Current issue:
ABOUT CULTURE - 04.2008
Papaya dance
Papaya Dance, a new dance song to a melody sung by Polish singer Urszula Dudziak in 1976, is making a dizzying career in Asia and Latin America. The singer is surprised by the renewed success of this hit song from more than 30 years ago. She recorded it with the excellent jazz musician Michał Urbaniak, who was her husband at the time. Papaya is being danced and listened to at discos, schools, preschools, and even in the army, and at workplaces as a form of reducing tiredness and stress. Urszula Dudziak is one of the most popular Polish jazz soloists. Her distinctive, high, strong voice has brought her many fans among older and younger listeners.
Polish television series have been nominated
The Polish television series 'Odwróceni' (Turned backwards), produced by TVN, and 'Halo Hans' from Polsat have been nominated in the prestigious international competition Rose díOr. They will compete for the title of best television series and sitcom, along with productions from Great Britain, Germany, Finland and Australia. The Rose díOr Festival is like the European television Oscars. The nomination itself, which dozens of television productions from around the world sought to get, is a great success for the creators of both series. The winners of the competition will be announced during an awards ceremony on the 6th of May, in Lucerne, Switzerland.
An Oscar for 'Peter and the Wolf'
This yearís Oscar award in the category of animated films went to 'Peter and the Wolf,- which was made almost entirely at the Se-ma-for Studio in Łódź. It is a Polish-British production. The director is a British woman, Suzie Templeton. The screenplay for 'Peter and the Wolf' was based on the ballet by Sergiusz Prokofiev. Łódźís Se-ma-for had already received an Oscar in the same category - in 1982, Zbigniew Rybczyński received one for the animated film 'Tango'. As well, Se-ma-for is famous for its cooperation with Roman Polański, who finished film school in Łódź, and has many ties to that city.
The death of a great actor
In Warsaw, one of the greatest Polish actors, Gustaw Holoubek, passed away at the age of 85. With his death, an entire great era of Polish acting, of which Holoubek was a symbol and creator, has come to an end. He was an actor gifted with such charisma that nobody could remain indifferent to it. He could easily enchant his viewers. At the same time, Holoubek was an actor-intellectual, who appealed to an intelligent, thinking audience. He played more than one hundred theater, television and film roles. He was, among others, Hamlet, and the hero of the greatest Polish drama, 'Dziady', by the great poet Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855). We sometimes say that someone was a great man, and Gustaw Holoubek deserves that appellation like few others do.
An award for Tadeusz Różewicz
'I have begun my 87th year of life. I have written poems for 70 years and I do not know who a poet is. But I do know that I am not a clergyman, nor a clown. I am a person who writes poems,- said the outstanding Polish poet, Tadeusz Różewicz, during the ceremony during which he was awarded the European Literature Award 2008. The award was given to this Polish poet for the entirety of his work. It was given at the city hall in Strasburg as a token of gratitude for being a symbol of his nation, and for his role in helping European societies in becoming more acquainted with each other. This award (under the patronage of the Council of Europe) went to the Spanish poet Antonio Gamoneda in 2006, and in 2007, to Finnish poet and prose-writer Bo Carpelan, whose works are in Swedish.
Clapton will sing in Poland
Eric Clapton, the British master of guitar and one of the greatest stars in musical entertainment, who is the only one in history to have received 18 Grammy awards, will perform in Poland in August. Let us recall that Clapton wrote such worldwide hits as 'Layla' and 'Tears in Heaven'. Once a scandalmonger (Clapton showed this side of himself during his first appearance in Poland in 1979), he is now an elegant man in a suits by Hugo Boss. Eric Clapton still thrills millions of fans with his voice. Claptonís August concert in Poland will take place at Koúciuszki Square, in the center of Gdynia. Tickets are already available at www.livenation.pl and, from the 24th of March, at www.ticketpro.pl as well.
This is not an exhibit. But it is!
'To nie jest wystawa' (This is not an exhibit) - this bizarre title belongs to an unusual exhibition at Galeria ZachÍta. It is the first project in Poland which allows visitors to see how the gallery works from behind the scenes. During two monthís time the viewing rooms of ZachÍta became workplaces with objects like installations, which are very difficult to assemble, large-format work which is difficult to store and transport, as well as objects which are difficult to conserve. Everyone who comes to ZachÍta before the 5th of May will see everything that is usually kept hidden away. The workers have come out of their offices and moved to the exhibition halls. One of the rooms has been arranged to look like a museum storage area, where museum objects are packed in crates and shelved. Every two weeks, new works will be shown at the exhibition. It looks like it is worth seeing 'art behind the scenes'
An MTV Gala in Warsaw?
Is Warsaw going to organize the European MTV gala? Will music stars from around the world come to our city next year? MTV was carrying out negotiations with Polandís capital city authorities about organizing the European music awards ceremony. It would be in a year, in 2009. To do it, there needs to be space for 6,000 people. In Rome and Edinburgh, they used huge tents. Will it be the same in Warsaw? We cannot be sure yet. The European music awards ceremony is watched live by almost a billion viewers. Therefore, it would be a great way to promote Warsaw. First-rate stars will be at the ceremony, like Madonna or Snoop Dogg, who led the gala a year ago. We are now waiting for a final decision from MTV. The authorities in Warsaw are all for it.
Papaya Dance, a new dance song to a melody sung by Polish singer Urszula Dudziak in 1976, is making a dizzying career in Asia and Latin America. The singer is surprised by the renewed success of this hit song from more than 30 years ago. She recorded it with the excellent jazz musician Michał Urbaniak, who was her husband at the time. Papaya is being danced and listened to at discos, schools, preschools, and even in the army, and at workplaces as a form of reducing tiredness and stress. Urszula Dudziak is one of the most popular Polish jazz soloists. Her distinctive, high, strong voice has brought her many fans among older and younger listeners.
Polish television series have been nominated
The Polish television series 'Odwróceni' (Turned backwards), produced by TVN, and 'Halo Hans' from Polsat have been nominated in the prestigious international competition Rose díOr. They will compete for the title of best television series and sitcom, along with productions from Great Britain, Germany, Finland and Australia. The Rose díOr Festival is like the European television Oscars. The nomination itself, which dozens of television productions from around the world sought to get, is a great success for the creators of both series. The winners of the competition will be announced during an awards ceremony on the 6th of May, in Lucerne, Switzerland.
An Oscar for 'Peter and the Wolf'
This yearís Oscar award in the category of animated films went to 'Peter and the Wolf,- which was made almost entirely at the Se-ma-for Studio in Łódź. It is a Polish-British production. The director is a British woman, Suzie Templeton. The screenplay for 'Peter and the Wolf' was based on the ballet by Sergiusz Prokofiev. Łódźís Se-ma-for had already received an Oscar in the same category - in 1982, Zbigniew Rybczyński received one for the animated film 'Tango'. As well, Se-ma-for is famous for its cooperation with Roman Polański, who finished film school in Łódź, and has many ties to that city.
The death of a great actor
In Warsaw, one of the greatest Polish actors, Gustaw Holoubek, passed away at the age of 85. With his death, an entire great era of Polish acting, of which Holoubek was a symbol and creator, has come to an end. He was an actor gifted with such charisma that nobody could remain indifferent to it. He could easily enchant his viewers. At the same time, Holoubek was an actor-intellectual, who appealed to an intelligent, thinking audience. He played more than one hundred theater, television and film roles. He was, among others, Hamlet, and the hero of the greatest Polish drama, 'Dziady', by the great poet Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855). We sometimes say that someone was a great man, and Gustaw Holoubek deserves that appellation like few others do.
An award for Tadeusz Różewicz
'I have begun my 87th year of life. I have written poems for 70 years and I do not know who a poet is. But I do know that I am not a clergyman, nor a clown. I am a person who writes poems,- said the outstanding Polish poet, Tadeusz Różewicz, during the ceremony during which he was awarded the European Literature Award 2008. The award was given to this Polish poet for the entirety of his work. It was given at the city hall in Strasburg as a token of gratitude for being a symbol of his nation, and for his role in helping European societies in becoming more acquainted with each other. This award (under the patronage of the Council of Europe) went to the Spanish poet Antonio Gamoneda in 2006, and in 2007, to Finnish poet and prose-writer Bo Carpelan, whose works are in Swedish.
Clapton will sing in Poland
Eric Clapton, the British master of guitar and one of the greatest stars in musical entertainment, who is the only one in history to have received 18 Grammy awards, will perform in Poland in August. Let us recall that Clapton wrote such worldwide hits as 'Layla' and 'Tears in Heaven'. Once a scandalmonger (Clapton showed this side of himself during his first appearance in Poland in 1979), he is now an elegant man in a suits by Hugo Boss. Eric Clapton still thrills millions of fans with his voice. Claptonís August concert in Poland will take place at Koúciuszki Square, in the center of Gdynia. Tickets are already available at www.livenation.pl and, from the 24th of March, at www.ticketpro.pl as well.
This is not an exhibit. But it is!
'To nie jest wystawa' (This is not an exhibit) - this bizarre title belongs to an unusual exhibition at Galeria ZachÍta. It is the first project in Poland which allows visitors to see how the gallery works from behind the scenes. During two monthís time the viewing rooms of ZachÍta became workplaces with objects like installations, which are very difficult to assemble, large-format work which is difficult to store and transport, as well as objects which are difficult to conserve. Everyone who comes to ZachÍta before the 5th of May will see everything that is usually kept hidden away. The workers have come out of their offices and moved to the exhibition halls. One of the rooms has been arranged to look like a museum storage area, where museum objects are packed in crates and shelved. Every two weeks, new works will be shown at the exhibition. It looks like it is worth seeing 'art behind the scenes'
An MTV Gala in Warsaw?
Is Warsaw going to organize the European MTV gala? Will music stars from around the world come to our city next year? MTV was carrying out negotiations with Polandís capital city authorities about organizing the European music awards ceremony. It would be in a year, in 2009. To do it, there needs to be space for 6,000 people. In Rome and Edinburgh, they used huge tents. Will it be the same in Warsaw? We cannot be sure yet. The European music awards ceremony is watched live by almost a billion viewers. Therefore, it would be a great way to promote Warsaw. First-rate stars will be at the ceremony, like Madonna or Snoop Dogg, who led the gala a year ago. We are now waiting for a final decision from MTV. The authorities in Warsaw are all for it.
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Information published at 1 April 2008
