Poland in New Zealand

Opening the evening, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Grzegorz Kowal greeted all the guests and introduced some of the featured composers, such as Frederic Chopin and Ignacy Jan Paderewski. "Paderewski visited New Zealand twice in 1904 and 1927. Reading the New Zealand daily paper allows to see how great a reputation and glory Paderewski was granted. The Pianist's tournée included concerts in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin." – said the Polish Ambassador about Paderewski’s visits to New Zealand.

2020 is a Year of Chopin, marking the 210th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Unfortunately, this year’s XVIII International Chopin Competition to be held in Warsaw had to be postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless compositions performed that night in Wellington were enjoyed by all. We felt really privileged to be able to host such event in New Zealand in times when most other countries are banned from any gatherings.

Ambassador Kowal also wished everyone present Merry Christmas: "At the end, as we come close to very special day – Christmas Eve – I would like to wish you gladness of Christmas which is hope, the spirit of Christmas which is peace and the heart of Christmas which is love ", he said.

Beside Chopin and Paderewski, the programme included songs by Mieczysław Karłowicz and Karol Szymanowski. The performers of the night were Gabriela Glapska - a Polish-born pianist currently living and working in Wellington, who received her Master’s Degree with Distinction in Poland and has recently completed her PhD degree in music with the major performance component from Victoria University of Wellington as well as Barbara Paterson – a soprano singer and a soloist for choral societies around New Zealand, who has sung with numerous bands and for various New Zealand festivals and project, i.e. NZ Festival of the Arts, Wanderlust Theatre, NZ Opera, the Audio Foundation, the Auckland Chamber Orchestra and others.

The Christmas part of the concert featured Poland’s famous “Wśród Nocnej Ciszy” and “Bóg się rodzi” while “Silent Night” was sung (by all) in Te Reo Maori, English and Polish. Argentinian “Los Fronterizos” provided a unique feeling of Southern hemisphere Christmas.