An invitation from the embassy of Poland to Malta is always welcome for it usually means that it will include music - live and excellent performances.
I have been going to a variety of receptions for many years but now feel I have had enough and I am past my sell-by date when it comes to certain events. But not if music is included.
This year to celebrate the 106th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence, in 1918, after over a century of being absent from the map of Europe, H.E. The Polish ambassador to Malta, on 18 November hosted a concert Henryk Wieniawski in Memoriam followed by a reception at the Casino Maltese in Valletta.
There were drinks on arrival followed by the concert in the ballroom, then a reception with short speeches by our President and Polish ambassador.
We were sent a programme by email together with the invitation, which is always such a good idea. To me Poland means music and Chopin, the poet of the piano, and at the most Jan Paderewski, a name those of us who took piano lessons were familiar with as we tried to play his famous Minuet in G Major but gave up when it became too demanding.
That evening was, however, dedicated to Henryk Wieniawski, not a name which is familiar to me. A Dvořák Piano Quintet wrapped up the programme. Dvořák, the Czech composer, I am familiar with and generally enjoy his compositions but love his Slavonic dances.
Since guests received the programme beforehand I had the opportunity to find out about the composer we were celebrating. Two of his Mazurkas and a Polonaise by him were played as well as Souvenir de Posen and Oriental Fantasy. It was an easy listening repertoire, parts of which reminded me of Chopin. After all both composers had met in Paris so could have influenced each other.
Our very own Carmine Lauri with a 1701 Stradivari violin 'from the Golden Period' loaned by Anna Kosińska was one of the stars that evening. The other being Anna herself, looking resplendent. She had studied Law and music in London.
She, too, played on a valuable violin. She has a most impressive CV and is co-leader of The Berlin Symphony orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Oxford Philharmonic orchestra. The concert that evening was supported by the Anna Kosińska Foundation for Classical Music.Apart from being a composer Henryk Wieniawski is considered to be among the most distinguished violinists in history. He was the grandson of a Jewish barber. Nevertheless Henryk's father, the son of a barber, became a medical doctor and before obtaining his medical degree had converted to Catholicism. The concert was performed by extraordinary musicians: our own Carmine Lauri (violin), Anna Kosińska (violin), Michał Francuz (piano), Maciej Kulakowski (cello) and Garfield Jackson an Englishman who played the viola. All the musicians have an impressive list of scholarships and accolades behind them.
Most Polish names are difficult to remember, to spell, to type with all those accents and above all, to pronounce. But music is an international language and they were very talented musicians indeed and the accents certainly did not intrude on our enjoyment. H.E. the Polish ambassador Mr Tomasz Czyszek only brings out the best. Before the concert Romeo Giacomotto had asked his childhood friend, Carmine Lauri, if he could play Scherzo Tarantelle, Op. 16 by Wieniawski. Carmine had explained to him that the programme was set and he would not be able to play it due to time limitations. However that evening he did play it, to please his friend Romeo, and it turned out to be a delightful piece. He had swapped it with one of the pieces in the programme. Romeo told me during the reception afterwards: "I really appreciated this gesture on the part of Carmine, who after all is such a distinguished violinist.
"The curriculum vitae of those musicians that evening were truly formidable not only in terms of qualifications but also in terms of lifestyle. They do a great deal of travelling and have many engagements and recordings. They play, solo, with large orchestras or in chamber gatherings, as in this case.They teach and coach; they are totally immersed in music, all day and every day, or so it seems. Do they have partners, children, pets or drainage problems and dental appointments? One cannot help wondering how they cope.However, I know one thing. They did every piece they played justice and hugely entertained the select audience who did not want the music to stop.
I stayed on for the reception afterwards and spoke to most of the performers. All spoke English. When I went to thank His Excellency he was talking to the pianist, Michal Francuz. I asked His Excellency if next time round he was going to bring along a pianist who was going to play Chopin, at last. Michel quickly said, enthusiastically, that he has a full repertoire of Chopin and can play whatever I liked. According to the programme: "He has performed multiple times at the Chopin Manor in Zelazowa Wola and at the Royal Baths in Warsaw, Chopin Festival in Duszniki and many others.
"This time His Excellency promised. Here it is in black and white. I hope the Chopin concert won't happen when I am away or on my deathbed.But back to the evening which was so beautifully organised. To me, can the performance to a long-standing ovation be anything other than five stars?
Photos: Joseph Amodio
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