Kraina: Songs of the Polish Diaspora

A concert and discussion of classical music from the Polish diaspora, featuring songs in both Polish and English. Soprano Rebecca Murphy and pianist Cahal Masterson present music by Chopin, Szymanowski, and other composers on the themes of displacement, emigration, and the mingling of cultures. Central to the concert is Kraina, a collaboration between author Aleksandra Łojek and Northern Irish composer Anselm McDonnell. This collection of four songs sets poems from historical and contemporary Polish poets reflecting on the challenges of emigration and the integration of communities. The event also features a panel discussion with the artists about their collaborative work.

The main work on the programme, Kraina (Old Polish for land or border), describes a journey of emigration from Poland to the challenges faced by one woman who moved into a house by the Peace Wall in central Belfast during the Troubles. It begins with Jeżeli Porcelana by Stanisław Barańczak, a reeling, shocked depiction of the loss of home and possessions. The chirpy but somewhat naïve character of The House on the Interface juxtaposes an optimistic view of Belfast with an undercurrent of violence, with text taken from Aleksandra Łojek’s book Belfast 99. The third movement, sets emotional and nostalgic text from Adam Mickiewicz’s Pielgrzym to a soaring melody over a delicate piano accompaniment. The work ends with a biting and sarcastic commentary from Peter Skrzynecki on interactions between immigrants and locals in The Polish Immigrant.

Northern Irish Soprano, , hailed by Opera Journal for her ‘stunning delivery’, is making waves across the UK and Europe on both the concert and operatic platforms. She was a member of the Internationales Opernstudio at Oper Köln from 2020-22, and previously was a member of the Northern Ireland Opera Studio (2018-19). She is also a regular guest with the Ulster Orchestra and the Belfast Ensemble. Rebecca is the recipient of the Arts Council Northern Ireland Young Musicians Platform Award (2022).

Award winning Armagh pianist has developed an impressive performing profile in Ireland and internationally, with recent performances in Monteverdi Tuscany, the Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris and the National Concert Hall Dublin. In addition to solo, vocal repetiteur and chamber work that has taken him throughout Europe, North America, and Suzhou, China, Cahal is dedicated to championing exciting new works by Irish composers. More recent album collaborations have included Kraina by McDonnell and debut album Traverser by soprano Rebecca Murphy. Upcoming solo projects will focus on Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations.

(b. 1994) is an Irish/Welsh composer whose music has been described as “abrasive and compelling” (Irish Times) “dazzling… seductive… eerie and disturbing” (Planet Hugill) “a feast for the senses” (Morning Star) and “the cutting edge of musical creativity.” (Opera Journal). A diverse range of interests in cross-genre and multimedia art has led to collaboration with rap artists, lighting designers, poets, filmmakers, dancers, and actors, including the 5-star reviewed Politics of the Imagination, a rap opera commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra. McDonnell’s work “evokes emotional territories indicative of our time’s unsettled state of menace, balanced with personal moments of fragile hope and stability.” (Get Classical NYC)

Aleksandra Lojek, published writer, sociologist, Tv correspondent for Polsat. MA in Iranian studies. In Belfast from 2008, previously lived in London for two years (stipend on UCL and then freelancing as a journalist there). Back in Poland where she was born, she worked at Jagiellonian University running courses on Islamic art and Jihad ideology. In Belfast she has been working as a mediator, interpreter, hate crime officer, race relations coordinator, ethnic minorities advocate, journalist. At some point, applied to be a kitchen porter (global crisis in 2008) but nobody wanted to take a risk :) Mother of a 12 years old son. Enjoys long walks, reading, podcasts on astronomy, good company, cooking when not expected to. Extremely chaotic and useless at cleaning.

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