KUWAIT, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- Music lovers and friends of Poland celebrated the European country's Independence Day with a special gala concert Friday evening, featuring renowned Polish pianist Karolina Marchlewska.
"On November 11, 1918, after 123 years of armed struggle, Poland regained sovereignty. During this difficult period there was no Polish state, but the national identity was vibrant," said Polish Charge d'Affaires Robert Dziedzic on this occasion.
He explained that "one means of free expression for the Polish nation was music," adding that the music of Fryderyk Chopin, the greatest composer of that time "carried pride, longing, as well as happiness and hope for a better future, lifting the spirits of Poles scattered all around the world."
Dziedzic said Chopin's music spoke a message understandable to all mankind, and hoped that this event would further promote Polish-Kuwaiti ties and cultural cooperation.
The concert was organized by Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia (KCP), which is also celebrating its 15th anniversary this month.
KCP Co-Founders Cezary Owerkowicz and Witold Wnuk, both Poles, thanked the circle of music lovers that had made the classical music concerts organized over the past 15 years a success.
They said music was a "very important bond of common understanding between peoples, cultures, civilizations and generations."
The evening began with music by Adam Jarzebski (1590-1648) performed by Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia Quartet: Joanna Kawalla and Dragon Markovic on the violin, Witold Wnuk on the cello, and Cezary Wnuk on the piano.
The visiting musician, Poland's Marchlewska, played a selection of music pieces composed by Chopin (1810-1849). She also played pieces by Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937), J.S. Bach (1685-1750), W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) and M. Ravel (1875-1937).
Marchlewska is a graduate of Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland, and is the winner of several music competitions since childhood -- at 16 she won the first prize and three special prizes at the Paderewski Piano Competition.
She won the International Piano Competition in Greece in 1998, the French Music Interpretation Competition in 1999, and the third prize at the Polish Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 2000.The pianist has performed recitals and symphonic concerts in Poland, France, Germany, Finland, Spain, Belgium, and Kuwait.
