Andrzej Olewiński/Mak Grgić & Mateusz Kowalski

Two generations of guitar virtuosity, different musical languages and common Slavic roots — this concert will show the guitar in the full spectrum of its possibilities: from classical elegance, to jazz, rock and world music, to sounds inspired by Slavic tradition.

Andrzej Olewiński, winner of the first prize of the German competition in 2008, is a classical, acoustic and electric guitarist, appreciated for combining classical music with jazz, rock and film music. His recital — planned as the first part of the concert — is a meeting with music full of imagination, humor, energy and unobvious guitar tones. The concert program creates a multidimensional story in which classical virtuosity meets jazz freedom, rock energy and inspiration from world music. The evening will be opened by the compositions Terefere and Ragadu — pieces full of rhythmic lightness and characteristic narrative, introducing listeners to the world of the artist's original musical language. Then there will be an extended series of Tres Piezas Rock'n Rollas — a brilliant and temperamental suite in which rock expression meets concert momentum. The next parts — from the energetic Catapult, through the pulsating Pulsar to the exuberant Chupacabra — show the guitar in an extremely dynamic and contemporary take. The program will also include compositions inspired by movement, dance and emotion. A special place in the program is also occupied by Portrait with a Lady — a piece with a more reflective and poetic character, revealing the intimate and emotional side of the guitar. The finale of the concert will be Plama the Dog — a composition full of humor, freedom and stage energy, constituting an impressive culmination of the evening. Andrzej Olewiński's concert is a proposal for listeners open to the guitar in a modern, original edition — music full of rhythm, imagination and unique artistic personality.

The second part of the concert will belong to two guitar virtuosos Mak Grgic from Slovenia and Mateusz Kowalski from Poland, who share Slavic roots. When they join forces in music, something much better than a simple duet is created. “Slavic Sessions” is a conscious artistic project in which the two musicians explore the richness of the Slavic musical tradition through the prism of a guitar duet — a chamber ensemble with a special intimacy and flexibility of expression.

The forest scenery, which forms the framework for this collaboration, appeals to something deeper than aesthetic choice. The forest is the heart of Slavic mythology and culture — a place inhabited by rusalks, forest spirits and deities such as Leszy. It was here that fairy tales and legends developed, which later found their place in folk music. Polish songs, such as W polje lipeńka or Gaik, directly refer to nature. The album's programme spans three centuries of music, creating a panorama of Slavic sensibilities — from romanticism to the present. Chopin's Nocturne in B minor Op. 9 No. 1, transcribed by Jerzy Koenig, opens the album with a poetic meditation on the universal power of melancholy. The intimacy of the piano original takes on a new dimension in the delicate texture of the two guitars, emphasizing the contemplative character of this romantic miniature masterpiece. Antonín Dvořák's work is represented by two Slavic Dances in Duo Mirić. The orchestral richness of the Czech master, with his characteristic rhythms and harmonic language, was transferred here to the chamber scale while preserving the fullness of Slavic character and dance energy.

The contemporary language of the composer is represented by Marek Pasieczny's series Polish Impressions — a collection of twelve miniatures based on the most recognizable Polish folk melodies. The composer creates a fascinating synthesis of tradition and modernity, in which folk songs such as The Red Apple or In the Brick Cellar acquire a harmonious richness of the compositional techniques of the 21st century. The unique value of the album is the world premieres of recordings of Miroslav Tadic's songs. Stana's Lament is an emotionally intense lament, while Walk Dance No. 2 shows a more wild and primitive side of Balkan Slavic culture through characteristic irregular rhythmic meters.

Part I

Andrzej Olewinski

Programa:

Terefere Ragadu Three Pieces Rock'n Rollas Prelude Pulsar Catapult Chupacabra Parkour Duende & Tanguito Portrait with Lady Spot the Dog

Part II

Mak Grgić Mateusz Kowalski

selected songs from the album Slavic Sessions (2025)

Details of the program will be presented by the artists during the concert.

Concert included in the festival pass.