamic and dramatic. This aesthetic is perfectly embraced by the outstanding violinist Dominika Falger, whose brilliant technique always serves the emotional expression.

Chyrzynski: Chamber Works

Requiem is a personal piece in Lukaszewski's oeuvre, the individual movements of which are dedicated to his friends and loved ones. At the same time, everyone can relate it to the sphere of their own experiences thanks to the accessibility of the musical language used by the composer, emphasising the intimate, contemplative nature of the piece. It is the harmony suspended between the tonality of the major-minor system and the simplicity of the melody, whose task is to follow the text, which plays a leading role, that are particularly noteworthy. The Mass fits into the tradition of a consoling, comforting requiem, devoid of the threat of the Last Judgment. The colour of the work is perfectly matched by the voices of both soloists, who are able to express every emotion - regret, hope, peace - while leaving the listener space for their own emotional reactions. Despite the definitely religious nature of the composition, you can also interact with it on the level of sincere admiration for the beauty of Lukaszewski's musical language, for an elusive aura between mystery and certainty.

Celtic Harp Tales album is the essence of the magical sound of the harp. It brings out the sensitivity of the outstanding harpist Amelia Tokarska and her superb interpretation of Celtic melodies. Fifteen brand-new traditional Celtic themes adaptations written by Pawel Bilinski. Recorded entirely in the incredible Cavatina Hall concert hall and Polish Radio studio. The sound space was created by legendary sound engineer Tadeusz Mieczkowski. The album is also available in Dolby Atmos TM immersive format on top streaming platforms. With master percussionist Slawomir Berny, multi-instrumentalist Marcin Ruminski on whistles and bagpipes, outstanding violinist Krzysztof Maciejowski on 5-string electric violin with delicate addition of electronics played by Pawel Bilinski. A cinematic journey through the old Celtic stories. Released by the DUX label.

Young violinist Gabriela Balcerek, only just at the beginning of her career, confirms her great talent and natural musicality with her already second album recorded with the Sinfonia Viva orchestra. The repertoire of the album consists of stylistically diverse pieces, from Romanticism to the present; moreover, they represent the most famous violin and chamber miniatures. These are compositions by Polish and foreign composers, in which stylized folklore is intertwined with truly Romantic passion. Arranged by Tomasz Radziwonowicz for solo violin and string orchestra, they gained a new, fresh sound, in which the dense harmonic structure and parts of individual instruments approached as if they were solo instruments draw attention. Young violinist Gabriela Balcerek, only just at the beginning of her career, confirms her great talent and natural musicality with her already second album recorded with the ensemble. This is a cheerful album, at which the listener will smile more than once, following it's title. The joy of love, but also of youth and of celebrating music among artists who share energy and passion, can be heard in every sound.