CARNIVAL CONCERT | JAGODA SOKOŁOWSKA O'DONOVAN | JARYNA RAK | ROBERT SKIERA

In the beautiful interior of the Fryderyk Concert Hall, lit only by candlelight, we will listen to Fryderyk Chopin's performed by extraordinary artists - outstanding musicians of our time.

In addition to Fryderyk Chopin's compositions, the concert program will also include works by other composers, those who inspired Fryderyk Chopin (including Jan Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven), composers from the circle of European romantic music (including Ferenc Liszt, Joseph Elsner, Stanisław Moniuszko), as well as later artists.

The concerts are two-part recitals lasting approximately 60 minutes, based on the idea of salon musical meetings popular in the 19th century.

During the concert break, we will offer you a glass of sparkling wine.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the concert.

Jagoda Sokołowska - O’Donovan - soprano

Laureate of first prizes at Polish and international music competitions.

Renowned Polish critic and humanist Jerzy Waldorff wrote: 'The responsibility for the state of Poland's musical life compels me to direct these few words to you, co-creators of Polish culture... I recommend to you this exceptionally talented artist... an outstanding musical personality.'

She will perform songs by Fryderyk Chopin and other Polish composers in the Fryderyk Concert Hall.

Yaryna Rak - soprano

A graduate of the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy in the piano class of Maria Kruszelnicka and in the operatic singing class of Volodymyr Ignatenko and Ludmila Bozhko. She also completed an artistic internship in the operatic singing class of Izabela Kłosińska at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Winner of piano and vocal competitions nationally and internationally. A scholarship recipient from the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland. She taught a chamber singing class at the music academy in Lviv for several years, a master class in interpretation and vocal technique at the University of Tromsø. Currently, she is a coach for soloists at the Grand Theatre - National Opera in Warsaw. Collaborates with numerous festivals, philharmonics, and theaters nationally and internationally as a vocal coach and operatic singer.

Robert Skiera - piano

Robert currently performs as a soloist and chamber musician in Poland and throughout Europe. Between performances he fits in teaching at music schools in Warsaw from the Jozef Elsner State College Music School to his old alma-mater the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw from where he graduated in 1988.

Robert has also conducted classes at the international courses of musical interpretation in Nowy Sącz.

Among the concerts and festivals Robert has performed at are: Germany (Kiel, Frankfurt, Mainz, Trier, Mannheim, Cottbus, Husum, Mülheim, Oberhausen, Segeberg), Holland (The Hague), Italy (Milan, Turin, Genoa), Austria (Vienna), France (Paris), Belgium (Brussels) and Hungary (Budapest).

Robert has also made recordings for both polish radio and television, performing as a soloist with chamber orchestras, and also performing piano ensembles in orchestral works (e.g. under Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau).

Robert repertoire doesn’t just include Chopin’s many wonderful works, but ranges from Bach to Bartók.

Robert has released albums for the labels Acte Préalable (Chopin’s works) and DUX (chamber music).