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ABOUT CULTURE - 02.2009
„Imagine This”
A story of actors putting on a play in the Warsaw Ghetto was the theme of the musical „Imagine This,” the premiere of which took place in the West End of London. Two worlds merge in the musical: the real world of everyday life in the ghetto, and the world of the theater – the story of defending the Mecada in the year 70. The creators of the musical claim that their work is about spiritual happiness and (in spite of everything) about hope. The composer of the music score is Shuki Levy, and the writer of the libretto is David Goldsmith. The musical was directed by Timothy Sheader.
Chopin in an electronic edition
Music lovers might be surprised by a new album called „Astigmatic inspired by Chopin”, which contains recordings inspired by the works of the great Polish composer. The fact that younger and younger artists are reaching for Chopin’s music is not any surprise, however, because the composer has always been a powerful source of inspiration. Artur Koryciński, who is a deejay, the co-creator of the Astigmatic electronic music festival and the owner of the „King of Kong” record label, came up with the idea for the album. He invited a dozen or so artists who are associated with contemporary electronic music, like the Belgian duet The Glimmers (in the photo, during a music event in Warsaw), Krazy Baldhead from France, Morgan Geist from Germany, and others, including some from Poland, of course, to take part in the project.
Polish dramas in the world
Contemporary Polish drama is taking the world by storm. In Moscow, Sophia, Bucharest, New York, and Tel Aviv there will be performances of contemporary Polish dramas. Poland’s success at the festival of Polish dramaturgy in Tel Aviv exceeded all expectations. Young Israeli directors presented five performances, based on Polish texts: „Absynt” (Absinthe) by Magda Fertacz (pictured), „Argo” by Mark Kochan, „Podróż do wnętrza pokoju” (The Journey to the Inside of the Room) by Michał Walczak, „Noc” (Night) by Andrzej Stasiuk and „Nasza klasa” (Our Class) by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, which people say might become part of the national repertoire in Israeli theaters. Earlier, these performances were shown in Bucharest and Sophia. A festival of Polish contemporary arts also took place, and it also met with very great interest.
Photographs of Eva Rubinstein
The National Museum in Warsaw received a valuable deposit from Eva Rubinstein – 52 photographic prints. They are photographs by the artist from 1967-1990, which spans the entire period of her activities in photographic arts. Eva Rubinstein took classic portraits and created sociological records; she took her camera into old people’s homes as well as to luxury apartments. She documented events in Belfast and Dublin. Eva Rubinstein was born in Buenos Aires in 1933. Her father was the famous Polish pianist Artur Rubinstein. The artist has more than 100 solo exhibitions to her credit, in many countries around the world.
A museum in the Citadel
The Museum of the Polish Military in Warsaw, which for the last few decades has used part of the building of the National Museum, will finally have its own seat. And it will not be just any old building, but that of the historic Citadel fort in ¯oliborz. An international competition has been announced for the site’s adaptation for purposes of the museum. Nearly 80 designs from Poland and around the world have been entered. The 19th century Citadel, which is one of the largest constructions of its kind in the world, is 32 hectares in size. The army is stationed there, and it has designated 8 hectares for the museum. The estimated cost of the investment is 420 million zloty.
Copernicus in animated films
„Gwiazda Kopernika” (Copernicus’s Star) is the name of an animated film about the fortunes of the famous Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. It is the largest cartoon production in the history of Polish cinematography made at the famous Studio of Cartoon Films in Bielsko-Biała. The last major success of this studio was the film „Bolek and Lolek in the Wild West,” which was shown all around the world. The producers of the film are convinced that „Gwiazda Kopernika” will be record-breaking in terms of viewers. An English language version of the film is being made with foreign audiences in mind. „Gwiazda Kopernika” is almost ready. All that is left to record is the music and dialogues. The premiere date is not yet known. It will most certainly be in the first half of this year.
A story of actors putting on a play in the Warsaw Ghetto was the theme of the musical „Imagine This,” the premiere of which took place in the West End of London. Two worlds merge in the musical: the real world of everyday life in the ghetto, and the world of the theater – the story of defending the Mecada in the year 70. The creators of the musical claim that their work is about spiritual happiness and (in spite of everything) about hope. The composer of the music score is Shuki Levy, and the writer of the libretto is David Goldsmith. The musical was directed by Timothy Sheader.
Chopin in an electronic edition
Music lovers might be surprised by a new album called „Astigmatic inspired by Chopin”, which contains recordings inspired by the works of the great Polish composer. The fact that younger and younger artists are reaching for Chopin’s music is not any surprise, however, because the composer has always been a powerful source of inspiration. Artur Koryciński, who is a deejay, the co-creator of the Astigmatic electronic music festival and the owner of the „King of Kong” record label, came up with the idea for the album. He invited a dozen or so artists who are associated with contemporary electronic music, like the Belgian duet The Glimmers (in the photo, during a music event in Warsaw), Krazy Baldhead from France, Morgan Geist from Germany, and others, including some from Poland, of course, to take part in the project.
Polish dramas in the world
Contemporary Polish drama is taking the world by storm. In Moscow, Sophia, Bucharest, New York, and Tel Aviv there will be performances of contemporary Polish dramas. Poland’s success at the festival of Polish dramaturgy in Tel Aviv exceeded all expectations. Young Israeli directors presented five performances, based on Polish texts: „Absynt” (Absinthe) by Magda Fertacz (pictured), „Argo” by Mark Kochan, „Podróż do wnętrza pokoju” (The Journey to the Inside of the Room) by Michał Walczak, „Noc” (Night) by Andrzej Stasiuk and „Nasza klasa” (Our Class) by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, which people say might become part of the national repertoire in Israeli theaters. Earlier, these performances were shown in Bucharest and Sophia. A festival of Polish contemporary arts also took place, and it also met with very great interest.
Photographs of Eva Rubinstein
The National Museum in Warsaw received a valuable deposit from Eva Rubinstein – 52 photographic prints. They are photographs by the artist from 1967-1990, which spans the entire period of her activities in photographic arts. Eva Rubinstein took classic portraits and created sociological records; she took her camera into old people’s homes as well as to luxury apartments. She documented events in Belfast and Dublin. Eva Rubinstein was born in Buenos Aires in 1933. Her father was the famous Polish pianist Artur Rubinstein. The artist has more than 100 solo exhibitions to her credit, in many countries around the world.
A museum in the Citadel
The Museum of the Polish Military in Warsaw, which for the last few decades has used part of the building of the National Museum, will finally have its own seat. And it will not be just any old building, but that of the historic Citadel fort in ¯oliborz. An international competition has been announced for the site’s adaptation for purposes of the museum. Nearly 80 designs from Poland and around the world have been entered. The 19th century Citadel, which is one of the largest constructions of its kind in the world, is 32 hectares in size. The army is stationed there, and it has designated 8 hectares for the museum. The estimated cost of the investment is 420 million zloty.
Copernicus in animated films
„Gwiazda Kopernika” (Copernicus’s Star) is the name of an animated film about the fortunes of the famous Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. It is the largest cartoon production in the history of Polish cinematography made at the famous Studio of Cartoon Films in Bielsko-Biała. The last major success of this studio was the film „Bolek and Lolek in the Wild West,” which was shown all around the world. The producers of the film are convinced that „Gwiazda Kopernika” will be record-breaking in terms of viewers. An English language version of the film is being made with foreign audiences in mind. „Gwiazda Kopernika” is almost ready. All that is left to record is the music and dialogues. The premiere date is not yet known. It will most certainly be in the first half of this year.
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Information published at 3 February 2009