An Introduction to Polish Song

Songs by Chopin, Paderewski and Moniusko

This concert celebrates Chopin's bicentenary, placing a number of his songs in the context of other notable, if lesser-known, Polish composers.

Igancy Paderewski was famed primarily as a virtuoso pianist, and was also a prolific composer. He was also the third prime minister of the Republic of Poland!

Stanislaw Moniusko (1819 - 1872) was hugely well known in his time, often hailed as "the father of Polish opera". He wrote countless songs, often but not always with a strong patriotic theme, and the best of them are very fine indeed.