The Greats of Małopolska — Antoni Kątski

Performers:
210th Anniversary of the Birth of Antoni Kątski
Paweł Wajrak — violin
Franciszek Pall — cello
Ewelina Panocha — piano
Agnieszka Malatyńska-Stankiewicz - conducting

Repertoire:
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Trio in C minor Op. 1 No. 3
Antoni Kątski — Piano Trio Op. 201

ANTONI KĄTSKI is a Polish composer, pianist, educator, animator of musical life all over the world, a multidimensional artist who, despite his enormous contribution to the development of the musical culture of the 19th century, was completely forgotten in his homeland. Born on September 25, 1816 in Krakow, he came from a noble family cultivating patriotic and military traditions. He took his first instrument lessons from his father Grzegorz — a court clerk, a great musical enthusiast who devoted his whole life to building the artistic careers of his talented children (Karol, Antoni, Stanisław, Apollinari and daughter Eugenia). He began performing in public at the age of five, and already in 1822 he became a member of the Society of Friends of Music in his hometown. As an eminently gifted child, he received numerous scholarships that allowed him to receive musical education at the highest level. For his artistic achievements, he was also repeatedly honored by European monarchs. Antoni studied with John Field in Moscow and Simon Sechter in Vienna. According to sources, he was also taught by Sigismund Thalberg and Ludwig van Beethoven himself. The Kątski family changed their place of residence depending on the concert possibilities of the “wonderful children”. In the 1830s, they settled in Paris. This was the time when Antoni began to work on his own giving piano lessons, performing, composing and releasing his works. Making himself known as an outstanding pianist, he was quickly appreciated by the local cultural elite and soon won a jury seat at the Paris Conservatory. As an educator, he created a work entitled L'indispensable du Pianiste op. 100, which became a permanent part of the canon of music textbooks. He spent the years 1851-1853 in Berlin, where he received the position of pianist of the Prussian court. He then went to St. Petersburg, remaining there until 1867, and later settled in London for another 16 years (during this time constantly touring, composing and conducting pedagogical activities). The year 1883 brought the greatest changes to date in the life of Kątski, who left the old continent and moved to the United States. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, he took up the position of professor of piano at the university there. In 1887, the artist went on a tour of the world, which included Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, Siam, Russia and Poland. He died suddenly, on December 7, 1899, in the estate of his wife's sister Natalia — probably in Ivanchitsy near Pohosty Zarechny (Volyn). It is not known where exactly the grave of the composer is located.

Raised on the classics, Kątski as a composer became a representative of the early romantic style. He practiced almost all musical genres (solo, chamber, symphonic, vocal, vocal-instrumental). He is the author of more than four hundred opuses, the lion's share of which are works for piano. Antoni Kątski was undoubtedly one of the most versatile composers of the 19th century. He created the musical culture of this era, so diverse in terms of styles and levels, and his vast artistic achievements are an important element of Polish cultural heritage. Engraving with the portrait of the composer - gallica.bnf.fr

Piano Trio Op. 201

This is probably Kątski's only composition for piano, violin and cello. The exact date of creation of the work is unknown, but many indicate that it dates from the Berlin period of the artist's work (1851-1853). However, it is known that the work was performed in 1853, during one of Antoni's concerts on Polish soil. The event was witnessed by music critic Józef Sikorski, who wrote in a review of the event that the Trio deserves to be placed among the best pieces of its kind. He also advised Kątski not to write trivial compositions, since he can create such valuable works. The piece consists of four parts. The element that unites the entire first part is the constant presence of a punctuated rhythm, which gives it a solemn and marching character. The piano part is quite extensive and requires considerable technical skills from the pianist (numerous figurations, staggered passages, octave and tertiary courses, arpeggios). The second part of Allegro non troppo (with Trie in the middle) appears to be airy and danceable due to its relatively fast pace and three-part meter. Its characteristic features are strong dynamic contrasts, regular occurrence of accents and frequent repetitions. The third part of Andante is extremely romantic and full of subtle elevations and is divided internally — individual fragments are preserved in different tempos and tonalities. The fourth part of Rondo, elegant and at the same time danceable in expression, is another example of inspiration from Chopin's compositions. We can find similarities with the third part of the Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11.

Anna Parkita

Paweł WAJRAK — graduated with honors from the Academy of Music (now K. Penderecki) in Krakow in the class of Ro man Reiner. He took part in many master and chamber courses under the direction of Marina Jaszwila and Wiesław Kwaśny, among others. From 1997 to 2001 he was concertmaster of the Sinfonia Amabile orchestra. He has collaborated with the ensembles Sinfonietta Cracovia, Sinfonia Varsovia and with the Orchestra of the Beetho Academy of Venom.

Concertmaster of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Orchestra in Krakow and concertmaster and artistic director of the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra. He co-creates the string quintet Piazzofor te Ensemble, as well as the band New Tango Bridge.

He performs as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborated with the J. Słowacki Theatre in Krakow, performs at festivals in Poland and abroad, remaining in constant cooperation with, among others, Kevin Kenner, Waldemar Malicki, Michał Nagy, Klaudiusz Baran, Piotr Wajrak.

Scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Winner of the Fryderyk Award in 2006 for an album made with Kevin Kenner and Piazzoforte Ensemble. He recorded the concerts of A. Vivaldi from the series La Stravaganza on the Bach & Vivaldi album, released on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra. In 2015 he made the first ever recording of A.F. Duranowski's Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 8.

photo by Mark Bytom

Franciszek PALL - born in Cracow. He graduated in 1999 with distinction in the cello class of Witold Herman. He participated in many solo and chamber courses.

Since 1996 he has been a cellist of the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra. He also collaborates with the Sinfonietta Cracovia ensemble, the Przemysl Chamber Orchestra and the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra. He is happy to perform as a chamber musician. With the String Quartet of the Krakow Philharmonic he has performed at festivals in Germany, Italy, San Marino and the Czech Republic. He took part in the recordings of film music and a CD with Polish cello music for the DUX label.

He gives himself as a teacher, leading a cello class at the Mieczysław Karłowicz Music School Complex in Krakow. photo: Victor

Ewelina PANOCHA — pianist and accompanist. She graduated from the Tarnów Music School in the piano class of Jarosław Ivaneczka, MSc. She continued her music education under the guidance of Prof. Ewa Bukojemska at the Academy of Music in Krakow, which she graduated with honors in 2004. She then took a job as a teacher and accompanist in the Music School Complex in Tarnów.

She is a laureate of piano competitions, among others in Antonin and Cracow, and a recipient of a scholarship from the Prime Minister in 1997-1998. In 2016 she received the 4th prize at the Concours Musical de France in Paris.

She has participated in the festivals “Tarnów Talents Week — Kąśna Dolna” and “Emanations” in Lusławice, where she performed with the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra. In 2016, she recorded Augusta Duranowski's Fantasy Op. 9, released on a CD with works by this composer. In May 2023, a CD was released, which Ewelina Panocha recorded together with the musicians of the Krakow Philharmonic “Wielcy z Małopolska — Antoni Kątski”.

She improved her skills during master classes with, among others, Janusz Olejniczak, Elżbieta Tarnawska, Waldemar Wojtal, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, Boris Berman, Andrzej Jasiński, Aquilles Delle Vigne and Wojciech Świtała.

She was a member of the jury of international piano competitions in France (Prix Animato in Paris in 2021, 2023, 2025) and in Portugal (Musica da Primavera in Viseu in 2021).

At the beginning of 2020, she initiated and organized the “Schubert Days” in Tarnów. The honorary patronage of this initiative was given to the Consul General of the Republic of Austria.

In 2019, the Mayor of the City of Tarnów honored her with the title “Teacher with Culture”, and in 2026 she received the Tarnów City Award for the dissemination of culture.

Fig. Alexandra Kubicz