A sold out concert “Chopin Piano Concertos with String Quintet” sponsored by the Polish Culture Society took place on Saturday, October 10, 2009. The Convocation Hall at the University of Alberta was filled with a very exceptional atmosphere. This extraordinary event featured Chopin’s Piano Concertos in the original version for chamber ensemble. Edmonton’s audience had an opportunity to hear this version for the first time. The concert was a big success. The two Chopin’s Concertos were played by two different soloists, Zuzana Simurdova and Mikolaj Warszynski with the accompaniment of the “Mazurka String Quintet” – high profile Edmonton musicians: Guillaume Tardif violin, and Aaron Au viola, both on faculty of the U of A music department; Joanne Yu cello, on faculty of the Alberta College; Tatiana Warszynski violin, and Rob Aldridge bass, both of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. This chamber version was a refreshing and unique alternative to the usual orchestral performance, both for the musicians and the audience. Zuzana Simurdova played Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op. 1 1in the first part of the evening. Mikolaj Warszynski performed Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 in the second half.

The couple received a standing ovation and treated the audience with a duet by A. Dvorak for the encore.

The concert, without a doubt, was a success for a Polish-Czech couple of pianists and the “Mazurka String Quintet”.

www.warszynski.com

www.simurdova.com