RAMINTA ŠERKŠNYTĖ - LITHUANIABORN 25 JUNE
Raminta Šerkšnytė first appeared as a vivid presence on the Lithuanian musical scene in the last decade of the last century and has up till now successfully maintained her position as one of the best known Lithuanian composers of recent times. In her creative work the language of postromantic music combines in a way that is individual to her with certain stylistic features of (post)minimalism, jazz, and the avant-garde. From her very first pieces, the composer's music surprised one by its intense emotional expression and rationally composed structures, the one in harmony with the other, with her mastery of form and instrumentation, with an intricate cobweb of rhythmic textures and an instinctive feel for harmony, resulting in the unusually strong artistic impression left by her work. The main sources for the composer's inspiration are the broad spectrum of psychological states and certain musical archetypes: ranging from calm, meditative (Aurei Regina Caeli), mysterious, mystical (Misterioso), nostalgic, melancholic (Adieu) to dramatic expression (Sūkurys 'Vortex') and outbursts of vital energy (Idée Fixe). On the other hand, many of her compositions remind one of picturesque musical landscapes, inspired by an exalted reflection on nature (Aisbergas 'Iceberg Symphony', Rytų elegija 'Oriental Elegy', Kalnai migloje 'Mountains in the Mist', Žara 'Glow', Vasarvidžio giesmė'Midsummer Song', Ugnys 'Fires').
Both as a composer and a pianist (performing her own work) Raminta Šerkšnytė regularly takes part in contemporary music events. Her music, performed by the orchestra Kremerata Baltica, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under the conductor Mariss Jansons, the violinist Irvine Arditti and the Arditti Quartet, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, and other musicians, has been heard throughout Europe, as well as in Asia, North and South America, and Australia in concert halls, such as the Wiener Musikverein, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Lincoln Center (New York), and elsewhere. Raminta Šerkšnytė's works have been presented at many festivals, among them, ISCM World New Music Days (Zagreb, Hong Kong, Vilnius, Ghent), Gaudeamus Music Week (Amsterdam), Klangspuren Schwaz (Austria), and the Vilnius Gaida festival.
MARIA POMIANOWSKA - POLAND
BORN 26 JUNE
Maria Pomianowska is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and teacher. Professor of the Academy of Music in Cracow and director of the Cross-Culture Warsaw Festival. Since 1984 she has studied the unique techniques of playing European and Asian instruments. She has traveled to India, China, Korea, Japan and the Middle East. In 1994 she reconstructed two Polish folk string instruments, which have not been preserved to present times –Suka and Płock fiddle.
The artist has given concerts all over the world for the past 30 years. During her 5-year stay in Japan (1997-2002) she presented Polish traditional and classical music in the biggest music venues. On number of occasions she presented the reconstructed instruments and Polish music at the Imperial Court of Japan. She has composed and performed with world-famous artists: Pandit Ram Narayan, Yo-Yo Ma, Boris Grebenshchikov, Gil Goldstein, Gonzalo Rubelcaba, Ian Gilan, Branford Marsalis, Kayhan Kalhor, Hossein Alizadeh and others. She has released over 23 albums, many of which have received international awards.
Since 2011 she has created unique programmes featuring the Polish traditional music performed with Egyptia, Tunisian, Algerian, Pakistani, Senegalese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Irani and Indian musicians in Asia and Africa.
Most significant distinctions and awards: the Chopin Passport, the Gloria Artis Medal awarded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2010), the Award of the Mazovia Province Marshall (2011), the Silver Cross of Merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, nomination to the Norwid Award (2014), Songlines Best music album (2016), Norwid Award in music( 2018).
Step by Maria Pomianowska
