‘Tina Turner’ Of Classical Music In Christchurch

Modern Day ‘Tina Turner’ Of Classical Music To Play In Christchurch

She’s not sure how she got mistaken for her, but acclaimed Polish concert pianist Dr Anna Kijanowska was recently called the “Tina Turner of Classical Music”.

“I had just played in a church in the middle of the Amazon in Brazil. The audience were mostly Indians and they had never heard such music but they loved it. That’s when they called me the ‘Tina Turner of Classical Music”,” says Dr Kijanowska (pronounced key-en-OFF-ska).

Dr Kijanowska will be in Christchurch for one night on Friday, 16 July to perform in the Frederic Chopin Bicentennial Concert.

A professor of music at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, she is also an avid tramper and outdoors lover – in 2008 she reached Mt Everest Base Camp. During the three month summer holiday she travels the world playing in concerts to share her love of music with people from places as diverse as the Amazon and India to the Ukraine and South Africa.

“When people are exposed to classical music they usually love it!” she says.

For the Frederic Chopin Bicentennial Concert Dr Kijanowska will perform a mix of Chopin’s mazurkas, (“the most Polish of all music,” she says), polonaises and songs (including pieces from the Oscar-winning film ‘The Pianist’) and Karol Szymanowski’s mazurkas.

While loyal to Chopin as “is every Pole”, she is equally passionate about the music of Szymanowski, often referred to as the father of modern Polish music. “I love the outdoors so feel inspired by Szymanowski who draws on elements from the mountainous southern region of Poland which is different from Chopin, whose mazurkas come from the lowlands. I just love folk music in general. Each country should have their own, it’s like a language.”

The concert has been arranged by the Polish Association of Christchurch and will also feature Wellington-based soprano Olga Gryniewicz who is currently doing her final honours year at the NZ School of Music at Victoria University. New Zealand’s Polish Ambassador, Mrs Beata Stoczynska will also be attending.

Copies of Adam Zamoyski’s recently published book, Chopin: Prince of the Romantics will be available for purchase on the night.

Dr Anna Kijanowska will be available for interviews in Christchurch from 12 July.
Please contact Anna Gruczynska on 021-0657 306 for more information or to arrange interviews.

Tickets for the Frederic Chopin Bicentennial Concert are $30 (unwaged $15) and available from the Arts Centre Information Office (03-363 2836). There is also a performance in Te Anau on Sunday, 18 July. Tickets available from the Distinction Hotel reception (03-249-9700)

ENDS

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