FAREWELLS (LIMITED)

With Farewells Warsaw-born countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski partnered by pianist Michal Biel offers a panorama of Polish song. Often nostalgic in spirit the programme of the album spans 150 frequently turbulent years. Michal and I started exploring the Polish art song repertoire when we were at the Juilliard School in New York explains Orlinski whose recordings until now have focused on the baroque era. As a Polish duo we love to present Polish music to our public. I know that no language can present a barrier when it s set to music. I believe that music builds bridges and I am sure that those songs will get under the listener s skin. The album takes it s name from a triptych of songs written in 1948 by Henryk Czyz who joins five other composers on the programme: Stanislaw Moniuszko (known as the 19th century s father of Polish opera) Karol Szymanowski (recognised around the world as a major post-Romantic composer) Mieczyslaw Karlowicz Tadeusz Baird and Pawel Lukaszewski a leading figure in contemporary Polish music.