Silesian String Quartet
The Silesian String Quartet is a string quartet founded in 1978 by the graduates of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. Its current members are:
- Szymon Krzeszowiec (violin I)
- Arkadiusz Kubica (violin II)
- Łukasz Syrnicki (viola)
- Piotr Janosik (cello)
Silesian String Quartet | |
---|---|
Origin | Katowice, Poland |
Genres | Contemporary classical |
Occupation(s) | Chamber ensemble |
Years active | 1978-present |
Members | Szymon Krzeszowiec, violin Arkadiusz Kubica, violin Łukasz Syrnicki, viola Piotr Janosik, cello |
Past members | Marek Moś (original member, 1978-98), violin |
History
In 1978, graduates of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice founded the Silesian String Quartet. They participated in masterclasses with such artists as, among others, the musicians of the LaSalle Quartet, Amadeus, Juilliard, Smetana and Alban Berg string quartets.
In 1993, the Silesian Quartet launched an annual chamber music festival held under the motto "Silesian Quartet and its guests".
Since 2005, the Self-Government of Gliwice has been the patron of The Silesian String Quartet and the Music Theatre of Gliwice has been its partner.[1]
Performances
Festivals
The ensemble performed at numerous festivals, including: Berliner Musiktage, Time of Music in Viitasaari (Finland), Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), West Cork Chamber Music Festival (Ireland), Festiv´Alpes in Grenoble (France), Inventionen in Berlin, Musicorama in Hong Kong, Festival de Saint-Denis in Paris, Wien Modern (Austria), EuroArt in Prague (Czech Republic), Contemporary Music Festival Melos-Etos in Bratislava (Slovakia), Musique de Amitié Festival in Biel, Bornholms-Musik Festival, Musikhost in Odense and the World Music Days in Amsterdam, Warsaw Autumn (Poland), Penderecki Festival in Kraków (Poland), Poznań Music Spring (Poland), the Polish Contemporary Music Festival in Wrocław (Poland), Tongyeong International Music Festival (South Korea).[2]
Concert halls
The Silesian String Quartet has given over 1000 concerts, attracting enthusiastic critical response, in many European countries, as well as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Hong Kong. It has appeared at some of the world´s most prestigious concert halls including Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Vredenburg in Utrecht, De Unie in Rotterdam, De Singel in Antwerp, Schauspielhaus in Berlin, Tivoli in Copenhagen, Tonhalle in Düsseldorf, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Merkin Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and Jordan Hall in Boston. The Silesian String Quartet also worked with radio stations in Germany (RIAS, SFB, WDR), the Netherlands (NOS), Greece and the Czech Republic.
Cooperation
The Silesian String Quartet performed with other eminent artists such as: Dmitri Ashkenazy, Andrzej Bauer, Eduard Brunner, Bruno Canino, Martin Frost, Stefan Kamasa, Jadwiga Kotnowska, Eugeniusz Knapik, Karri Krikku, Waldemar Malicki, Jerzy Marchwiński, Janusz Olejniczak, Piotr Pławner, Ewa Pobłocka, Ewa Podleś, Jadwiga Rappe, Hokan Rosengren, Jan Stanienda, Hary Sparnay, Wojciech Świtała, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Krystian Zimerman.
Repertoire
The Silesian String Quartet's repertoire includes over 300 pieces of chamber literature, of which almost 200 were written by 20th-century composers. More than 100 works, by Polish and foreign composers, were premiered by the Silesian String Quartet. These were, among other works:
- Rafał Augustyn – String quartet no. 2 (with flute, 1983)
- Stanisław Krupowicz – Only Beatrix (with tape, 1989)
- Grażyna Krzanowska – String quartets nos. 2 and 3
- Andrzej Krzanowski – Relief no. 9 (with tape, 1989), Reminiscenza B
- Aleksander Lasoń – String quartets nos. 2, 6 and 7
- Edward Sielicki – String quartet
- Witold Szalonek – Inside? Outside? (with bass clarinet); Symphony of rituals (2002)
- Paweł Szymański – Five pieces for string quartet (1992)
- Eugeniusz Knapik – String quartet (1980)
- VSTO [version 1] – String quartet (1989)
Awards and decorations
The Silesian Quartet was awarded many prizes at international musical competitions got a number of Polish awards and decorations, including:[3]
- 2008 Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis
- 2005: "CD of the year 2005", « Hi-Fi Muzyka» Magazine (the album « Republique »)
- 2002: Warsaw Autumn Music Award "Orfeusz"
- 1999: Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
- 1998: honorary badge Meritorious Activist of Culture
- 1996, 1998, 2005: Polish CD Award "Fryderyk" for recordings of works by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Witold Lutosławski, Karol Szymanowski and Ernest Chausson
- 1992: Mayor of Katowice’s Artistic Award
- 1990: Stanisław Wyspiański Award for Young Artists
- 1988: Katowice Province Governor Artistic Award
- 1984, 1988: UNESCO International Composers´ Rostrum for the recording of string quartets by Eugeniusz Knapik and Aleksander Lasoń
- 1981: Poznań Music Spring (1981)
- 1979: Contemporary Music Competition in Kraków
Discography
Year | Album details | Recorded works | Label |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | STALOWA WOLA GENERATION Chamber music album of 6 CDs Agata Zubel – soprano |
Andrzej Krzanowski |
Stowarzyszenie Musica Pro Bono |
2010 | ALEKSANDER TANSMAN TOMBEAU DE CHOPIN |
Aleksander Tansman: Sextuor á cordes for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Stowarzyszenie Promocji Kultury im. Aleksandra Tansmana www.tansman.lodz.pl |
2010 | RAFAŁ AUGUSTYN DO UT DES MUSIC FOR AND WITH QUARTET |
Rafał Augustyn: String Quartet No.1 |
www.cdaccord.com.pl www.universalmusic.pl |
2010 | STANISŁAW KRUPOWICZ – “TYLKO BEATRYCZE” String quartets and computer |
Stanisław Krupowicz: Goodbye variations on a theme by Mozart |
Musica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD004 |
2009 | GET STRING Danish contemporary string quartets |
JENS VOIGT-LUND: Circuitous, Mountains (1999) |
dacapo CD 8.226530 |
2009 | STRING QUARTETS / POLAND ABROAD Silesian String Quartet |
Joachim Mendelson (1897-1943): String Quartet no.1 |
www.eda-records.com EDA 34 |
2008 | ALEKSANDER TANSMAN – OD TRIA DO OKTETU VOL. 1 |
A. Tansman: Suite divertissement for piano quartet |
Stowarzyszenie Promocji Kultury im. A. Tansmana CD257 |
2008 | ANDRZEJ DZIADEK – chosen works Silesian String Quartet |
A. Dziadek: String quartet no. 2 |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD086 |
2008 | HELENA TULVE – LIJNEN Silesian String Quartet |
H. Tulve: nec ros, nec pluvia... for string quartet |
ECM New Series ECM 1955 476 6389 |
2008 | HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI – STRING QUARTETS Silesian String Quartet |
H. M. Górecki: Already It Is Dusk, music for string quartet (String quartet no. 1) op. 62 |
EMI Music Poland EMI 50999 2 36313 2 8 |
2008 | ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI IN MEMORIAM Silesian String Quartet |
A. Krzanowski – Audition no. 6 for soprano and string quartet |
Musica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD003 |
2007 | ALEKSANDER LASOŃ Silesian String Quartet |
A. Lasoń: String quartet no. 1 |
Musica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD001 |
2006 | PAWEŁ SZYMAŃSKI CHAMBER WORKS |
P. Szymański: Five pieces for string quartet |
EMI Music Poland EMI 0946 3 84393 2 5 |
2006 | ALEKSANDER LASOŃ Silesian String Quartet |
A. Lasoń: String quartet no. 5 ”Five and a half of a string quartet” |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD076 |
2005 | REPUBLIQUE Silesian String Quartet
|
songs composed by Grzegorz Ciechowski arranged by Stefan Sendecki |
EMI Music Poland EMI 0946 3 46038 2 9 |
2005 | WITOLD LUTOSŁAWSKI / WITOLD SZALONEK Silesian String Quartet |
W. Lutosławski: String quartet |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD069 |
2004 | ERNEST CHAUSSON Bruno Canino – piano |
E. Chausson: Concerto in D major op. 21 for piano, violin and string quartet |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD062 |
2004 | ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI / ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK Silesian String Quartet |
A. Krzanowski: Relief no. 5 for cello solo |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD065 |
2003 | SALON BIELAJEWA Silesian String Quartet |
A. Glazunov – Waltz from "Novelettes" op.15 |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD048 |
2003 | MAX E. KELLER Silesian String Quartet |
Max E. Keller: 2 String Quartet (1995) |
Musiques Suisses/Grammont Portrait MGB CTS-M 84 |
2003 | DANCES ...AND AFTER DANCES Silesian String Quartet CD nominated for the Fryderyk Award |
Dances: Joseph Haydn – String Quartet D- minor Op. 103 |
C&P POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A PRK CD 054 |
2003 | ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK / ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI Silesian String Quartet CD nominated for the Fryderyk Award |
A. Panufnik: String quartet no. 1 |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD056 |
2003 | WITOLD SZALONEK Silesian String Quartet |
W. Szalonek: 1+1+1+1 per 1-4 strumenti ad arco |
Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD058 |
2001 | GENERATION '51 Silesian String Quartet |
Aleksander Lasoń – String Quartet No 2 (1987) |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK CD027 |
2001 | CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY Silesian String Quartet |
Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in F-minor op.95 "Serioso" |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK CD042 |
2000 | FRYDERYK CHOPIN: Piano concerto No. 1 |
Fryderyk Chopin: Piano concerto No 1 E-minor op.11 |
RECITAL COMPANY PRODUCTIONS (BELGIUM) RCP 011 |
1999 | GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ Silesian String Quartet |
Grażyna Bacewicz: Piano Quintet No.1 (1952) |
C&P POLSKIE RADIO S.A. WARSZAWA PRCD 126 |
1998 | MINIATURES OF THE 20TH CENTURY Silesian String Quartet |
Charles Ives – Scherzo (1903–04) |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 028 |
1998 | THE MAGIC OF FUGUE Silesian String Quartet
|
Ludwig van Beethoven: |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 038 |
1997 | KAROL SZYMANOWSKI, WITOLD LUTOSŁAWSKI: STRING QUARTETS
|
Karol Szymanowski: String Quartet No. 1 |
CD ACCORD ACD 037 |
1997 | STEFAN WOLPE Silesian String Quartet |
Stefan Wolpe: String Quartet (1969) |
CPO 999 090-2 |
1997 | MINIATURES Silesian String Quartet
|
J. Haydn – String Quartet D- minor Op. 103 |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 021 |
1997 | JOHANNES BRAHMS – JULIUSZ ZARĘBSKI: PIANO QUINTETS
|
Johannes Brahms: Piano quintet in F minor op. 34 |
POLSKIE NAGRANIA |
1995 | EMSDETTENER TOTENTANZ Silesian String Quartet |
William Thomas McKinley: Emsdettener Totentanz |
MMC Recordings MMC 2046 |
1995 | VI SILESIAN DAYS OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC 1994 Silesian String Quartet |
Andrzej Krzanowski: Reminiscenza b for a string quartet |
ZKP / Katowice ZKP KE 001 |
1994 | FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET AMITIE Silesian String Quartet |
Claude Debussy: Quatuor en sol mineur, Op.10 |
R&C SONORIS RECORDS SCD 105 |
1994 | WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Silesian String Quartet |
W. A. Mozart: Divertimento D- major KV 136 |
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE PRK 008 |
1994 | ZYGMUNT KRAUZE Silesian String Quartet |
Zygmunt Krauze: Quatuor a cordes No.3 |
THESIS PARIS TH 82059 |
1994 | KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI: MUSICA DA CAMERA |
Krzysztof Penderecki: Quartetto per archi No.1 |
WERGO SCHALPLATTEN GMBH MAINZ WER 6258-2 |
1995 | HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI Silesian String Quartet |
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki: Sonata, Op. 10, for Two Violins |
OLIMPIA COMPACT DISCS Ltd.& SOUND-POL WARSAW OCD 375 |
1992 | STRAVINSKY & SZYMANOWSKI: COMPLETE WORKS FOR STRING QUARTET Silesian String Quartet |
Karol Szymanowski: String Quartet No.1 |
PARTRIGE B.V. THE NETHERLANDS 1138-2 |
1992 | ALEKSANDER TANSMAN: COMPLETE MUSIC FOR STRING QUARTET Silesian String Quartet |
CD 1.: Aleksander Tansman: |
ETCETERA RECORDS B.V.AMSTERDAM KTC 2017 |
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2011-12-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Culture.pl. "Silesian Quartet - Biography | Artist". Culture.pl. Retrieved 2016-09-15.