Bronislawa Kawalla, the first prize winner at the International Bach Competition in Washington, comes from a well-known musical family. She graduated from the Secondary Music School in Krakow in the class of Maria Bilinska-Riegerowa and studied at the Higher State School of Music in Warsaw (currently the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music) in the class of Professor Jan Ekier. She polished her skills in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and Monique Haas, as well as at the Academie Internationale de Maurice Ravel with Philippe Entremont. She has recorded for Polish Radio and Television recordings, and has performed in renowned concert halls all over Europe, Canada, the USA, Latin America, and Asia. Kawalla is also devoted to pedagogical work, being a professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Appropriately, for this release she has chosen a programme of music by Chopin.

ARSO Ensemble is made up of the leaders and soloists of the Podkarpacka Philharmonic Orchestra - Robert Nasciszewski and Orest Telwach (violin), Anna Nasciszewska (cello) and Slawomir Ujek (double-bass). The ensemble plays Rossini's lesser-known Six sonatas a quarttro, penned by Rossini in 1804 at the age of 12.

Ireneusz Wyrwa (b. 1975) started playing the organ while at the Frederic Chopin State Secondary Music School. In 1999, he graduated with honors in organ performance from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music. For over 20 years, Mr. Wyrwa was an active church musician in several Polish dioceses. He is currently professor in the Department of Church Music of Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw. This DUX organ recital features works written between the 17th -19th centuries.

Among various dance forms cultivated by Frederic Chopin, the polonaises appear to be the most significant. They are the beginning of his creative journey and are not only proof of his geniues but they are also the unique genre that shows the pianistic and stylistic evolution of Chopin's work. Andrzej Pikul has many awards and accolades under his musical belt, having given many performances throughout his time as a pianist. He is a Laureate of the Polish Piano Festival, the International Competition Foundation Dziffra and the European Broadcasting Competition.

Caprice, being a virtuoso form, mainly for a solo instrument, dates back to the 19th century. In these times, instrumentalists were frequently also composers - they would create pieces adapted to their abilities and the caprice was the most virtuosic genre among them. It is also the main topic of this album. The caprices by Alfredo Piatti, recognized by Yehudi Menuhin as the cello's New Testament, are fraught with difficulties, but there are plenty of beautiful and varied melodies and counterpoints using almost all possibilities of the cello. To Anna Wr�bel, Piatti is more than virtuosity of the caprices, it is also captivating chamber music of varied atmosphere, interpreted and arranged (Andrzej Wr�bel), in a family ensemble, for two and three cellos. Anna Wr�bel is a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. She graduated in 2005 with honors from the Academy of Music Fr. Chopin in Warsaw in the class of professor Andrzej Wr�bel. In 2012 she received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the same school.

Rusalka is one of the most beautiful Czech operatic works; extremely atmospheric, with an original fairy-tale libretto. It is characterized by the subtlety of the means of musical expression (especially the masterful instrumentation), perfection of the formal structure, as well as the nobility and originality of the melodic invention. Fascinated by the beauty of Antonin Dvorak's work, the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz succeeded with a serious challenge - they conventionally integrated an entirely classical opera performance in a revitalized space of a modern city center, with it's difficult history, stretched out - what the replica of the Old Town Theatre Bridge suggests - between the two reluctant worlds, like the fairy-tale love of the title nymph and prince. The result is this breathtaking performance.

Maciej Miecznikowski, a magnificent musician with a unique voice that sounds optimum in the Romantic repertoire, along with Krzysia G�rniak, well known jazz guitarist who brings a delicate approach to her virtuosity, bring us this musical tribute on the 50th anniversary of Nat King Cole's death. These unconventional arrangements make the great American Jazzer's hits sound fresh and alive. Featured tracks include Unforgettable, Route 66, and When I Fall In Love. This tribute feels intimate- a performance "close to the ear and brimming with emotion."

This new Dux release, Slavonic Duets, features the work of four romantic era composers of Eastern European and Russian origin: Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872, Aleksandr Dargomyzski (1813-1869), Cesar Cui (1835-1918) and Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904). Dvořák stands somewhat apart here in that the other three composers remained on European soil and were known to one another personally, whereas Dvořák came to America late in life. The outstanding Polish alto and Music Academy, Gdansk professor Jadwiga Rappé and mezzo Urszula Kryger are heard in the company of pianist Mariusz Rutkowski.

Palestrina: Cantica Salomonis (Canticum Canticorum) - Montev

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is generally regarded as the inventor of melodrama- a mixture of spoken word and instrumental music. Rousseau, evoked in this recording by Jean-Rene Combes-Damien, had made quite an impact by introducing this new genre, and immediately sparked enthusiasm among his contemporaries. The A(�)IA group, created by Anja Thomas and Ivane Bellocq, is interested in a repertoire which subtly combines music and recited poetry. The poets reciting their poems are treated as instruments in the full sense of the word. They evoke whirling worlds, plenty of anxiety, and dreams. The release opens with famous German operatic composer Aribert Reimann, whose composition is built around the text by G�nter Grass. The project also features �dith Azam, Vincent Tholom� and Anja Thomas (poets), Ivane Bellocq (flutes) and Pauline Haas (harp).

Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin was a genius who created mainly piano music. All of his creative output is characterized by beautiful lyricism. This new release features Chopin’s piano works transcribed for cello and piano. This project is funded by The Cultural Education Foundation, founded by Roza Paderewska in 2010. The aim of the foundation is cultural animation carried out by varied educational and artistic activities. They also strive to promote Polish culture. This release of transcriptions, performed by outstanding artists Tomasz Strahl and Janusz Olejniczak is the next project which fits into the programme of the Foundation. Tomasz Strahl graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, cello class of Professor Kazimierz Michalik and completed a postgraduate course at Hochschule fur Musik and darstellende Kunst in Vienna under Professor Tobias Kuhne. Janusz Olejniczak is one of the most outstanding contemporary Chopin interpreters. Born in Wroclaw, he was the youngest prize-winner of the 8th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition and also won a prize in the Alfredo Casella International Competition in Naples.

Homage to Brahms

The history of Polish culture in different epochs was created by composers who were staying outside the borders of the country, dispersed in many parts of the world, marking their bounds with the homeland by their works and attitude. Karol Rathaus also belonged to that group. He was one of the few Poles of the first half of the previous century who studied and then had artistic success in the most significant musical centers of the German-speaking world. Rathaus revealed a great musical talent from a very young age. He studied composition in Vienna and Berlin before being forced to move to the United States at the onset of World War II. The present release comprises extremely rarely performed pieces that have not been recorded until now, apart from the Suite, Op. 27. Violinist Karolina Piatkowska-Nowicka graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Gdansk in the class of Professor Henryk Keszkowski. She is a prizewinner of numerous chamber music competitions in Poland and abroad. Since 2006 she has been a part of the NeoQuartet string quartet specializing in the performance of contemporary music.

Krzysztof Ksiazek, born in 1992 in Krakow, was a semi-finalist and recipient of two special prizes at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He began his musical education at the age of nine in the piano class of Grazyna Hesko-Kolodzinska at the Stanislaw Wiechowicz State Primary School of Music in Krakow. From 2005 to 2016 he studied with Professor Stefan Wojtas, first as a student of the Fryderyk Chopin State Secondary School of Music in Krakow, subsequently at the Academy of Music in Krakow and finally at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, from which he graduated in 2016. He has won numerous international awards, frequently doing so performing works by Chopin, as he presents on this release. Here, he presents Chopin's playful Mazurkas alongside a Scherzo, Prelude, Waltz, Fantasy, Nocturne, and Polonaise, giving a broad overview of the brilliant composer's oeuvre.

Roman Jablonski is considered one of the best cellists in the world. The born-in-Gdansk musician can boast a great artistic biography based on performances on the most prominent stages in the world, successes at competitions and festivals, a list of recordings including over 20 items, as well as the recognition of international critics and years-long didactic activity. The latest release by Professor Jablonski features a programme composed of masterpieces of the Polish cello music, from works by Fryderyk Chopin to contemporary pieces. Among them, a prominent place is occupied by Witold Lutoslawski's compositions, with whom Jablonski cooperated closely for many years.

There is a great deal of excellent music outside the staple repertoire calling out for attention today. These are, by and large, works written by outstanding, mostly original composers with usually interesting personalities. The four composers on this Dux release – Ignacy Feliks Dobrzynski (1807-67), Maurycy Moszkowski (1854-1925), Juliusz Zarebski (1854-85) and Roman Palester (1907-89) – fit that bill. The Ravel Piano Duo, Agnieszka Kozło and Katarzyna Ewa Sokołowska, one of Poland’s leading piano duos, concertize throughout Europe and maintain a large two-piano and four-hand repertoire.

The key of C minor was described in the Baroque era as exceptionally pleasant, gentle, and expressing both love and sadness. It even had moments of deep lament. It is perfectly outlined by the system of temperament of 1732, which was used in the organ built by Andreas Hildebrandt in Paslek, newly restored (2010-2013) and featured in this recording. Ms. Wiselka-Cieslar is Dean of Piano, Organ, Harpsichord and Period Instruments at the Academy of Music in L�dz. Her honors include a distinction of Meritorious Culture Activist (2001), the Golden Cross of Merit (2005), and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Rebirth of Poland.

ORGAN AND TRUMPET IN THE ST MA

In magnate Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, burials of the nobility necessitated an appropriately solemn ceremony. + An elaborate Castrum doloris was built, on which the deceased was solemnly laid. + An elaborate liturgical ceremony with music began, accompanied by appropriate sacred songs and instrumental intradas and such as appears on this CD. + Almost all songs performed were selected from A. Piotrkowczyk’s Processionale (Cracow, 1621). + Appropriate instrumental funeral music occupies the transitions.

Krzysztof Penderecki is one of the most famous and prominent living Polish composers. Symphonies have a special place in his legacy, but until now have never been recorded in a series under his artistic direction. In celebration of his 80th birthday, DUX presents the best performances of his works with the Sinfonia luventus. His great musical authority influences the young musicians' energetic and fresh sound.

In September 2019, the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Competition of Polish Music took place in Rzesz�w, whose main goal was to promote our native compositions and to draw the attention of musicians around the world to them. The auditions were divided into two categories (performances by pianists and chamber ensembles), which meant that, in less than 10 days, the audience had the opportunity to commune with countless extremely rarely performed gems of Polish music. We present you with selected competition interpretations of participants of auditions in both categories. In addition to the Patron's works, the albums include compositions by may Polish composers. The present album features the work of Josef Elsner, Ignacy Feliks Dobrzynski, and Zygmunt Noskowski.

Szymanowski: Piano Works

The five composers featured on this new release, Olczak, Dziadek, Luczkowski, Dixa, and Czerniewicz, are all contemporary composers whose paths crossed in the city of Gdansk. Whether their connection was by choice or by chance, all of these composers link in some way to the city. The Chamber Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Gdansk, directed by Andrzej Kacprzak, rightfully perform these works. The ensemble’s youthful freshness combined with the conductor’s experience creates a powerful combination. Professor Krzysztof Langman founded the Academic Chamber Orchestra in 1999. The ensemble was created to enable the academic youth to perform with the most prominent concertmasters of famous Polish chamber ensembles.

These world premiere recordings feature wonderful works from Pawel ?ukaszewski. His works have been performed and even premiered by such renowned choral ensembles from London and Cambridge as BBC Singers, Trinity College Choir, Britten Sinfonia and Polyphony under the direction of prominent conductors Stephen Layton and Nigel Short.

Joanna Freszel, this project’s initiator and manager, set out with this album to present the potential and creativity of young Polish composers. In addition to work by Polish composers, this album is supplemented with texts either written by Polish poets such as Mariusz Jagiello and Maja Baczynska or a literary canon. Each of these compositions was written for various vocal or instrumental sets, from piano to sextet, to six vocalists. Of this project, Freszel writes, “I particularly wanted to break a stereotypical thinking about contemporary music as hermetic and overwhelmed by incomprehensible elements. I wished to show that music can be dreamlike, intriguing, nostalgic, and also witty.”