The screening will be accompanied by live music created by the famous Polish composer Jerzy Maksymiuk. It will be performed by the Wrocław Chamber Orchestra LEOPOLDINUM and conducted by the composer himself.

 

Jerzy Maksymiuk

Born the 9th April 1936 in Grodno, he was supposed to become a pianist. Instead, he became a conductor. He has been composing music since he was 13 years old. He is one of the most outstanding Polish conductors and an amazing creator. He became famous as the chief conductor of the Polish Chamber Orchestra, with which he toured the world in the seventies. Under his baton, the orchestra played in such concert halls as the New York Carnegie Hall, London Proms and Wiener Ferein. It is in “Maksymiuk’s orchestra” that the no less famous Sinfonia Varsovia originated in 1984. At the top of his career, in 1984, he took the post of chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow, with which he toured Europe for 13 years. For his work with that orchestra he was awarded the titles of Conductor Laureate and Doctor of Letters at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

He has performed with such famous groups as: London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic.

He has created around 200 first performances of modern music. He has made over a 100 records (with EMI, Hyperion and Naxos, among others). He is a composer of film music and has cooperated with many famous Polish directors: Wojciech J. Has, Krzysztof Zanussi, Ewa and Czesław Petelski, Tadeusz Makarczyński and many others. Maksymiuk’s works include the music for over 40 movies.

(…) I need to see the musician, hear his or her breath, see the movements of the frock or the dress, the facial expression; feel the atmosphere of the room and the creaking of the instruments.

(Jerzy Maksymiuk, “Gazeta Łódzka”, 12th July 2001)

 

 

Wrocław Chamber Orchestra LEOPOLDINUM

The Wrocław Chamber Orchestra LEOPOLDINUM was founded over 30 years ago and its name refers to one of the most precious monuments of Central Europe’s Baroque architecture: the Aula Leopoldina at the University of Wrocław. The orchestra belongs to one of the Wrocław Philharmonic ensembles and will be a part of the future National Forum of Music in Wrocław.

The ensemble, bringing together outstanding musicians, earned substantial critical and public acclaim after making its appearance at such venues as the Philharmonie and Schauspielhaus in Berlin, the Tivolis Koncertsal in Copenhagen, the Teatro Victoria Eugenia in San Sebastian; as well as at many festivals. Since 2007 the post of Artistic Director has been held by Ernst Kovacic – a violinist and conductor.

The orchestra has recorded several albums, including Rossini’s Gala with Ewa Podleś (contralto), which received the Polish Phonographic Academy Award Fryderyk 1999. Under the direction of Ernst Kovacic, the orchestra has recorded six CDs. Ernst Křenek – Symphonic Elegy has been highly praised in the prestigious music magazines “Diapason”, “Fanfare” and “The Strad”.
www.leopoldinum.art.pl

 

To accompaniment of the orchestra, a special guest, Joanna Trzepiecińska, will perform “After romance” to the lyrics by Ewa Piasecka-Maksymiuk. The actress will appear in a dress specially designed by Viola Spechowicz.