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Chopin Connections

GARRICK OHLSSON IN MADISON (April 2016)

Grammy-winning, classical pianist Garrick Ohlsson will solo in the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) concerts on April 1, 2 and 3 (see the PHC calendar entries for hours and location). He will perform Brahm's concerto but Ohlsson's return to Madison is a great opportunity to remember his extraordinary ties with Polish music.

Ohlsson's career of internationally renowned performer took off literally overnight when in 1970, he became the first (and so far the only one) American to win first price in the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition (Międzynarodowy Konkurs Pianistyczny im. Fryderyka Chopina). What made this feat possible was the young Garrick's astonishingly spirited performance - but also the immense prestige of the competition itself.

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After establishing himself as a pianist with enormous repertoire, Ohlsson became also one of the world's leading performers of Chopin's music and one of the very few pianists who took on a colossal challenge of recording the complete set of Chopin's works. His masterly recording was published under the Hyperion Records label but remains unavailable in Madison libraries.

 

 

Another Polish link in the MSO concert is the Concerto for Orchestra No.1 by Steven Stucky (1949-2016) ). This Pulitzer-winning composer was a widely-recognized expert on Polish composer Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994). Not surprisingly, Stucky's concert contains some textures resembling Lutosławski’s own Concerto for Orchestra, which the MSO will perform for the first time in Madison next year.

 

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Wielkanocna Święconka (the blessing of Easter baskets) is one of the most adored and distinctively Polish traditions adding a special spark to Easter celebrations in Poland and Polish communities around the world.

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The most recent ceremony took place on Holy Saturday (Wielka Sobota) on March 26th.  Many people came and it was fun.

Easter celebrations culminate on Easter Sunday (Niedziela Wielkanocna ) but in Poland they continue on Easter Monday. This day is also known as  Wet Monday ("lany poniedziałek" or "śmigus-dyngus") for the tradition of boys and girls dousing each other with water. 

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Polish Spring

Festival 

gallery coming soon 

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Polish Spring Festival 

Join us on Palm Sunday (March 20th, 10am-3pm) to celebrate Polish Easter traditions and enjoy Polish food, crafts, music and various fun activitities.

 

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Watch how to decorate Easter eggs (depending on the region and technique, known as pisanki, kraszanki, drapanki, oklejanki, nalepianki and so on)

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 Browse through a selection of Easter palms (palmy wielkanocne), Easter lambs (baranki wielkanocne), head wraths (wianki) and other handicrafts.

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Hunt for a piece of the fine amber jewelry or Bolesławiec pottery, a good Polish book or CD

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Try your luck in a raffle for a chance to win one of several baskets loaded with Polish goodies (food and drink) while children can play at the activity table

 

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Have a great lunch with the choice of pierogi, kiszka, kiełbasa, sauerkraut - all in the festive atmosphere filled with music by Pat "Blue Accordion" Stone and Tom Wasikowski

You can also buy food to take it home (while supplies last). 

 

CLICK HERE FOR LOCATION and CONTACT INFORMATION

 

 Open to the Public   Free admission   Ample parking   Wheelchair accessible

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