The Intuitionists BY Rafał KsiężykMusic The Grupa w Składzie and Andrzej Bieżan anthologies released in early 2014 along with the upcoming Tie Break box set offer a good view of avant-garde jazz in Poland
Three composers BY John BiweeklyMusic Music collection containing almost all the works by Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki is now online
WHO’S WHO: Sławomir Kupczak BY Filip LechMusic ‘My audience isn’t always aware that I don’t treat all the musical gestures I write down in my scores seriously’ – says the composer about the risks of using humour
And We Break Down Ourselves BY Joanna RoszakMusic Coetzee’s libretto doesn’t span the entirety of the book; together with composer Nicolas Lens, the author shifts his focus to three characters, whom director Maja Kleczewska describes as ‘suspended in lasting’ – Joanna Roszak on Coetzee and Lens’ ‘Slow Man’
The Only Thing Shocking Left in Theatre Talk with Stephen WadsworthMusic You can make King Roger not gay or gay, you can be just as open as you want to be, but this sensual awareness is one aspect of the piece you can’t get away from – Stephen Wadsworth speaks about intimacy and directing ‘King Roger’, which premiered 21 July 2012 in the Santa Fe Opera
Soyka’s Homage to Niemen BY Tomasz CyzMusic Soyka sings in a style all his own without blurring the wonderfulness of the original, yet without dooming himself to inevitable failure in a vocal duel with Niemen
Fear of Man BY Tomasz CyzMusic The sound of Poppea is subtle and airy; thanks to the perfection of Sylvain Cambreling and Klangforum Wien, the piece is like a fine cobweb – ‘L’incoronazione di Poppea’ directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski in Madrid
Everything in Opera Leaves a Mark Talk with Krzysztof WarlikowskiMusic Premiering a drama production leaves me wondering what it is that I want to talk about in my next piece. I don’t really know anything about the next subject or work that I’d like to or could direct. Unlike the opera, which opens up a world of opportunities
Classical, Almost Popular Talk with Robert PiotrowiczMusic I recently had a rather arduous conversation with a certain musician about the concept of ‘sexiness’ in music. The term ‘sexy’ provoked such consternation that you would think I was talking about the paranormal or was using marketing lingo
The Three Colors of Jazz Talk with Piotr DamasiewiczMusic Sculptors and painters could teach musicians silence, because today’s music is dominated by chaos, and the loudness or decibel level is only getting higher, sadly – Piotr Damasiewicz
Penderecki & Greenwoodby Nonesuch Records Talk with Jonny GreenwoodMusic Nonesuch Records releases an album of works by Krzysztof Penderecki and Radiohead composer and guitarist Jonny Greenwood, recorded in Alvernia Studios, on 13 March 2012. Artists’ compositions premiered during the European Culture Congress in September 2011. Their concert will be held again on 22 March in Barbican in London