The Mountain and The Maiden: Małgorzata Walentynowicz in Concert

“Małgorzata Walentynowicz is not only one of the most talented, but also the most aesthetically radical and politically active Polish pianists.” (www.trojmiasto.pl) “The remarkable impact of the characteristically very diverse works is also rooted in the outstanding interpretative artistry of Małgorzata Walentynowicz. What Walentynowicz achieves on the piano, both technically and emotionally, is simply breathtaking. Her pianistic interaction with the numerous soundtracks consistently leaves one in awe. Here, two artists have come together in an ideal synthesis to celebrate great contemporary music.” (magazin.klassik.com) “The film by Shmuel The Mountain & The Maiden, short documentary film by Shmuel Hoffman and Anton von Heiseler is an official selection at the Oscars”

In partnership with the Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin; Supported by the Arts Council; With the friendly support of Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. Special support from Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Poland, and Kultur.dk

Festival Director: Fergal Dowling

Technical Supervision: Studio4

Audio production: Fergal McKeown

Lighting: Aidan Whelan

Press: Conleth Teevan

Production Assistant: Maeve Kelly

Social Media Manager: Josh Gandharva

Enquiries: info@musiccurrent.ie

Małgorzata Walentynowicz is a Polish pianist specializing in contemporary music. Renowned for innovative solo performance and ensemble collaboration, she is interested in works that search for the connection between music and the body, and the relationship between music and visual art, performance art, theatre, video, and photography. Her captivating multimedia projects, seamlessly blend traditional piano with cutting-edge electronics, keyboards, and synthesisers, to explore connections between the human body and technology. She performs with the Ensemble Garage, based in Cologne, and the New European Ensemble based in The Hague.

She has performed at major festivals, including: Warsaw Autumn, MaerzMusik, Ultraschall Berlin, Eclat Stuttgart, Heroines of Sound, Chamber Music Days in Witten, Mixtur Festival Barcelona, Rainy Days in Luxembourg, Klangspuren Schwaz, Musica Strasbourg, Gaudeamus Musikweek, ISCM World Music Days, the Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, SPOR in Aahrus, Klang in Copenhagen, Eights Bridges, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Sacrum Profanum in Cracow, Musica Polonica Nova, and Musica Electronica Nova in Wrocław, Tzlil Meudcan Tel Aviv.

As a soloist, Walentynowicz has collaborated with various orchestras, including the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra, Sinfonia Iuventus, Sinfonia Varsovia, the New Music Orchestra, Illinois Modern Ensemble, Ensemble Neofonia. Her interpretations have been released on several albums on renowned labels such as KAIROS, WERGO, DUX, ANAKLASIS and she was awarded the prestigious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.”

She graduated from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, and the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, where she obtained an honours degree in the interpretation of contemporary music. She holds a doctorate in art and holds a professor position at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. She has won First Prize at the Gaudeamus Interpreters’ Competition in Amsterdam and the First Prize at the Yvar MikhashoffTrust for New Music Competition in Buffalo, New York. She has also received a scholarship for excellence in performance from the Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music and was nominated for the Classical:Next Innovation Award in Rotterdam.

Music Current is Ireland’s most ambitious, adventurous and challenging music festival, presenting music that is new to Dublin audiences; multimedia music performances, theatrical performances and audio visual performances; music that has to be experienced.