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A Fusion of Classical & Jazz to Ignite the Senses

Announcement posted by PolArt 2015 Melbourne 22 Dec 2015

With an astounding collection of international and local artists PolArt 2015 Melbourne comes alive giving Melbournians a sensory feast.

Sunday 3 January 2016 brings a world class event to Hamer Hall in one Gala Concert, filled with premiers, variety and stirring performances that capture the essence of Polish music.

For the first time in its 82 year history, the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra will perform at Hamer Hall. The 60 piece orchestra will be expertly conducted by Mark Sheill. Mark Shiell has established a reputation as one of the leading Australian conductors of his generation. His passionate music-making will invigorate audiences of all ages conducting Chopin with a full orchestra.

Poland has a rich history in jazz, stemming over 100 years. What makes Polish jazz so unique is its role in the quest for democracy and political freedom during the communist period and its being deeply rooted in Polish traditional culture.

Direct from Poland the Concert will feature the unique performances of Jagodziński Trio who embody Poland’s rich jazz history. Acclaimed all over the world, the Jagodziński Trio have demonstrated how even Chopin can be jazzed up.

The jazz foray continues with Poland’s Anna Maria Jopek, one of the most charismatic and original voices in European music. Anna Maria is a classically trained pianist and graduated from Chopin's Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. After briefly studying in Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Department, Anna decided not to play Mozart concertos anymore and traded her beloved Ravel for Keith Jarrett, and the Philharmonic Hall for small, smoky clubs and theatres.

The PolArt 2015 Melbourne Gala Concert is filled with an array of talent rarely found in one event and certainly will be an incredible beginning to the 2016 concert calendar.

The Gala Concert commences at 2pm on 3 January 2016. Tickets and further information are available at www.polart2015.com.au. 

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For more information about the Zelman Memorial Symphony: http://zelmansymphony.org.au/

About Anna Maria Jopek:

Anna Maria Jopek has sold one million records in Poland alone and has won every prominent Polish music award possible. Her musical endeavours include collaborations with outstanding local and international artists including Pat Metheny, Bobby McFerrin, Ivan Lins, Youssou N’Dour, Makoto Ozone and Richard Bona.

AMJ admits it was traditional Polish music (her parents were part of a legendary Polish folk ensemble) combined with her “classical upbringing” (as a pianist she graduated from F.Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw) that has left the biggest imprint on her musical consciousness.

Inspired by the works of Chopin, Moniuszko, Szymanowski and even of renaissance Wenceslas from Szamotuły, AMJ collides modal nostalgia with feisty Polish dance rhythms — triggering jazz improvisation and giving listeners a chance of discovering universal space of eclectic sound, beyond time and borders.

About the Jagodziński Trio:

The Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio – Andrzej Jagodzinski, Adam Cegielski and Czesław Bartkowski – has won acclaim all over the world and is now celebrating 21 years of their music-making.

The first Andrzej Jagodzinski album of jazzed-up Chopin, recorded in 1993, was showered with awards. Their latest, original recording came to life to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary performance. “Andrzej Jagodzinski – Piano Concerto in G Minor” – a composition for a jazz trio and a symphony orchestra was recorded with the renowned Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wojciech Zielinski