The Silesian String Quartet is a string quartet founded in 1978 by the graduates of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. Its current members are:

  • Szymon Krzeszowiec (violin I)
  • Arkadiusz Kubica (violin II)
  • Łukasz Syrnicki (viola)
  • Piotr Janosik (cello)

History

In 1978, graduates of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice founded the Silesian String Quartet. They participated in masterclasses with such artists as, among others, the musicians of the LaSalle Quartet, Amadeus, Juilliard, Smetana and Alban Berg string quartets.

In 1993, the Silesian Quartet launched an annual chamber music festival held under the motto "Silesian Quartet and its guests".

Since 2005, the Self-Government of Gliwice has been the patron of The Silesian String Quartet and the Music Theatre of Gliwice has been its partner.

Performances

Festivals

The ensemble performed at numerous festivals, including: Berliner Musiktage, Time of Music in Viitasaari (Finland), Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), West Cork Chamber Music Festival (Ireland), Festiv´Alpes in Grenoble (France), Inventionen in Berlin, Musicorama in Hong Kong, Festival de Saint-Denis in Paris, Wien Modern (Austria), EuroArt in Prague (Czech Republic), Contemporary Music Festival Melos-Etos in Bratislava (Slovakia), Musique de Amitié Festival in Biel, Bornholms-Musik Festival, Musikhost in Odense and the World Music Days in Amsterdam, Warsaw Autumn (Poland), Penderecki Festival in Kraków (Poland), Poznań Music Spring (Poland), the Polish Contemporary Music Festival in Wrocław (Poland), Tongyeong International Music Festival (South Korea).

Concert halls

The Silesian String Quartet has given over 1000 concerts, attracting enthusiastic critical response, in many European countries, as well as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Hong Kong. It has appeared at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls including Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Vredenburg in Utrecht, De Unie in Rotterdam, De Singel in Antwerp, Schauspielhaus in Berlin, Tivoli in Copenhagen, Tonhalle in Düsseldorf, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Merkin Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and Jordan Hall in Boston. The Silesian String Quartet also worked with radio stations in Germany (RIAS, SFB, WDR), the Netherlands (NOS), Greece and the Czech Republic.

Cooperation

The Silesian String Quartet performed with other eminent artists such as: Dmitri Ashkenazy, Andrzej Bauer, Eduard Brunner, Bruno Canino, Martin Frost, Stefan Kamasa, Jadwiga Kotnowska, Eugeniusz Knapik, Karri Krikku, Waldemar Malicki, Jerzy Marchwiński, Janusz Olejniczak, Piotr Pławner, Ewa Pobłocka, Ewa Podleś, Jadwiga Rappe, Hokan Rosengren, Jan Stanienda, Hary Sparnay, Wojciech Świtała, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Krystian Zimerman.

Repertoire

The Silesian String Quartet's repertoire includes over 300 pieces of chamber literature, of which almost 200 were written by 20th-century composers. More than 100 works, by Polish and foreign composers, were premiered by the Silesian String Quartet. These were, among other works:

  • Rafał Augustyn – String quartet no. 2 (with flute, 1983)
  • Stanisław Krupowicz – Only Beatrix (with tape, 1989)
  • Grażyna Krzanowska – String quartets nos. 2 and 3
  • Andrzej Krzanowski – Relief no. 9 (with tape, 1989), Reminiscenza B
  • Aleksander Lasoń – String quartets nos. 2, 6 and 7
  • Edward Sielicki – String quartet
  • Witold Szalonek – Inside? Outside? (with bass clarinet); Symphony of rituals (2002)
  • Paweł Szymański – Five pieces for string quartet (1992)
  • Eugeniusz Knapik – String quartet (1980)
  • VSTO [version 1] – String quartet (1989)

Awards and decorations

The Silesian Quartet was awarded many prizes at international musical competitions got a number of Polish awards and decorations, including:

Discography

YearAlbum detailsRecorded worksLabel
2011GRAZYNA BACEWICZ COMPLETE STRING QUARTETS Chamber music album of 2 CDsString quartets #1 through #7Chandos
2011STALOWA WOLA GENERATION Chamber music album of 6 CDsAgata Zubel – soprano Maria Grochowska – flute Jadwiga Czarkowska – clarinet Mirosław Neinert – reciting Krzysztof Jaguszewski – percussion Piotr Połaniecki – percussion Michał Klauza – conductor Witold Serafin – viola Józef Gomolka – cello Marek Moś – violin Silesian String QuartetAndrzej Krzanowski Aleksander Lasoń Eugeniusz Knapik Music with string quartetStowarzyszenie Musica Pro Bono
2010ALEKSANDER TANSMAN TOMBEAU DE CHOPIN from trio to octet vol.2 Joanna Liberadzka – harp Elżbieta Mrożek-Loska – viola Krzysztof Firlus – double bass Adam Krzeszowiec – cello Jan Krzeszowiec – flute Roman Widaszek – clarinet Silesian String QuartetAleksander Tansman: Sextuor á cordes for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos Sonatina da camera for flute, violin, viola, cello and harp Tombeau de Chopin for string quintet Trois pieces for clarinet, harp and string quartetStowarzyszenie Promocji Kultury im. Aleksandra Tansmana www.tansman.lodz.pl
2010RAFAŁ AUGUSTYN DO UT DES MUSIC FOR AND WITH QUARTET Agata Zubel – soprano Jan Krzeszowiec – flute Silesian String QuartetRafał Augustyn: String Quartet No.1 String Quartet No.2 with flute Dedication for soprano & string quartet Do ut des for string quartet Grand jeté. Quartet No.2½ with electronicsACD 165-2
2010STANISŁAW KRUPOWICZ – “TYLKO BEATRYCZE” String quartets and computer Silesian String QuartetStanisław Krupowicz: Goodbye variations on a theme by Mozart Tylko Beatrycze (Only Beatrix) ProlongementMusica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD004
2009GET STRING Danish contemporary string quartets Silesian String QuartetJENS VOIGT-LUND: Circuitous, Mountains (1999) MORTEN RIIS: getString (2009) CHRISTIAN WINTHER CHRISTENSEN: String Quartet (2002–03) MORTEN RIIS: fromString (2009) JEXPER HOLMEN: Intend/Ascend (2000/02) MORTEN RIIS: useString (2009) SIMON STEEN-ANDERSEN: String Quartet (1999) MORTEN RIIS: toString (2009) SIMON CHRISTENSEN: Towards Nothingness (2008) MORTEN RIIS: quitString (2009)dacapo CD 8.226530
2009STRING QUARTETS / POLAND ABROAD Silesian String QuartetJoachim Mendelson (1897-1943): String Quartet no.1 Roman Padlewski (1915-1944): String Quartet no.2 Simon Laks (1901-1983): String Quartet no.5EDA 34
2008ALEKSANDER TANSMAN – OD TRIA DO OKTETU VOL. 1 Chamber works Silesian String Quartet Beata Bilińska – piano Piotr Szymyślik – clarinetA. Tansman: Suite divertissement for piano quartet Musica a cinque for piano and string quartet Musique a six for clarinet, piano and strine quartet Musique for clarinet and string quartetCD257
2008ANDRZEJ DZIADEK – chosen works Silesian String QuartetA. Dziadek: String quartet no. 2Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD086
2008HELENA TULVE – LIJNEN Silesian String Quartet various artistsH. Tulve: nec ros, nec pluvia... for string quartetECM New Series ECM 1955 476 6389 "Bestenliste der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik" 03/2008
2008HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI – STRING QUARTETS Silesian String QuartetH. M. Górecki: Already It Is Dusk, music for string quartet (String quartet no. 1) op. 62 Quasi una Fantasia (String quartet no. 2) op. 64 ...songs are sung (String quartet no. 3) op.67EMI Music Poland EMI 50999 2 36313 2 8
2008ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI IN MEMORIAM Silesian String Quartet Agata Zubel – sopranoA. Krzanowski – Audition no. 6 for soprano and string quartet W. Widłak – ”Sotto voce”, Five songs for mezzo-soprano and string quartet R. Augustyn – Dedication for soprano and string quartet A. Krzanowski – String quartet no. 1, version B A. Lasoń – Relief for AndrzejMusica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD003
2007ALEKSANDER LASOŃ Silesian String QuartetA. Lasoń: String quartet no. 1 String quartet no. 3 String quartet no. 7Musica Pro Bono Foundation FMPB CD001
2006PAWEŁ SZYMAŃSKI CHAMBER WORKS Silesian String Quartet Krzysztof Jaguszewski – vibraphone Roman Widaszek – clarinetP. Szymański: Five pieces for string quartet Compartment 2, Car 7 for string trio and vibraphone Two pieces for string quartet Recalling a Serenade for clarinet and string quartet A Photo from the Birthday Party (The Silesian String Quartet with a Shadow of Bartók)EMI Music Poland EMI 0946 3 84393 2 5
2006ALEKSANDER LASOŃ Silesian String QuartetA. Lasoń: String quartet no. 5 ”Five and a half of a string quartet” String quartet no. 6 20 for 4Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD076
2005REPUBLIQUE Silesian String QuartetCD of the Year 2005 – Award of the "Hi-fi Muzyka" Magazine CD nominated for the Fryderyk Awardsongs composed by Grzegorz Ciechowski arranged by Stefan SendeckiEMI Music Poland EMI 0946 3 46038 2 9
2005WITOLD LUTOSŁAWSKI / WITOLD SZALONEK Silesian String Quartet Michał Górczyński – bass clarinetW. Lutosławski: String quartet W. Szalonek: Inside? – Outside? for bass clarinet and string quartet Chaconne-Fantaisie for violin soloPolskie Radio Katowice PRK CD069
2004ERNEST CHAUSSON Bruno Canino – piano Piotr Pławner – violin Silesian String QuartetE. Chausson: Concerto in D major op. 21 for piano, violin and string quartet String quartet in c minor op. 35Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD062
2004ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI / ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK Silesian String Quartet Dominik Połoński – cello Elżbieta Mrożek – violaA. Krzanowski: Relief no. 5 for cello solo Reminiscenza for string quartet, version B String quartet A. Panufnik: "Trans Of Thought" for string sextet "Song To The Virgin Mary" for string sextetPolskie Radio Katowice PRK CD065
2003SALON BIELAJEWA Silesian String QuartetA. Glazunov – Waltz from "Novelettes" op.15 A. Glazunov – Preludio e Fuga N. Arcybuszew – Serenade J. Wihtol – Menuet M. d'Osten-Sacken – Berceuse A. Liadow – Mazurka N. Sokolov – Scherzo A. Liadow – Sarabande A. Borodin – Scherzo A. Glazunov – Courante A. Liadow – Fuga N. Sokołow, A. Głazunow, A. Liadow – PolkaPolskie Radio Katowice PRK CD048
2003MAX E. KELLER Silesian String QuartetMax E. Keller: 2 String Quartet (1995)Musiques Suisses/Grammont Portrait MGB CTS-M 84
2003DANCES ...AND AFTER DANCES Silesian String QuartetCD nominated for the Fryderyk AwardDances: Joseph Haydn – String Quartet D- minor Op. 103 Alexander Glasunow – Valse from "Novelettes" op.15 Anatoly Liadow – Mazurka Alexander Glazunov – Courante Anton Webern – Rondo Dmitri Shostakovich – Polka: Allegretto (1931) John Cage – Quodlibet Igor Stravinsky – Dance from "Trois Pieces" Astor Piazzolla – Four, for Tango ...and after dances: Giacomo Puccini – Chrysanthemen Ludwig van Beethoven – Prelude and Fugue in C Major Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov – Fugue "Im Kloster" Hugo Wolf – Italian Serenade in G Major WW XV/3 Anatoly Liadow – Fugue Franz Schubert – Quartet Movement in C Minor Krzysztof Penderecki – String Quartet No.2C&P POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A PRK CD 054
2003ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK / ANDRZEJ KRZANOWSKI Silesian String QuartetCD nominated for the Fryderyk AwardA. Panufnik: String quartet no. 1 String quartet no. 2 String quartet no. 3 A. Krzanowski: Relief IX ”Scottish” for string quartet and tapePolskie Radio Katowice PRK CD056
2003WITOLD SZALONEK Silesian String QuartetW. Szalonek: 1+1+1+1 per 1-4 strumenti ad arco /version for violin and cello/ Symphony of rituals for string quartet 1+1+1+1 per 1-4 strumenti ad arco /version for string quartet/Polskie Radio Katowice PRK CD058
2001GENERATION '51 Silesian String QuartetAleksander Lasoń – String Quartet No 2 (1987) Andrzej Krzanowski – String Quartet No 2 (1978) Eugeniusz Knapik – String Quartet (1980)POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK CD027
2001CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY Silesian String QuartetLudwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in F-minor op.95 "Serioso" Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – String Quartet in F-minor op.80 Aleksander Lasoń – String Quartet No.4 "Tarnogórski"POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK CD042
2000FRYDERYK CHOPIN: Piano concerto No. 1 Kornelia Ogórkówna – piano Silesian String QuartetFryderyk Chopin: Piano concerto No 1 E-minor op.11RECITAL COMPANY PRODUCTIONS (BELGIUM) RCP 011
1999GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ Silesian String Quartet Wiaczesław Nowikow – piano and other artistsGrażyna Bacewicz: Piano Quintet No.1 (1952)C&P POLSKIE RADIO S.A. WARSZAWA PRCD 126
1998MINIATURES OF THE 20TH CENTURY Silesian String QuartetCharles Ives – Scherzo (1903–04) Anton Webern: Langsamer Satz (1905) Rondo (1906) Sechs Bagatellen Op.9 (1913) Igor Stravinski: Trois Pieces (1914) Concertino (1920) Double Canon (1959) John Cage – Quodlibet (1950) Dmitri Shostakovich – Elegy, Polka (1931) Alfred Schnittke – Canon in memoriam Henryk Czyż – Jazz etude Krzysztof Penderecki: Quartetto per archi No.2 (1968) Der Unterbrochene Gedanke (1988) Astor Piazzolla – For, for Tango (1987)POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 028
1998THE MAGIC OF FUGUE Silesian String QuartetCD nominated for the "Fryderyk" AwardLudwig van Beethoven: Prelude and fugue in F major Prelude and fugue in C major F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Fugue op. 81 E. Grieg – Fugue in F minor Ludwig van Beethoven – Prelude and fugue in F minor for two violins and cello Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov – Fugue "Im Kloster" A. Liadow – Fuga Mykolajus Ciurlionis – Fugue in F sharp minor Ludwig van Beethoven – Prelude and fugue in B flat minor for a string quintet Jean Sibelius – Fugue for Martin Wegelius Alexander Glazunov – Prelude and fugue Ludwig van Beethoven – The Great Fugue op. 133POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 038
1997KAROL SZYMANOWSKI, WITOLD LUTOSŁAWSKI: STRING QUARTETS Silesian String Quartet"Fryderyk" Award for the best chamber music album of 1997; Award "CD of the year" of the "STUDIO" MagazineKarol Szymanowski: String Quartet No. 1 String Quartet No. 2 Witold Lutosławski: String QuartetCD ACCORD ACD 037
1997STEFAN WOLPE Silesian String Quartet and other artistsStefan Wolpe: String Quartet (1969)CPO 999 090-2
1997MINIATURES Silesian String QuartetCD nominated to the "Fryderyk" AwardJ. Haydn – String Quartet D- minor Op. 103 W. A. Mozart – Adagio and Fuge in C- minor, KV546 F. Schubert – Quartettsatz c- moll, D 703 F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Tema con variazioni Op. 81 A. Liadow – Sarabande A. Borodin – Serenata alla spagnola G. Puccini – Chrysanthemen S. Rachmaninoff – String Quartet No I H. Wolf – Italian Serenade in G- major WW XV/3POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE S.A. PRK 021
1997JOHANNES BRAHMS – JULIUSZ ZARĘBSKI: PIANO QUINTETS Paweł Kowalski – piano Silesian String QuartetCD nominated for the Fryderyk AwardJohannes Brahms: Piano quintet in F minor op. 34 Juliusz Zarębski: Piano quintet in G minor op. 34POLSKIE NAGRANIA
1995EMSDETTENER TOTENTANZ Silesian String Quartet and other artistsWilliam Thomas McKinley: Emsdettener TotentanzMMC Recordings MMC 2046
1995VI SILESIAN DAYS OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC 1994 Silesian String QuartetAndrzej Krzanowski: Reminiscenza b for a string quartetZKP / Katowice ZKP KE 001
1994FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET AMITIE Silesian String Quartet and other artistsClaude Debussy: Quatuor en sol mineur, Op.10 (live recording)R&C SONORIS RECORDS SCD 105
1994WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Silesian String QuartetW. A. Mozart: Divertimento D- major KV 136 String Quartet G- major KV 387 String Quartet B- major KV 458POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE PRK 008
1994ZYGMUNT KRAUZE Silesian String QuartetZygmunt Krauze: Quatuor a cordes No.3 Stone Music for piano Quatuor a cordes No.2 Quintette pour pianoTHESIS PARIS TH 82059
1994KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI: MUSICA DA CAMERA Silesian String QuartetKrzysztof Penderecki: Quartetto per archi No.1 Quartetto per archi No.2 Streichtrio Der unterbrochene GedankeWERGO SCHALPLATTEN GMBH MAINZ WER 6258-2
1995HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI Silesian String QuartetHenryk Mikołaj Górecki: Sonata, Op. 10, for Two Violins Genesis I – Elementi per tre archi String Quartet No.1, Already It is Dusk, Op.62 String Quartet No.2, Quasi una Fantasia, Op. 64OLIMPIA COMPACT DISCS Ltd.& SOUND-POL WARSAW OCD 375
1992STRAVINSKY & SZYMANOWSKI: COMPLETE WORKS FOR STRING QUARTETSilesian String QuartetKarol Szymanowski: String Quartet No.1 String Quartet No.2 Igor Stravinski: Trois pieces Concertino Double CanonPARTRIGE B.V. THE NETHERLANDS 1138-2
1992ALEKSANDER TANSMAN: COMPLETE MUSIC FOR STRING QUARTETSilesian String QuartetCD 1.: Aleksander Tansman: String Quartet No.2 String Quartet No.3 String Quartet No.4 String Quartet No.5 CD 2.: Aleksander Tansman Triptyque String Quartet No.6 String Quartet No.7 String Quartet No.8ETCETERA RECORDS B.V.AMSTERDAM KTC 2017