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Rafał Łuszczewski in Recital
Thurs, 01 May 2025
Don't miss the return visit of internationally-acclaimed Polish pianist Rafał Łuszczewski.
Tickets are now on sale for this very special event.
The Friends of Chopin Australia is very proud to present the return visit to Canberra of exceptional Polish pianist Rafał Łuszczewski.
On the occasion of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU, Rafał is delighting us with a rousing program celebrating Polish virtuosity.
This distinguished performer and educator will astound us with the technical brilliance and the beauty of Chopin's etudes, two of Ignaz Friedman's pieces from his Suite "The Masks", and Paderewski's famous "Minuet in G".
But the crowning glory of this recital is a performance for solo piano of Richard Addinsall's Warsaw Concerto (this version written by Rafał himself).
Written for the 1941 British war film 'Dangerous Moonlight' which is about the Polish struggle against the 1939 invasion by Nazi Germany, this piece very quickly became a popular hit and sold in the millions. The concerto is written in imitation of the style of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and it initiated a trend for similar short piano concertos in the Romantic style, which have been dubbed "tabloid concertos" written for performance in movies. One commentator has suggested that the Warsaw Concerto is the most significant instrumental work written in Britain during the war, still conjuring up a time and place better than any other piece. In his 1994 appearance on Desert Island Discs, Guy Gibson, the leader of the Dambusters raid, asked for it as his first choice.
Join us for this now seldom played nostalgic favourite, and many more memorable and virtuosic show-stoppers.
Artist Biography
Rafał Łuszczewski's international carreer commenced at the age of 16, with his successful debut alongside the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Since 2003, he has been listed as a Steinway Artist on the "Steinway & Sons Artists' Roster" in NYC. A roster which features the world's finest pianists.
His notable activity spanning over 25 years has taken him to many of the world's premium venues, such as Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), the UN Palace of the Nations (Geneva), National Philharmonic (Warsaw), the Palau da Musica (Barcelona), the Victoria Concert Hall (Singapore), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Sala Cecilia Meirelles (Rio de Janeiro), Teatro Solis (Montevideo), Linder Auditorium (Johannesburg), to name just a few. He has also performed in Australia prime theatres, such as Verbrugghen Hall, Melba Hall, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra.
He has also starred in many renowned music festivals around the world, including: Lucerne Festival (Switzerland); Chopin and his Europe (Poland); Oraniensteiner (Germany); Primavera Viseu (Portugal), l'Octobre Musicale (Tunisia); Cervantino (Mexico), Chopiniana (Buenos Aires) and more.
Rafał holds the MD in Arts from "Szymanowski" Music University in Poland and the DMA from "F.Liszt" Music University in Germany. He is also a prize winner of numerous international competitions including: Clara Schumann (Duesseldorf), Maria Canals (Barcelona), Luis Sigall (Chile) and the UNESCO Dinu Lipatti (Bucharest).
Rafał is regarded as a genuine interpreter of Chopin's works. His discography features 10 CDs released by Polish Radio, Montblanc GmbH, Canyon Classics, DUX Recording Producers. He also recorded for NPR, Australian Broadcast Corporation, Fujisankei Group (Japan). The last CD featuring the Chopin Complete Ballades received laudations from music authorities and critics in professional music magazines in Luxembourg and Great Britain.
Rafał possesses a versatile repertoire of more than 30 concertos for piano and orchestra. He has appeared with leading symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, and RSA.
Rafał was appointed Honorary Professor to the National University of Costa Rica, and has been a guest professor at universities in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, China and throughout Latin America.
Rafał is also founder and Juror of Chopin piano competitions in Peru and Ecuador.
Official Site: https://www.raphael.art.pl
Steinway Artist: Raphael Alexandre Lustchevsky
Facebook: Rafael Luszczevski
Instagram: Rafael Luszczewski Official
Don't miss this very special opportunity to see Rafał in his first return visit to Canberra since 2010.
WHAT: Rafał Łuszczewski in Recital
WHEN: Thursday, 1 May 2025, 6:30pm to 7:30pm
LOCATION: Wesley Music Centre, Forrest ACT 2603
Program
Ignaz Friedman:
Suite: "The Masks":
Les Reverences (Menuet)
Masovienne (Danse Polonaise)
Liszt-Schumann:
Liebeslied / Widmung
Fryderyk Chopin:
Etude in A flat, Op.25 No.1 "Eolian Harp"
Etude in C minor, Op.10 No.12 "Revolutionary"
Etude in E major, Op.10 No.3 "Tristesse"
Etude in C minor, Op.25 N0.12 "Ocean"
Ballade in A flat Major, Op.47
- Interval -
Manuel De Falla:
Two Spanish Dances from the Opera "La Vida Breve”
Ignaz Jan Paderewski:
Menuett in G
Richard Addinsell:
Warsaw Concerto
arranged for piano solo by R. Luszczevski
"I had the great pleasure earlier this year to hear Mr Lustchevsky play. His command of the instrument is masterfully impressive - I had the impression that there was nothing he could not do on the piano - he has a great sound, thrilling technique and posesses that rare gift of making you feel he is playing for you especially. On this occasion he was greeted with thunderous applause, confirming my impression. If you have the chance to listen to this remarkable young man play I am sure you will be as I was, spellbound."
"Rafael A. Luszczewski belongs to the limited group of the very best Polish pianists of the younger generation. He confirmed his standing with numerous prizes and performances of a vast piano repertoire at renowned music festivals throughout the whole world. He is an artist whose technical purity of performance is perfectly blended with inteligence, temperament and rich musical imagination. We have also widely discussed pedagogical issues and teaching methods (...). Therefore I know well he is an engaged and successful educator whose work brings excellent educational results. Rafael A. Luszczewski possesses an extensive musical and general knowledge, together with linguistic capabilities to support his work and commitment."
Prof. Andrzej Jasiński
"Mr. Rafael A. Luszczewski is an outstanding pianist, a full-blooded artist; very intelligent, sensitive, and with a strong personality, he is eager to return after each concert. He is also a first-class pedagogue, versatile chamber musician, and conductor. Also important is his positive charisma, which makes him popular with students and among his colleagues."