Mieczysław Karłowicz; Stanisław Moniuszko - Songs (Piotr Beczała; Helmut Deutsch)

Information

Composer: Mieczysław Karłowicz; Stanisław Moniuszko

1. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 1: I. Zasmuconej
2. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 1: II. Skąd pierwsze gwiazdy
3. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 1: IV. Zawód
4. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 1: V. Pamiętam ciche, jasne, złote dnie
5. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 1: VI. Smutna jest dusza moja
6. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: I. Mów do mnie jeszcze
7. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: II. Z erotyków (I zamiast słońc i gwiazd)
8. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: III. Idzie na pole
9. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: IV. Na spokojnym, ciemnym morzu
10. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: V. Śpi w blaskach nocy
11. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: VI. Przed nocą wieczną
12. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: VII. Nie płacz nade mną
13. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: VIII. W wieczorną ciszę
14. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: IX. Po szerokim, po szerokim morzu
15. Karłowicz - Pieśni, Op. 3: X. Zaczarowana królewna
16. Karłowicz - Pod jaworem
17. Karłowicz - Rdzawe liście strząsa z drzew
18. Karłowicz - Czasem, gdy długo na półsennie marzę
19. Karłowicz - O, nie wierz temu
20. Karłowicz - Z nową wiosną
21. Karłowicz - Najpiękniejsze piosnki, Op. 4
22. Moniuszko - Dwie zorze
23. Moniuszko - Polna różyczka
24. Moniuszko - Prząśniczka
25. Moniuszko - Krakowiaczek
26. Moniuszko - Znasz-li ten kraj

Piotr Beczała, tenor

Helmut Deutsch, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Fryderyk Chopin Institute

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Description

Moniuszko and Karlowicz—two names without which the phenomenon of Polish song would not exist in Polish culture. There is much that separates them: the time they lived, the number of songs they wrote, the atmosphere in their family home, their personality. When Karlowicz was born (in 1876), Moniuszko was no longer alive (he died in 1872). The latter wrote more than three hundred solo songs with piano; Karlowicz penned just twenty-two. On the other hand, the two composers have a great deal in common. They were both born in the Polish borderlands, and those lands remained in their blood. Karlowicz wrote a Lithuanian Rhapsody; Moniuszko, when writing his songs, turned consistently to verse by poets from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They both studied in Berlin: Karlowicz more than half a century after Moniuszko. But the most important connection is the figure of Jan Karlowicz, the composer's father. Later, as an eminent linguist and ethnographer, Jan became a collector of Moniuszko's letters, music manuscripts and other documents; it is thanks to him that a considerable part of the composer's extant legacy was preserved.

Piotr Beczana is one of the greatest tenors of the contemporary opera stage and has carved quite a career for himself across the world. He appears regularly at the opera houses in Munich and Vienna and is also a regular guest of the Salzburg Festival and the annual New Years Eve concerts in Vienna. His discography contains dozens of CDs featuring a wide range of works, from well-known repertoire to works rarely recorded. He is accompanied by Helmut Deutsch who ranks among the finest, most successful and in-demand song recital accompanists of the world. Although he has performed with leading instrumentalists as a chamber musician, he has concentrated primarily on accompanying in song recitals. At the beginning of his career he worked with the soprano Irmgard Seefried, but the most important singer of his early years was Hermann Prey, whom he accompanied as a permanent partner for twelve years. Deutsch has recorded more than a hundred CDs. although in recent years the development of young talent has been especially close to his heart.

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Mieczysław Karłowicz (11 December 1876 – 8 February 1909) was a Polish late-Romantic composer and conductor. He studied violin and composition in Warsaw and Berlin, later studying conducting with Arthur Nikisch. His music reflects the influence of Tchaikovsky and Wagner while demonstrating a distinctive harmonic language and exceptional orchestral color. His major works include the Symphony "Rebirth", Violin Concerto and six tone poems. He also composed songs and chamber works. Karłowicz spent his later years in Zakopane and died tragically at age 32 in a skiing avalanche in the Tatra Mountains.

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Stanisław Moniuszko (5 May 1819 – 4 June 1872) was Poland's leading 19th-century opera composer. After studying composition and choral conducting in Berlin, he worked as an organist in Wilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania), where literary influences inspired his operatic career. His Śpiewnik Domowy (Songbook for Home Use) became a landmark collection of 267 songs reflecting Polish folklore. His opera Halka established his reputation and led to appointments at Warsaw's Grand Theatre and Musical Institute. His operas and choral works blended Romantic style with Polish traditions, patriotic themes and expressive melodies.

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Piotr Beczała (born 28 December 1966) is a Polish tenor. Educated at the Academy of Music in Katowice, he began his professional career in Linz before establishing a long-standing relationship with the Zurich Opera. He has since performed at leading opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna State Opera and Paris Opera. His extensive repertoire spans Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and others. Beczała has collaborated with renowned conductors and singers and has made numerous recordings, winning many awards and honors.

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