American dream
Finale of the 45th artistic season / Inauguration of the 28th International Nova Music and Architecture Festival
Performers:
- Paweł Tomaszewski - piano
- Dainius Pavilionis - conductor
- Toruń Symphony Orchestra
- Urszula Guźlecka - host
Programme:
- J. Williams - Suite from Star Wars
- G. Gershwin - Rapshody in Blue
- L. Bernstein - Candide Overture
- L. Bernstein - Symphonic dances
Compositions by John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin perfectly capture the spirit of the concert, which marks the end of the 45th artistic season and the inauguration of the 28th International Nova Music and Architecture Festival – The American Dream. Each piece paints a distinct picture of America, resonating deeply with Polish audiences. The concert promises an enchanting journey, where audiences will witness epic battles between Jedi knights, immerse themselves in the vibrant world of jazz music, and be swept away by tales of forbidden love unfolding on the bustling streets of New York City.
John Williams’s suite from the Star Wars film franchise needs no introduction. While we could endlessly discuss the numerous awards the composer has received, it is paramount to recognize the significant role his music plays in our collective imagination. The first bars of the Star Wars suite immediately transport listeners to a galaxy far, far away. Calm, hopeful themes are interspersed with passages depicting tension, strength, and fear, creating a vivid musical representation of George Lucas's epic saga.
George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue will transport listeners to America in the early 1920s. The famous clarinet glissando opens one of the most recognizable tunes, where classical music seamlessly meets jazz. Equally important is the role of the soloist: the pianist, following in the footsteps of Gershwin himself, who performed the work at its premiere, strives to portray the grandeur and innovation of this iconic composition. The syncopated rhythms and crescendo of the music vividly evoke the grandeur of America, a nation that flung open its doors to new musical genres, including those of a syncretic nature.
Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, composed in the 1950s, transports listeners back to the 18th century, to the world where Voltaire’s Candide came to life. The music masterfully captures the irony and sarcasm of this philosophical tale, while its brisk tempo mirrors the rapid pace of the plot. Amidst the fast-paced melodies, the opulence and splendour of late 18th-century France shine through, embodying the very essence of the era.
Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story consist of nine movements that take listeners to the gritty streets of 1950s New York. This modernised version of Romeo and Juliet explores the powerful affection between Tony and Maria. Bernstein’s composition deftly reflects their passionate love and the stark differences between their backgrounds, along with the violent conflicts that entangle their families. Within this musical tapestry, tragedy and rage intertwine with love and the universal quest for belonging.
PAWEŁ TOMASZEWSKI
Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Music Producer.
Paweł Tomaszewski is a distinguished professor at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, where he serves as Dean of the Department of Jazz and Popular Music. Renowned for his exceptional talent, he has been nominated for the Fryderyk Award in the Jazz Artist of the Year category for 2024.
Tomaszewski has earned Grand Prix and numerous individual accolades at all major jazz competitions in Poland, including Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa, Jazz Juniors, and Jazz Nad Odrą. His illustrious career has seen him grace stages worldwide, performing alongside Polish and international luminaries of jazz and popular music. In 2015, he was honoured with the Golden Laurel of Skills and Competence in the “Culture” category. During the 2021/2022 artistic season, he served as the Artist-in-Residence at the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin.
Tomaszewski’s impressive collaborations span a wide array of artists such as Nigel Kennedy, Eric Marienthal, Dean Brown, Michael "Patches" Stewart, Michał Urbaniak, Jarosław Śmietana, Anna Maria Jopek, Edyta Górniak, Urszula Dudziak, Kuba Badach, Mieczysław Szcześniak, Grażyna Auguścik, Adam Bałdych and many others. Notably, he contributed as an arranger to Natalia Kukulska’s platinum album Tender Heartstrings in 2021. Tomaszewski has featured as a session musician in more than 40 studio albums.
In May 2023 he released the album Coincidence. This project, recorded with the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and featuring guest artists such as Mark Lettieri, Bernard Maseli, Wojciech Myrczek, Jerzy Małek, Marek Podkowa, Andrzej Święs and Marcin Jahr, was nominated for a Fryderyk Award in the Jazz Album of the Year category for 2024. Tomaszewski co-founded the projects Myrczek & Tomaszewski “Love Revisited” and Marta Król & Paweł Tomaszewski Group “Tribute To The Police”.
His piano style and creative output are marked by a fusion of various musical styles and traditions.
As a conductor, music director, arranger, and pianist, Tomaszewski has participated in numerous television, film, and radio recordings, including “1920 - Grateful to the Heroes”, the Polish Song Festival in Opole, Solidarity of Arts in Gdańsk, the Andrzej Zaucha Memorial Festival “Heartbeat” in Bydgoszcz, and the Silesian Jazz Festival.
His compositions are featured on both his own records and those of other artists. Tomaszewski is the author of four major works: Three Crowns, a suite for jazz sextet, symphony orchestra, and soloists; Coincidence, a concerto for jazz quintet and symphony orchestra inspired by the film Coincidence directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski with music by Wojciech Kilar; Symphony of the Galaxies; and Polish Jazz Symphony for symphony orchestra, big band, and soloists.
He is also the founder of the first electronic keyboard instruments class in Poland at the Academy of Music in Katowice and has lectured at international jazz workshops both in Poland and abroad.
Mecenas Główny: Gmina Miasta Toruń
Dofinansowano ze środków Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego w ramach programu Narodowego Centrum Kultury: Kultura - Interwencje. Edycja 2024
Partner Główny: Samorząd Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego
Mecenas Kultury - Główny Sponsor: PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.
Mecenas Strategiczny: Strabag Sp. z o.o.
Sponsor: Urbitor Spółka z o.o.
Partner technologiczny: Vobacom Sp. z o.o.
Patronaty medialne: TVP3 Bydgoszcz, TV Toruń, Nowości - Dziennik Toruński, Toruń Nasze Miasto, Radio PiK, POLMIC
Współpraca redakcyjna: RMF Classic
Organizator: Toruńska Orkiestra Symfoniczna
