kultura

		Two showings of the Symmetry directed by Konrad Niewolski, comprised a Polish contribution to the European Film Festival organized by the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. in Fall 2004. Symmetry, described as a striking visual experience, despite or because of—its all-prison settings attracted dozes of movie enthusiasts. The picture, winner of the Critics Award of the Polish Film Festival; Karlovy Vary, Toronto Festivals, tells a story in which, one
		minute, unassuming Arkadiusz Detmer is leaving a movie on a rainy night; the next he's facing time in the slammer when a woman who's been assaulted picks him out of a lineup. Keyed by a vibrant musical score, Detmer's nervous rookie inmate decides to join the hardened "regulars," leading to a powerful, seemingly inevitable conclusion. Directed/written by Konrad Niewolski; produced by Krzysztof Dobosz.

Ewa Podleś, a widely recognized Polish contralto, accompanying on piano by Ania Marchwinska, gave another spectacular concert at the Shriver Hall at the Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus in Baltimore, as a part of the Edition of the Shriver Hall Concert Series. The Series are “dedicated to maintaining the high level of artistry, the drive to reach as many people as possible, and the search for new ways to touch our audiences with the art of music” describe organizers.
Considered to be one of the world's foremost contraltos, native of Poland singer, was recently heralded by one critic for “her distinctive dramatic voice of staggering range, agility, and amplitude.” , Ewa Podleś, the subject of a February cover story in Opera News, has appeared in every major opera house and recital hall in the world, with her current season highlighted by Verdi: a debut with the Michigan Opera Theater and the Collegiate Chorale (‘Ulrica’ in Un Ballo in Maschera at Carnegie Hall), the Opera Company of Philadelphia (‘Eboli’ in Don Carlo, and Florentine Opera of Milwaukee (as ‘Azucena’ in Il Trovatore.
Program of the concert included compositions by Fryderyk Chopin, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Gioachino Rossini and Johannes Brahms.

The historic chambers of the Embassy of Poland provided a welcoming ambiance a unique musical event, on October 13, 2004. The Walasek Family String Quartet of Warsaw entertained gathered audience with a selection of compositions, including such great composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Stanislaw Moniuszko, Frederic Chopin and Dmitri Shostakovich. The Quartet, considered to be "....in the elite of today's string quartets" (the Algemaine, Germany) in September and October 2004 toured the United States on the invitation of Intermuse and co-sponsored by Towson University, the Polish Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Poland in the US. The Quartet has been among the leading European musical ensembles for the last decade. It is a genuine family quartet featuring Wojciech Walasek Sr. (cello), his daughter Emilia (violin II), and his two sons Wojciech Jr. (violin I), and Kamil (viola). All graduated with distinction from the Chopin Music Conservatory/Academy in Warsaw.
Wojciech Walasek Sr., founder of this quartet, was also the founding member of the acclaimed Wilanow Quartet and the principal cellist with the Polish National Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently, he is professor of chamber music at the acclaimed Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw and Guest Professor in Seoul, Korea. For his outstanding musical career, he received several awards including The Medal of Merit for Cultural Achievements form the Government of Poland. The Walasek Quartet has frequently performed in Poland and abroad, particularly in Germany, Lithuania, Korea, and Russia. In March 2000, the Quartet performed a special concert in Berlin in the presence of the presidents of Germany, Croatia, Hungary, and Mozambique. They have also cooperated with the Tokyo and Julliard Quartets. Since 2000, the Walasek Quartet resides at the Frederic Chopin Music Conservatory/Academy in Warsaw. In 2002 and 2003, they were invited to join the faculty of the European Master Course and Festival in Warsaw/Janowiec. Although their repertory includes music from virtually all countries, they specialize in performing Polish and Slavic works. Recently, they published a CD- selected works by Mozart and Polish composers. (Source: Tadeusz Mirecki, Information: Cecylia Barczyk)

		With the support of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C., the Carnegie International 2005 presents works of two Polish artists Katarzyna Kozyra and Pawel Althamer. Kozyra and Althamer are among the 38 artist from five continents to present their works in the 54^th edition of this North America’s longest-running, and one of the most prestigious, exhibition series of contemporary art. It features this year paintings, sculpture, photography, film, video, works on paper and performing and designer arts by established and emerging international artists. More than 400 works are being presented. Each artist occupies separate space to present his/her creations. The exhibition, organized and hosted by the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, PA, is on view through March 20, 2005.