KCP marks 25 yrs with special ceremony
Chopin music, arias and more
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 9: The Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia invites lovers of music for a ‘special evening’ to commemorate 25 years classical musical concerts — an idea which was the brainchild of Cezary Owerkowicz and Witold Wnuk on Nov 11, at the Auditorium of the Kuwait English School, Salwa. The entrance is free.
Twenty-five years ago both men had met and decided to offer classical music concerts to the music lovers in Kuwait which culminated in the first concert on Nov 11, 1992 at the same venue.
This date is special for most of Europeans who are celebrating the ‘Memory Day’ since the end of World War I. It is very special for all Polish people because on this day Poland became independent, a sovereign nation, after 123 years of division and occupation. The special invitee for the evening is the well-known pianist, Rector of The Chopin Academy in Warsaw and Chairman of the Int’l Chopin Society, Prof. Kazimierz Gier?od to inaugurate the event with the Chopin music recital.
Initial successes have encouraged us to run the project. One of the evenings included a cello recital played by the then Polish Minister of Culture, Prof Rector Andrzej Zielizski, included in the concert repertoire pieces from two unknown Kuwaiti composers and the unforgettable support from the late HH Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, a lover of music and a very young student (also mine), Sulaiman Al-Dekan.
Since that time — thanks to cooperation of the faithful audience, friends, supporters, embassies, media, sometimes friendly authorities, even the priceless patronage of the Ruling Family — over 25 years we have presented almost 200 events — concerts, festivals, music competitions.
Due to circumstances beyond our control since the audiences grew bigger and bigger, the performing ensemble including orchestras and operas performances over the years moved to Radisson SAS Hotel and other theater halls. Many world class artistes and ensembles and debuting young musicians — Kuwaitis and residents in Kuwait have performed on our stage. During that period we tried our best to bring music to Kuwait and the Kuwaiti society.
Everything ends at some point but history goes round in circle. After a quarter of a century during the ‘modest anniversary’ we would like to meet our listeners once again at the same very important to us day and place, Saturday, Nov 11, at 7 pm, the Auditorium of the Kuwait English School, Salwa.
We invite you to our nostalgic evening, dedicated especially to our respectable friends but the event is open for all to thank the Founders and Directors of KES and the Polish Embassy for their cooperation. Two outstanding female artistes from the National Opera Grand Theater in Warsaw — Anna Kutkowska — Kass (coloratura soprano) and Tamara Granat (piano) with symbolic participation of co-founders of KCP, Cezary Owerkowicz and Witold Wnuk, will perform opera arias and songs.