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You are here: Home / Archives for Kosciuszko Foundation

Mateusz Mikolajczak at Kosciuszko Foundation NYC

Saturday, March 29th, 2025 by Ken Turner

Mateusz Mikolajczak at Kosciuszko Foundation

On March 26, 2025, the Kosciuszko Foundation presented a piano recital by Polish pianist Mateusz Mikolajczak. The event was held in the concert hall at their headquarters a block from Central  Park.

The concert hall was itself a work of art, its wood-paneled walls covered with fine paintings.

The Steinway grand piano looked like a well-used music academy instrument, but sounded great.

Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1

I loved Mr. Mikolajczak’s performance of this, one of my favorite Chopin’s Nocturnes. I caught myself thinking here I am, listening to an accomplished Polish pianist play this riveting work written 189 years ago. Maybe it’s time I made a pilgrimage to Poland.

Liszt: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca from Années de Pèlerinage

I had mixed feelings about Mikolajczak’s Liszt. While the pianist swayed back and forth with the phrasing and made artful gestures with arm and hand, the piano did not convey such emotional weight. I speculate that perhaps body language was at the expense of pianistic expression. Readers might compare Yunchan Lim’s performance. 

Chopin:  Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61

The Polonaise-Fantaisie can feel a bit rambling. However Mikolajczak’s delivery gave me a new respect for the piece. I became fascinated by how Chopin’s themes and motifs would leave and later return with renewed magic.

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 “Appassionata” Op. 57

Tantalizing fragments of Beethoven echoed down the stairwell while Mikolajczak was rehearsing.

But nothing could prepare me for sitting in the front row while he performed Beethoven’s Appassionata. He was compelling.

So much vigor and drama, such crisp, virtuosic delivery! We loved it, giving the pianist a standing ovation.

Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-flat major, Op. 84

I am amazed that anyone can play this elaborate work from memory. But Mateusz Mikolajczak seemed to thrive on Prokofiev’s unusual tonalities and relentless, driving rhythms. However I noticed toward the end of the last movement that the tips of the pianist’s fingers had become dark pink.

My favorite moments in this work were the tantalizingly evanescent “ocean swell” phrases, when Mikolajczak made us feel like we were on a ship in heaving seas, the pianist rising from his bench to stay in control.

Mateusz MikolajczakClosing Thoughts

The pianist’s profile and curly hair made me think of European aristocrats from a bygone age. His interactions with his audience were correspondingly gracious, but brief.

Much of the time at the piano, his hair fell over his face. I wanted to know more about who this fascinating pianist was, but he was immersed in his art so that would have to come later.

Mateusz Mikolajczak is a classy performer with immense concentration, impressive technique and a flair for drama. I would be interested to hear his interpretations of Bach/Busoni or Bach/Liszt.

The Kosciuszko Foundation

Rotunda at Kosciuszko Foundation NYC

The Rotunda at KF

The membership-supported Foundation promotes educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Poland. Their premises at 15 East 65th Street provided the perfect venue for this recital.

The Foundation, its people, and the good work that they do thoroughly impress me.

Special thanks to Ewa Zadworna for facilitating my attendance and discreet use of a camera.

Filed Under: Concerts, Public concerts Tagged With: Appassionata, Beethoven, Chopin, Ewa Zadworna, Kosciuszko Foundation, Liszt, Mateusz Mikolajczak, Polonaise-Fantaisie, Prokofiev

Violinist Magdalena Filipczak at the Anthoine Penthouse

Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 by Ken Turner

Magdalena Filipczak solo

On May 19th, 2019, violinist Magdalena Filipczak and pianist Jessica Xylina Osborne gave a recital at the Anthoine Penthouse in New York City. The program was an eclectic collection of 19th to mid-20th century works, with a sizeable Polish component.

Here are the works that were played.

Bacewicz: Polish Caprice for solo violin

This work was written by the Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, at one time a student of Nadia Boulanger. You can hear Grazyna herself play it. It is a brief, entertaining piece that opens in a reflective mood. It transitions to a fast dance, replete with challenges for the violinist.

Britten: Reveille

Magdalena’s interest in the music of Benjamin Britten dates back to years she spent in London, U.K. She likened this work to the violinist yawning as he gradually wakes up. Magdalena’s yawn was a muted portamento that repeats and evolves as the work progresses. Later we hear hints of a military trumpet. The work closes with sudden dissonance and a flourish. The reason for this was unclear to me. Did the violinist fall out of bed?

Wienawski: Polonaise in D major, Op. 4

Available on YouTube as Wieniawski Polonaise in D Major.

Magdalena Filipczak and Jessica Xylena Osborne

Previn: Song from Tango, Song and Dance

Magdalena played this sad, delicate work with grace. You can see Anne-Sophie Mutter play it at THE RECORDING OF TANGO, SONG AND DANCE.

Piazzola: Bordel from The History of Tango

I like Piazzola, but in this work the composer had pianist Jessica tapping rhythmically on the piano, which broke the spell.

Ravel: Blues (Violin Sonata No. 2, second movement)

This work was difficult to absorb on first hearing. There are echoes of Ravel’s Left Hand Piano Concerto mid-way through, but I did not feel that Blues was of comparable stature.

Szymanowski: Peasant Dance from Harnasie

Available on YouTube as Szymanowski Danse Paysanne from Harnasie (Filipczak)

Karlowicz: Selected songs, Op. 1

Ms. Filipczak is also a singer! She sang two short songs by Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, a composer whose short life crossed from the 19th to the 20th century. This delightful romantic fare was given life by Ms. Filipczak’s luxurious vibrato and closed on a perfect high note.

Debussy: Violin Sonata

This esoteric violin sonata was the composer’s last work. It’s not easy to follow, but Ms. Filipczak played it with conviction. It is available on YouTube as Claude Debussy Sonate No.3 Live Recording (Esther Abrami).

Wienawski: Fantasia on themes from Gounod’s Faust, Op. 20

This was my favorite work of the evening. At times sounding like a cross between Schubert and Chopin, it is a bright, approachable work. The interplay between Magdalena’s violin and Jessica’s piano was delightful.

Jessica, host Rita, and Magdalena

Closing thoughts

The intimate performance space at the Anthoine Penthouse gave the audience a larger-than-life experience. In a modest-sized room, a violin has power and resonance that amplifies the emotional texture of a work.

My lasting impression of Ms. Filipczak’s performance is one of clarity, consistency and beauty.  I enjoyed almost everything that she played, and was impressed by what seemed to be effortless coordination between violin and piano.

On Wednesday, May 5th 2019 at 7:30 pm at The Kosciuszko Foundation in New York, you can see Magdalena and Jessica play this program. See Inspired by Song and Dance – A recital by Magdalena Filipczak, violin and Jessica Xylina Osborne, piano.

 

Filed Under: Concerts, Private Concerts Tagged With: Anthoine Penthouse, Debussy, Grazyna Bacewicz, Jessica Xylina Osborne, Karlowicz, Kosciuszko Foundation, Magdalena Filipczak, piazzola, Szymanowski, Wienawski

©2025 Ken Turner | Roving Pianist

 

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