The Vancouver Chopin Society (Chopin Society) proudly opens its milestone 20th anniversary season with Maria Pomianowska and her Folk Band in A Journey into Chopin’s musical inspiration, October 14, 3pm & 7:30pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. This two-part performance begins with Pomianowska, the renowned Polish musician, composer, and vocalist, alongside a virtuosic ensemble. Together, these artists will conjure the traditional sounds of the Polish countryside once inspiration to composer Frédéric Chopin, and accompany performances by Vancouver’s own Polonez Dance Group. For the thrilling second half, 30 performers – including local acclaimed string and world music artists – will imagine Chopin’s cross-cultural collaborations in 21st century Paris.
“Since we began 20 years ago, the Chopin Society has sought out the world’s top piano soloists and Chopin experts,” says Chopin Society president Iko Bylicki. “In honour of this landmark season, which coincides with Canada’s 150th year, we share a monumental musical experience celebrating our country’s diversity. Bringing international and local artists of various backgrounds together, we reveal the Polish folk songs and dances that fuelled Chopin’s genius. By uncovering Chopin’s roots in this way, and bridging his compositions with the sounds of many cultures, we aim to give Chopin interpreters exciting new insight into his music. For first-time audiences, we hope that this concert will spark a life-long passion for the music of this great composer.”
Performing on instrument replicas of Chopin’s era, while joined by Polonez Dance Group, Pomianowska and her band will share unparalleled renditions of mazurki and polkas, Polish folk dances that Chopin would have witnessed often in his youth. Professor of the Academy of Music in Krakow, Pomianowska is a famed specialist in the music of Poland, as well as that of a range of cultures as cultivated in her extensive travels to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
For this program, Pomianowska will lead a journey to Chopin’s homebase of Paris, France, and envisage his artistic encounters more than 150 years later in this city, which is now a hotbead of multi-ethnic music and cross-genre fusions.
The Vancouver Chopin Society presents Maria Pomianowska and her Folk Band
Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 3pm and 7:30pm
Ticket prices: Students: $15 Adults: $34 - $59
Address: Vancouver Playhouse 600 Hamilton Street V6B 2P1
Box Office: chopinsociety.org or 604-822-2697
Website: chopinsociety.org
Photo by Maria Pomianowska