News
A musical thriller
Two UR classics artists, flutist Zofia Neugebauer and trombonist Polina Tarasenko, were invited by the Philharmonie Luxembourg to take part in a major educational project “La mystérieuse inconnue” or “The mysterious stranger”, in which they were able to showcase not only their musical talent but also their acting skills and language knowledge. A new project is on the horizon!
UR classics artists in the Czech Republic
Our artists are conquering other European countries: Zofia Neugebauer made her Czech debut on 11 January with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in Olomouc under the direction of Christian Knüsel. www.klasikaplus.cz wrote about her interpretation of Jacques Ibert’s flute concerto: “Zofia Neugebauer has developed into a top concert artist, her flute sounded with a beautifully arched cantilena and, above all, with sparkling runs and absolutely intonation-safe coloratura.” For Piotr Pławner it was a reunion with conductor Petr Vronský, this time with the North Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra Teplice and the magnificent 2nd Violin Concerto by Karol Szymanowski.
Scandinavia and Spain
The last two months of the year at UR classics were dominated by Scandinavia and Spain: following her debut with the Royal Swedish Ballet at the beginning of the year, Ewa Strusińska returned to the Jönköpings Sinfonietta and the Uppsala Chamber Orchestra in November. Before conducting a New Year’s Eve concert at the Royal Swedish Opera, she made her debut with the Orquesta Filharmónica de Gran Canaria in a charity concert. In December, Paul Goodwin conducted a series of Christmas concerts in Madrid and the surrounding area with the Camerata of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia. And Florian Csizmadia rehearsed shortly before Christmas with the Orquesta Filharmónica de Málaga for three New Year’s concerts. In November, Polina Tarasenko played the German premiere of the trombone concerto by Finnish composer Kalevi Aho with the Münster Symphony Orchestra under Golo Berg.
Musical Cornucopia – from Henry Purcell to Mark-Anthony Turnage
The whole spectrum of occidental music history was presented by Paul Goodwin in October with concerts in Kraków and Warsaw: with the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra he performed Karol Szymanowski’s rarely heard, extremely humorous composition Mandragora, the Flute Concerto by Stanisław Skrowaczewski and the complete Firebird by Stravinsky. Then, at the end of October, there was a most unusual programme conceived by Paul Goodwin, with compositions by Purcell, Handel, Elgar, Turnage, Ravel and an arrangement of Richard Strauss’ Dance Suite of piano pieces by François Couperin and passages from Couperin’s Nouveaux concerts.
Happy orchestra musicians, enthusiastic audiences of all ages and very positive press in both cities – it was an all round successful month for Paul Goodwin!
Nominations of our artists for the Opernwelt Award
Two artists of UR classics have been nominated for the 2023 Award by Opernwelt magazine: Svetoslav Borisov as Best Conductor for Ariadne auf Naxos at the Theater Magdeburg and Ania Vegry as Best Soprano for her interpretation of the role of Violeta in La Traviata at the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau. Congratulations!
Prize for Polina Tarasenko at the International Aeolus Wind Competition 2023
The top-class jury of the 17th International Aeolus Wind Competition 2023 has chosen the prize winners after the final concert in the Tonhalle Düsseldorf with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra: Polina Tarasenko is the overall winner in the trombone category and received the 3rd prize in the overall ranking of all categories. In addition to the cash prize, the prize includes a scholarship for three concert engagements.
Elai Grisaru, member of the Anima Trombone Quartet and solo trombonist of the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, was awarded 4th prize. UR classics congratulates both musicians and looks forward to our further collaboration!
Festival summer for our artists
The summer months are holiday time for most people – but not for our artists, who can be heard at various festivals throughout Europe: Polina Tarasenko performed with the New Lausitz Philharmonic Orchestra at Lake Olbersdorf near Zittau in early July before appearing at the “Lange Nächte der Gipfelstürmer” of the Gezeitenkonzerte Ostfriesland; later in July she can be heard as part of the “Junge Elite” of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival at Bothmer Castle. Adolfo Gutiérrez Arenas is invited to the SoNoRo Festival Musikland in Romania and Zofia Neugebauer plays with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland. Svetoslav Borisov conducts a new production of Don Pasquale at the Varna Summer Theatre, Paul Goodwin leads the Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz at the opening concert of the Mosel Music Festival on 16 July and Ewa Strusińska makes her debut in the far north at an open air concert with the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra in Tromsø at the end of August.
Spanish debut of Ewa Strusińska – a great success
With works by Shostakovich and Beethoven, Ewa Strusińska made her Spanish debut at the end of last week at the invitation of José María Moreno, Artistic Director of the Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra. Musicians and audiences alike were thrilled, and the press wrote: “There is no alchemy in the Polish conductor’s directing, only an invaluable clarity of ideas and a coherent, organic discourse from beginning to end… It is a pity that we will have to wait at least two seasons for a possible return of the Polish conductor to the Philharmonic podium.”