From Chopin's
to Dąbrowski's Mazurka

Watch on vod.teatrwielki.pl

Polish romantic guitar music interpreted by an eminent guitar virtuoso, Mateusz Kowalski, at the Redutowe Rooms of the Teatr Wielki, Warsaw.

It is not popular knowledge that these were the Poles who contributed significantly to the fame and popularity of the guitar in its capacity of a virtuoso instrument holding an important place in the art of music. Masters of interpretation, improvisation, and composition captivated the highest echelons of the crème de la crème, connoisseurs of all things beautiful, and broad audiences. Hailed the king of the guitar, Stanisław Szczepanowski used to play for Queen Victoria, Marek Konrad Sokołowski enjoyed the moniker of 'the Byron of guitar' and Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz was recognised by his contemporaries as, believe it or not, 'the Chopin of the guitar'.

The programme includes Chopin’s Mazurkas transcribed for the guitar by Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz, and the great Pole’s Variations on a theme from Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Là ci darem la mano), Marek Sokołowski’s and Felix Horecki’s miniatures, and Stanisław Szczepanowski’s Variations on the theme of the Polish anthem, whose concept must have been born while the composer was improvising at a Polish émigré reunion in Paris, whose main hero was Adam Mickiewicz himself.

Celebrate Polish National Anthem Day with this concert of beautiful, extremely valuable, yet little known Polish music performed by an outstanding Polish guitarist of the young generation.

All pieces played during the concert can be found on Mateusz Kowalski's new album Polish Romantic Guitar, recently released by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, Warsaw.

Programme:

Fryderyk Chopin, Mazurka in B-flat major Op. 7 No. 1 (transcribed by Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz)
Marek Konrad Sokołowski, Diligènza postale
Fryderyk Chopin, Mazurka in A minor Op. 7 No. 2 (transcribed by Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz)
Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz, Distraction. Rondeau brilliant et facile Op. 17
Stanisław Szczepanowski, Une Larme, Morceau Expresif [Łza]
Feliks Horecki, Fantasy Op. 40
Fryderyk Chopin
Mazurka E major Op. 6 No. 3 (transcribed by Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz)
Mazurka F minor Op. 7 No. 3
Mazurka C-sharp minor Op. 6 No. 2
Mazurka F-sharp minor Op. 6 No. 1
Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz, Variations on a theme from Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Là ci darem la mano) Op. 6
Stanisław Szczepanowski, Introduction et Variations Brillantes sur un Air National [Variations on the theme of the Polish anthem]

Mateusz Kowalski – guitar