Pro Musica Antiqua chamber music ensemble was established in September 1992. Leszek Szarzyński, who also is its artistic manager, established it. The ensemble has been promoted by the Museum of Warmia and Masuria in Olsztyn.
Leszek Szarzyński brought together outstanding soloists of philharmonic orchestras and professors of Academies of Music. The ensemble consists of Jerzy Szafrański – the 1st oboist of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Warsaw, Wojciech Orawiec – a soloist of the Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra of Gdańsk and Małgorzata Skotnicka – a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk.
Pro Musica Antiqua has a rich repertoire presenting music of different periods with the major focus on the masterpieces by baroque and early classical period music masters. It also performs compositions by contemporary Polish composers, some of them written especially for that ensemble by Marcin Błażewicz, Marian Sawa, Marek Sewen or Bernard Chmielarz.
The ensemble has made numerous recordings for Polish Radio and Television. It has published three records (1995, 1996 and 1997) presenting Italian, German and French sonatas. Together with Warsaw Chamber Orchestra, it has recorded a record of Polish contemporary music. Since 1992 the ensemble has presented Summer Concerts in the facilities that are most famous tourist attractions of Warmia and Masuria region. Since 1996, it has participated in the cycle of chamber music concert “Cavata at Olsztyn Castle”. It was also active internationally presenting concerts in Austria, Germany and Hungary.
Pro Musica Antiqua has a rich repertoire presenting music of different periods with the major focus on the masterpieces by baroque and early classical period music masters. It also performs compositions by contemporary Polish composers, some of them written especially for that ensemble by Marcin Błażewicz, Marian Sawa, Marek Sewen or Bernard Chmielarz.
The ensemble has made numerous recordings for Polish Radio and Television. It has published three records (1995, 1996 and 1997) presenting Italian, German and French sonatas. Together with Warsaw Chamber Orchestra, it has recorded a record of Polish contemporary music. Since 1992 the ensemble has presented Summer Concerts in the facilities that are most famous tourist attractions of Warmia and Masuria region. Since 1996, it has participated in the cycle of chamber music concert “Cavata at Olsztyn Castle”. It was also active internationally presenting concerts in Austria, Germany and Hungary.
Pro Musica Antiqua was awarded the “Atut 94” award for cultural activities.
The ensemble participated such events as the:
International Organ and Chamber Music Festival in Kamień Pomorski (1992, 1993, 1996),
- Royal Concerts at Wilanów palace,
- “Under the Linden Three” concerts at Łazienki Park in Warsaw,
- I International Festival of Baltic Countries Music and Arts in Toruń (1994),
- Concert at the UN Center in Vienna, Austria (1994),
- Festival of Organ and Chamber Music in Warsaw (1999),
- IX International Music Festival in Stalowa Wola (1999),
- Krystyna Jamróz Memorial VI International Music Festival in Busko Zdrój (2000),
- XIII International Festival of Organ and Chamber Music in Radom – Orońsko (2000),
- VI International Festival of Organ and Chamber Music in Jędrzejów (2000),
- Jubilee Concerts on the Millennium of Hungarian State in Budapest (2000).
LESZEK SZARZYŃSKI – flute
He graduated from the Academy of Music in Kraków in 1977 in the flute class of Prof. Barbara Świątek-Żelazny. During the years 1976-1979 he was the first flutist of the Philharmonic Orchestra in Olsztyn and during the season of 1979/1980 of the Philharmonic Orchestra in Szczecin. During the years 1981-1984 he stayed in Egypt working as the first flutist of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and a lecturer at Cairo Conservatory. There he established the ensemble “Pro Musica” consisting of musicians from different countries. This ensemble was the initial model for the ensemble established in Olsztyn in 1985 under the same name. During the years 1985-1992 Leszek Szarzyński with Pro Musica made numerous recordings for radio and television and presented concerts in Poland and abroad. From 1985 until 1997 he was the first flutist, during the years 1997-1999 the artistic director and as of 2000 the director general of Feliks Nowowiejski Philharmonic Orchestra in Olsztyn. In September 1992 he established the Pro Musica Antiqua chamber music ensemble. As of 1993 he has been the artistic director of Summer Concerts, as of 1995 – Giżycko Organ and Chamber Music Concerts and as of 1996 he has been a co-organizer of evening events “Cavata at Olsztyn Castle”. As of 2000 he has been the director general of Ełk Flute Academy. As of 2001 he has been the artistic director of the Masurian Festival of Arts, Cultures and Nations. Currently he is a plenipotentiary of the city president for culture and education.
As a soloist and member of chamber music ensembles, he performed in several countries including Egypt, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Russia, Bulgaria and Rumania. He also cooperates with numerous philharmonic orchestras in Poland. He is a professor at the Institute of Music at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. He made numerous recordings for archives and on CD’s with chamber music and concerts by contemporary Polish composers.
Leszek Szarzyński plays the flute by Pearl and is an artistic representative of that company.
MAŁGORZATA SKOTNICKA – harpsichord
She is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Kraków in the harpsichord class of Prof. Elżbieta Stefańska. She participated in master courses by such teachers as Zuzanna Ruzickova, Huquette Dreyfus and Jacque Ogg. She participates in workshops devoted to performance of old music provided by H. Rilling Bach Academy. She is also interested in contemporary music. She participated in recordings organized by the Division of Contemporary Music of the Academy of Music in Kraków. On her initiative the Polish Association of Old Music Friends was established. She is an assistant professor at S. Moniuszko Memorial Academy of Music in Gdańsk.
JERZY SZAFRAŃSKI – oboe
He graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Poznań in the class of Prof. Mieczysław Koczorowski. During the years 1970-1972 he studied in the class of Prof. J. Schaeftlein at the Academy of Music in Vienna and was awarded the diploma with honors. In 1972 he started working with the Great Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio and Television in Katowice. He cooperated with chamber music ensembles of the National Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Karol Teutsch as a soloist. As of 1983 he is a soloist of the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw.
WOJCIECH ORAWIEC – bassoon
He graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Kraków in the bassoon class of Prof. Kazimierz Siudmak. He used to work as a soloist with the Pomerania Philharmonic Orchestra and as of 1980 he has worked with the Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra of Gdańsk. He cooperated with Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of Wojciech Rajski. He participated in international music festivals in Europe as well as in radio and television recording sessions. As a member of the Gdańsk Brass Quintet existing since 1982, he participated in concerts in Poland and abroad. He is a professor at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk where he runs classes of bassoon and chamber music.
The repertoire of Pro Musica Antiqua chamber music ensemble Composers
C. Ph. E. Bach
J. Ch.Bach
J. S. Bach
C. B. Balbastre
M. Błażewicz
J. B. de Boismortier
W. Byrd
A. Caldara
W. Corbett
G. Frescobaldi
C. H. Graun
G. F. Handel
J. Heydn
A. Jarzębski
J. F. Kleinknecht
J. B. Loeillet
M. Mielczewski
W. A. Mozart
J. C. Pepusch
G. Platti
M. Sewen
H. Purcell
J. Ph. Rameau
M. Sawa
C. Stamitz
St. S. Szarzyński
G. Ph. Telemann
R. Valentine
C. M. Veracini
A. Vivaldi
W. Williams
Jan of Lublin
N. Rosauro
R. Fuataz
M. Schmit
Z. Foulbrecht
N. Peters
G. Jacobs
B. Marcello
C. Mathes
M. Radziwiłł
B. Chmielarz
Information
Agencja Artystyczno-Reklamowa “PRO MUSICA ANTIQUA”, 10-517 Olsztyn, ul. Mazurska 3/1
mobile: (+48) 601 695 842
mobile: (+48) 601 695 842
e-mail: l.szarzynski@wp.pl
Muzeum Warmii i Mazur, 10-074 Olsztyn, ul. Zamkowa 2
tel.: (+48) (0-89) 527 95 96, fax: (+48) (0-89) 527 20 39
e-mail: zamek@muzeum.olsztyn.pl
Records
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The four artists are masters of technique in playing their instruments, they also showed a faultless performance as a group and well considered interpretation, taking into consideration the differences in style between the music of baroque and pre-classical period.
R. Kraszewski – “Głos Szczeciński” of 29 June 1993
Excellently attuned high class ensemble, even though the musicians come from different towns, presented a fantastic performance of a number of Italian baroque pieces followed by a number of German baroque pieces during the second part of the concert.
K. Zalewski – “Toruńskie Nowości” of 12 May 1994
I have already presented the strengths of Pro Musica Antiqua ensemble on a number of occasions. The vivid temperament is combined with the precision of performance, the striving towards stylistic fidelity with individuality of performance, awareness of the goal with the best methods for achieving it. The Pro Musica Antiqua ensemble combines the narrow stylistic specialization with versatility in interpretation while not loosing the expectations of the listeners from sight. And that probably is the secret of its success.
K. Szatrawski – “Dziennik Pojezierza” of 2 February 1997
The trip through the Baroque: - (…) Four musicians were excellent – each of the members of the ensemble is a virtuoso of the given instrument while together they create unique interpretations of music by great composers.
Inge Kracht-Nettetal, German press, 23 October 2000
“Fast, breath-taking flutes “ – (…) Pro Musica Antiqua Chamber Music Ensemble has presented the highest-class precision, feeling and respect for the musical expression of the music piece. With the bravado of the harpsichord, virtuoso play of the flute and passages of bassoon seemed to wake the church of Offenburg monastery to life.
R. Kraszewski – “Głos Szczeciński” of 29 June 1993
Excellently attuned high class ensemble, even though the musicians come from different towns, presented a fantastic performance of a number of Italian baroque pieces followed by a number of German baroque pieces during the second part of the concert.
K. Zalewski – “Toruńskie Nowości” of 12 May 1994
I have already presented the strengths of Pro Musica Antiqua ensemble on a number of occasions. The vivid temperament is combined with the precision of performance, the striving towards stylistic fidelity with individuality of performance, awareness of the goal with the best methods for achieving it. The Pro Musica Antiqua ensemble combines the narrow stylistic specialization with versatility in interpretation while not loosing the expectations of the listeners from sight. And that probably is the secret of its success.
K. Szatrawski – “Dziennik Pojezierza” of 2 February 1997
The trip through the Baroque: - (…) Four musicians were excellent – each of the members of the ensemble is a virtuoso of the given instrument while together they create unique interpretations of music by great composers.
Inge Kracht-Nettetal, German press, 23 October 2000
“Fast, breath-taking flutes “ – (…) Pro Musica Antiqua Chamber Music Ensemble has presented the highest-class precision, feeling and respect for the musical expression of the music piece. With the bravado of the harpsichord, virtuoso play of the flute and passages of bassoon seemed to wake the church of Offenburg monastery to life.
Hans Kasper – Offenburg, German press of 30 January 2001
