The Family of Fryderyk Chopin
The Chopin family home was blessed. They were the perfect example of a loving family – dwelling within an intimate, secure atmosphere; all shared a deep, sincere love and respect for each other. During his youth, Beethoven endured a troubled relationship with his alcoholic father. Bach was orphaned at an early age and had to […]
The Maestro
The Polish-American Center can add another notable occasion to its record of events. Extraordinary in the literal and figurative sense of the word – because how many times in life can you exchange a few words with a maestro, indisputably one of the best in the world? I’m referring, of course, to our meeting with […]
Opera Circle’s Musical Marathon at the Center
This never happened before: it took place for the first time and hopefully with many repeats. The two-day performance of the Opera Circle ensemble will go down in history as a cultural event recorded in gold letters. On Saturday evening, June 26th, a piano recital featuring Jacek Sobieski took place at the Center. The following […]
Bellini 101
Were it not for the fact that I had been assisted in choosing pastries for the reception following the program by an enthusiastic set of two considerably younger siblings, I could have easily been led to believe that I was attending a lecture presented at a most prominent college of arts and humanities. The Symposium, […]
A Double Success of Composer & Performer Alike: La Straniera of Opera Circle
I shall refer to antiquity, as many a writer thus open their thoughts. In the 4th century B.C., Aristotle reflected on the capacity of music to soothe the senses, & certain forms thereof to cleanse the soul. He could not have possibly known the musical output of Bellini, since the latter lived in the 19th […]