Giancarlo Guerrero brings the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic to the US January 10-February 1, 2020
Twelve-City US Tour – The First for this Polish Orchestra Since 2012 – Includes Stops in Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville and Throughout Florida and California
Repertoire by three generations of Polish composers – Chopin, Szymanowski, and Lutosławski – will be performed together with music by Central European composers Bartók, Dvořák and Brahms
Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski, pianist David Fray and violinists Janusz Wawrowski and Bomsori Kim join the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic on tour
This winter, the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic embarks on a twelve-city US tour with conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, Music Director of the Polish orchestra since 2017. This tour is the first time the orchestra has toured the United States since 2012. Throughout the tour, the orchestra will perform works of Polish composers from across generations, including Frederic Chopin, Karol Szymanowski and Witold Lutosławski, an original patron of the National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław. Johannes Brahms, a composer with close ties to Wrocław will also be represented on tour along with other Central European composers Antonin Dvořák and Béla Bartók.
The NFM Wrocław Philharmonic begins the tour on January 10 in Ft. Myers, FL and goes on to Gainesville (January 11), Daytona Beach (Jan 12) and West Palm Beach, FL (Jan 13-14) performing a Szymanowski Concert Overture or Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony or Brahms Symphony No. 1 and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist David Fray, described by Die Welt as the “perfect example of a thinking musician.” Polish violinist Janusz Wawrowski joins the tour for the Szymanowski Violin Concerto in a second concert in West Palm Beach also including Lutosławski Symphonic Variations and Brahms Symphony No. 1. The orchestra performs an all- orchestral program of Lutosławski, Szymanowski and Dvořák in Greenville, SC on January 19.
In Nashville, Chicago and Carmel, IN, outside Indianapolis (Jan 21-25), Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski joins the Wrocław Philharmonic for Bartók’s Concerto No. 3 in performances that include Szymanowski’s Concert Overture, Lutosławski’s Symphonic Variations and Brahms Symphony No. 1. A key figure in Wrocław’s musical history, Brahms was awarded an honorary doctorate at the University of Wrocław (then Breslau) in 1879. In response to the composer’s note of thanks, the city urged him to come to the University to compose for a year. He accepted the invitation and went on to write his Academic Festival Overture for the city of Breslau as a gesture of thanks.
The final leg of the tour will bring the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic west to Wickenburg near Phoenix, AZ (Jan 29), Orange (Jan 30), Palo Alto (Jan 31) and Rohnert Park, CA (Feb 1) where they perform the Szymanowski concerto with violinist Bomsori Kim, along with the orchestral works of Lutoslawski, Dvořák and Brahms. Bomsori is a prize-winner of Poland’s International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition and is presented on tour with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic as part of the country’s continued support of this “fierce” (New York Times) talent described by the Violin Channel as “One of the eminent young, rising stars of the international concert stage.”
“In the US, the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic will perform repertoire by three generations of Polish composers,” says Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero. “Of course, no tour by a Polish orchestra would be complete without Chopin, who visited Wrocław several times over his lifetime. Szymanowski, representing the early 20th century, was inspired by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler, and you will hear their Romantic influence in the Concert Overture, but with the Violin Concerto of 1916, Szymanowski is coming into his own. Though it is orchestrated for huge forces, including a piano, celesta and harps, the piece is still written in a transparent way where the violin undoubtedly leads the way. This work is really the first great concerto of the 20th century in a modern style. Lutosławski was the original patron of the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and with his Symphonic Variations from 1938, we highlight the composer’s strong relationship with Wrocław and the orchestra, which has now recorded Lutosławski’s entire orchestral output.”
“With this important tour, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic reaches beyond the borders of the city to become a real cultural ambassador for Poland,” Guerrero continues. “I am energized by the vision of what this orchestra is becoming, and I am proud to bring them on tour to the United States to represent this important European cultural center.”
NFM Wrocław Philharmonic with Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero US Tour January 2020
Friday, January 10 Barbara Mann Performing Arts Center Ft. Myers, FL
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 (David Fray, piano); Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 “From the New World”
Saturday, January 11 Phillips Center Gainesville, FL
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 (David Fray, piano); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Sunday, January 12 Peabody Auditorium Daytona Beach, FL
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 (David Fray, piano); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Monday, January 13 Kravis Center West Palm Beach, FL
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 (Janusz Wawrowski, violin); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Tuesday, January 14 Kravis Center West Palm Beach, FL
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 (David Fray, piano); Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 “From the New World”
Sunday, January 19 Peace Center Greenville, SC
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 “From the New World”
Tuesday, January 21 Schermerhorn Symphony Center Nashville, TN
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Bartók Piano Concerto No.3, BB 127 (Piotr Anderszewski, piano); Lutosławski Concerto for Orchestra
Thursday, January 23 The Palladium Carmel, IN
Szymanowski Concert Overture in E major Op. 12; Bartók Piano Concerto No.3, BB 127 (Piotr Anderszewski, piano); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Saturday, January 25 Orchestra Hall Chicago, IL
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Bartók Piano Concerto No.3, BB 127 (Piotr Anderszewski, piano); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Wednesday, January 29 Del E. Webb Center Wickenburg, AZ
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 (Bomsori Kim, violin); Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 “From the New World”
Thursday, January 30 Musco Center Orange, CA
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 (Bomsori Kim, violin); Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 “From the New World”
Friday, January 31 Bing Concert Hall Palo Alto, CA
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 (Bomsori Kim, violin); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Saturday, February 1 Joan and Sanford Weill Hall Rohnert Park, CA
Lutosławski Symphonic Variations; Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 (Bomsori Kim, violin); Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
NFM WROCŁAW PHILHARMONIC is one of the leading Polish symphonic orchestras. Founded in 1945, the group regularly collaborates with renowned guest artists such as Piotr Anderszewski, Jonathan Biss, Andrey Boreyko, Paul McCreesh, Paul Jacobs, Elisabeth Leonskaja and Krzysztof Penderecki. In the 2017/2018 season the orchestra appointed the multiple Grammy®-Award winner, Giancarlo Guerrero, as its artistic director. In 1994, it chose Witold Lutosławski as its patron, and in 2015, with the inauguration of its new concert venue, NFM, adopted the name NFM Filharmonia Wrocławska. The ensemble often performs and records the works of such Polish masters as Karol Szymanowski, Witold Lutosławski and Krzysztof Penderecki.
During each season, in addition to subscription concerts, the orchestra takes part in wide variety of artistic projects, including multiple educational concerts, open-air performances and recording sessions. In the field of education NFM Wrocław Philharmonic focuses not only on concerts for children and youth, but also on collaborations with the Music Academy in Wrocław and the Orchestral Academy and Choir Academy (projects run by NFM). Thanks to partnerships with NFM festivals, such as Jazztopad and Musica Electronica Nova, the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic regularly performs with leading representatives of the avant-garde and jazz scene, like Brad Mehldau, Wynton Marsalis and John Zorn.
The orchestra has gained special recognition in the 20th and 21st century symphonic repertoire, and often performs works written and commissioned for the NFM. Internationally, the group is active across Europe and the USA. In November 2018 the orchestra gave a critically acclaimed performance at the new Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg with Giancarlo Guerrero conducting.
NFM Wrocław Philharmonic Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero is a six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor, Music Director of the Nashville Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon. Guerrero has been praised for his “charismatic conducting and attention to detail” (Seattle Times) in “viscerally powerful performances” (Boston Globe) that are “at once vigorous, passionate, and nuanced” (BachTrack).
Through commissions, recordings, and world premieres, Guerrero has championed the works of prominent American composers, presenting eleven world premieres and fifteen recordings of American music with the Nashville Symphony, including works by Michael Daugherty, Terry Riley and Jonathan Leshnoff.
During the 2019/2020 season, Naxos will release recordings of Aaron Jay Kernis’ Symphony No. 4 and Christopher Rouse’s Concerto for Orchestra, both recorded with the Nashville Symphony. As part of his commitment to fostering contemporary music, Guerrero, together with composer Aaron Jay Kernis, guided the creation of Nashville Symphony’s biannual Composer Lab & Workshop for young and emerging composers.
In addition to the thirteen-city North American tour with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Guerrero’s 2019/20 season will include return engagements with the Boston Symphony, São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Bamberg Symphony, Frankfurt Opera and Museums Orchestra, Queensland Symphony and the New Zealand Symphony.
Maestro Guerrero has appeared with prominent North American orchestras, including those of Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Montréal, Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Internationally he has worked in recent seasons with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Brussels Philharmonic, Deutsches Radio Philharmonie, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Netherlands Philharmonic, Residentie Orkest, NDR in Hannover, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Sydney Symphony in Australia. Guerrero was honored as the keynote speaker at the 2019 League of American Orchestras conference.
Guerrero previously held posts as the Principal Guest Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra Miami Residency, Music Director of the Eugene Symphony, and Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra.
Born in Nicaragua, Guerrero immigrated during his childhood to Costa Rica, where he joined the local youth symphony. He studied percussion and conducting at Baylor University in Texas and earned his master’s degree in conducting at Northwestern. Given his beginnings in civic youth orchestras, Guerrero is particularly engaged with conducting training orchestras and has worked with the Curtis School of Music, Colburn School in Los Angeles, National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) and Yale Philharmonia, as well as with the Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando program, which provides an intensive music education to promising young students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. More at www.giancarlo-guerrero.com
Acclaimed for his interpretations of music from Bach to Boulez, David Fray performs in world’s major venues as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician. He has collaborated with leading orchestras under distinguished conductors such as Marin Alsop, Semyon Bychkov, Andrey Boreyko, Christoph Eschenbach, Daniele Gatti, Paavo Järvi, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Sanderling, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Jaap van Zweden. Orchestral appearances in Europe have included the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, London Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Salzburg Mozarteum, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Orchestre de Paris, and Orchestre National de France. David Fray made his US debut in 2009 with the Cleveland Orchestra followed by performances with the Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory in New York, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and appears regularly at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Mozarteum Salzburg, London’s Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, and many other major venues.
In addition to his tour with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic with Giancarlo Guerrero, Mr. Fray returns this season to the Baltimore Symphony with Marin Alsop, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He embarks on recital tours with Bach Goldberg Variations in Europe, Russia and China, where he also tours with the Vienna Radio Symphony. Mr. Fray will perform Bach keyboard concertos for two, three, and four pianos in Abu Dhabi and will collaborate in recital with violinist Renaud Capuçon as well as baritone Benjamin Appl. He also starts his residency at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest as a visiting professor.
Last season, Mr. Fray returned to North America with the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. The Théâtre des Champs Elysées presented a Bach cycle with David Fray performing Bach’s keyboard concertos, Sonatas with Renaud Capuçon, and Goldberg Variations. He gave recitals in Amsterdam, Budapest, Dresden, Milan, Istanbul, Santiago, and toured South Korea and Russia. European orchestral collaborations included the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony, and play-directing the Casa da Musica Orchestra in Porto.
Mr. Fray released two discs this past season: Bach Concertos for 2, 3, and 4 pianos, a “musical family affair” along with his teacher Jacques Rouvier and his former students Audrey Vigoureux, Emmanuel Christien, and Bach Violin Sonatas with Renaud Capuçon. In 2017, Mr. Fray released a CD of selected Chopin piano works which was followed by his first public performances of the composer’s music. The previous disc called Fantaisie, an album of Schubert’s late piano works, was named Gramophone Editor’s Choice and Sinfini Music called it “one of the most appealing listening experiences of present times” and “exceptionally thoughtful and touching.” Mr. Fray records exclusively for Erato/Warner Classics and his first album with works of Bach and Boulez was praised as the “best record of the year” by the London Times and Le Soir. Mr. Fray’s second release, a recording of Bach keyboard concerti with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen was awarded by the German Recording Academy. An album with Schubert Moments Musicaux and Impromptus followed. Mr. Fray’s other critically acclaimed releases include Mozart piano concerti with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Jaap van Zweden and Bach Partitas Nos. 2 and 6 along with Toccata in C minor. In 2008 the TV network ARTE +7 presented a documentary on David Fray directed by the renowned French director Bruno Monsaingeon. The film Sing, Swing & Think was subsequently released on DVD.
David Fray holds multiple awards including the German Echo Klassik Prize for Instrumentalist of the Year and the Young Talent Award from the Ruhr Piano Festival. In 2008 he was named Newcomer of the Year by the BBC Music Magazine. At the 2004 Montreal International Music Competition, he received both the Second Grand Prize and the Prize for the best interpretation of a Canadian work.
David Fray started taking piano lessons at the age of four. He furthered his studies with Jacques Rouvier, who is also featured on his latest Schubert album, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris.
Piotr Anderszewski is regarded as one of the outstanding musicians of his generation, appearing regularly in recital at such concert halls as the Wiener Konzerthaus, Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. His collaborations with orchestra have included appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic and Berlin Staatskapelle orchestras, the London Symphony and Philharmonia orchestras and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. He has also placed special emphasis on playing and directing, working with orchestras such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Camerata Salzburg.
In the 2019-20 season Anderszewski will appear with (among others) the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre de Paris. His play/direct collaborations will include concerts with his regular partners the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a European tour with the Kammerorchester Basel. In recital he can be heard at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Philharmonie in Cologne, the Alte Oper Frankfurt, and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow.
Piotr Anderszewski has been an exclusive artist with Warner Classics/Erato (previously Virgin Classics) since 2000. His first recording for the label was Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, which went on to receive a number of prizes. He has also recorded Grammy-nominated discs of Bach's Partitas 1, 3 and 6 and Szymanowski's solo piano works, the latter also receiving a Gramophone award in 2006. His recording devoted to works by Robert Schumann received the BBC Music Magazine's Recording of the Year award in 2012. Anderszewski's disc of Bach's English Suites nos. 1, 3 and 5, released in November 2014, went on to win both a Gramophone award and an ECHO Klassik award in 2015. His most recent recording of two late Mozart concertos with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe was released in January 2018.
Recognised for the intensity and originality of his interpretations, Piotr Anderszewski has been a recipient of the Gilmore award, the Szymanowski Prize and a Royal Philharmonic Society award.
He has also been the subject of several documentaries by the film maker Bruno Monsaingeon. Piotr Anderszewski plays Diabelli Variations (2001) explores Anderszewski's particular relationship with Beethoven's iconic work. Unquiet Traveller (2008) is an unusual artist portrait, capturing Anderszewski's reflections on music, performance and his Polish-Hungarian roots.
In 2016 Anderszewski got behind the camera himself to explore his relationship with his native Warsaw, creating a film entitled Je m'appelle Varsovie.
Bomsori Kim is regarded as one of today’s most vibrant and exciting instrumentalists. Winner of the 62nd ARD International Music Competition, Bomsori’s exceptional talent and the poise of her musicianship have been recognized by many of the world’s finest orchestras and eminent conductors.
Bomsori is a prize winner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition, Queen Elisabeth Competition, International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition Hannover, Montreal International Musical Competition, and Sendai International Music Competition. Bomsori won Second Prize, Critic’s Prize, and nine additional special prizes at the 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.
In February 2019, Bomsori made her New York Philharmonic debut, performing the US Premiere of Tan Dun's Violin Concerto, Fire Ritual. I n the 2019-2020 season, Bomsori returns to Rheingau and Heidelberger Frühling festivals and performs with NDR Radiopihilharmonie, Nürnberger Symphoniker, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra and Nashville Symphony. In September 2020 Bomsori will make her debut with Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. With pianist Rafal Blechacz, Bomsori performs in Germany, Italy, Spain, USA and Canada.
Bomsori has had the privilege of performing under the direction of renowned conductors, including Jaap van Zweden, Marin Alsop, Fabio Luisi, Andrey Boreyko, Pablo Heras Casado, Hannu Lintu, Kahchun Wong, John Storgards, Edo de Waart, and with numerous leading orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, Bayerischer Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and KBS Symphony.
In 2017, Warner Classics released Bomsori’s debut album with maestro Jacek Kaspszyk and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
In 2019, Bomsori and pianist Rafał Blechacz released a disc of French and Polish music on the Deutsche Grammophon label, featuring works by Fauré, Debussy, Chopin and Szymanowski.
A native of South Korea, Bomsori is a graduate of Seoul National University, where she studied with Young Uck Kim. She earned her Master of Music and Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School, as a student of Sylvia Rosenberg and Ronald Copes.
With the support of Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, she currently plays on a 1774 violin by Joannes Baptista Guadagnini.
Janusz Wawrowski is a violin virtuoso who is considered one of the most outstanding Polish violinists of his generation. His international career has taken him to among others the Berliner Philharmoniker, Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Piotr Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, National Philharmonic in Warsaw, De Doelen in Rotterdam, Teatro Teresa Carreño in Caracas, the Tel Aviv Music Center and Seoul Arts Center. He has appeared at many of the world’s most reputable festivals, such as Salzburger Festspiele, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Chopin and His Europe Festival, and the Transatlantyk Festival.
Wawrowski has appeared as a soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela, and many others, under such conductors as Conrad van Alphen, Łukasz Borowicz, Gabriel Chmura, Jacek Kaspszyk, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Mykola Diadiura, Tomáš Netopil, Agnieszka Duczmal, Juozas Domarkas, Daniel Raiskin, and Antoni Wit.
Janusz Wawrowski is a keen explorer, performer, and editor of missing and forgotten works by Polish composers, including Mieczysław Karłowicz, Karol Lipiński, Ludomir Różycki and Zygmunt Noskowski. Besides being a violinist, he has founded and served as artistic director of two international chamber music events — Music on the Heights (2009–2010) and Spaces of Music (from 2011). In 2017, Wawrowski founded Warsaw Players, a chamber orchestra composed of extraordinary students and graduates of The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.
Wawrowski’s multi-album contract with Warner Classics has yielded two solo albums (Paganini Caprices and Sequenza), two chamber music titles with pianist Jose Gallardo (Aurora and Hidden Violin), as well as Brillante with Stuttgarther Philharmoniker.
In recognition of his artistic achievements, Janusz Wawrowski was awarded the Decoration of Honour “Meritorious for Polish Culture” by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
He performs on the Antonio Stradivari 1685 violin Polonia, courtesy Mr. Roman Ziemian. It is the first Stradivarius violin in post-war Poland. His album Hidden Violin was recorded on the Polonia Stradivarius and received the 2019 Fryderyk Award for the best solo recital release.