CONCERT BY CANDLELIGHT | MARIA KORECKA SOSZKOWSKA

 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.

Maria Korecka – Soszkowska is a world famous polish pianist, who has gained renown through a long and varied career in music. Maria’s talents do not only reside in her piano playing and competition winning, but in her teaching, which she has practiced internationally. Maria’s reputation has led to her being invited to act as a jury member for many music competitions.

Maria started performing concerts in 1962 following on from her studies; in Poland under renowned teacher, Professor Henryk Sztompka and in Austria, the equally renowned Professor Dieter Weber. Since commencing her performing Maria has given thousands of concerts and recitals and performed with many philharmonic orchestras all over the world, Turkey, Cuba, Romania, Germany and the Ukraine to name just a few.

Throughout her career Maria has won many competitions and performed at countless festivals, both domestically and internationally. A sample of same gives a flavour of how prolific her success is: I.J. Paderewski National Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz (2nd prize, 1961), National Competition of Mozart’s Music in Katowice (distinction, 1956), “Moderne Klaviertechnik” in St. Moritz, Switzerland (1st prize), 7th International Competition of Chopin’s Music in Warsaw (honorary diploma for the 2nd stage, 1965). Maria has also won the Jose Miguel Ruiz Morales prize (the only awarded prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music) at the Santiago de Compostella competition in Spain in 1978.

Similarly, the same can be said of her festival appearances, which include: Marianska Lazne, Brno (1982), Ankara - Turkey (1989), Ghent - Belgium (1987, 1999), Druskininkai - Lithuania (2011,2012), Minsk - Belarus (2013), Czech Republic (1985) and also numerous festivals in Poland.

Again, as a jury member Maria has participated in competitions all over Europe: in the Ukraine (Worzel, 1999), Denmark (Helsingor, 2001), Lithuania (Druskininkai , 2011 2012 ), Russian Federation (Moscow, 2014), Lithuania (Visaginas, 2014) and in a few competitions in Poland, including the Milosz Magin Intercollegiate Competition of Chopin’s Music ( Lodz, 2007) Lower Carpathians International Competition of Chopin’s Music (Rzeszów, 2012), Regional Piano Competition dedicated to A. Tasman( Lodz, 2013), International Piano Competition dedicated to L. Godowsky (Warsaw 2014). In 2014 she was organizer and director of the International Piano Competition „Performance without limits” (Lodz, 2013). She has led piano courses and workshops in Poland, Ukraine, Denmark and Lithuania.

At the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw, in 1967, Maria began her pedagogical work as a teacher. She was piano professor at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey between 1988 to 1990. From 1992 Maria worked at the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz. There she completed all career steps, commencing as a senior lecturer to professor (2000) and to full professor (2006). In 2007 she was appointed to the post of Head of Piano Chair.

Over her career Maria Korecka – Soszkowska has made recordings for television, radio and general release (7 records including 6 CDs).

Since 2019, she has been the President of the Warsaw Musical Society named after S. Moniuszko. She was reappointed to this position on February 26, 2024, for the next term. Since 1995, she has been collaborating with the PRESTO Concert Agency.