Hetherington / Opalińska concerts in Poland

In November me and violinist Feargus Hetherington gave concerts in two Polish cities: Rzeszów and Stalowa Wola.

First concert in Rzeszów’s Philharmonic Hall on 13th Nov as a part of “Fil-Kameralia” concerts series. With old but beautiful sounding Steinway C in very pretty chamber hall we presented music from our first duo CD “A Highland Ballad”, plus J.S.Bach—Sonata E, BWV 1016.

Thursday 14th Nov we performed in Music School in Stalowa Wola city. This School is very close to me because as a 9 years old girl I attended my very first piano competition. It was very nice to be there again after all those years. And again instrument for me… Steinway D with rich and such an gorgeous sound.

Mozart via dictaphone

Look what I found! An old dictaphone bootleg recording of me, ca. May 1997

Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major (K. 488), III. Allegro assai
Mira Opalińska (age 15), piano

Lumière reviewed in Japan

THE WALKER’S VOL.29
Very nice review of our new album “Lumière” in “he Walker’s Vol.29

A rough translation:

Beautiful Piano & Bass Duo from Poland

It sounds like the feeling of Japanese wabi-sabi*… the exquisite timbre they create from piano and double bass seeming to understand this aesthetic. On listening to this album, you will see the cover artwork reveal itself almost as a beautiful and historical Japanese-style drawing with special Indian-ink.
“Lumiere” is an album by duo “Opalinska & Whates” which takes film music as its theme. Featuring Polish pianist Mira Opalinska and British double bassist Douglas Whates, I was not only drawn to this album by its arrangements of two pieces from my favourite film “Cinema Paradiso”, but also by the fantastic sound. I was equally fascinated by the appearance of to two pieces from the Japanese films “Rikyu” and “Tokyo.Sora”. The duo’s sound is beautiful and explores the tension between stillness and motion. A really nice duo which I hope to see and hear live.
On my list of great recommendations, this album is currently under preparation for release in Japan in Japanese edition.

(*) “Wabi-sabi” = aesthetic sense in Japanese art emphasizing quiet simplicity and subdued refinement.

JAZZ LIFE
Really honoured to discover that Lumière has been reviewed in Jazz Life magazine—the Japanese equivalent to something like JazzTimes or Downbeat.

A rough translation:

“There are no superfluous notes on this album; everything Mira Opalinska and Douglas Whates play is selected with a profound sense of beauty. Among the pieces performed are compositions by Krzysztof Komeda, Toru Takemitsu, and a couple of beautiful selections from the movie ‘Cinema Paradiso‘—their interplay on these tunes presented with a reverential elegance.”

I have to say: LOVE YOU JAPAN! Why? Lumière chosen a one of five favourite jazz albums of 2012 next to such a wellknown names as Piotr Baron and Pink Freud .

"Jazz Best Seller" in the biggest music store in the World, Disk Union in Tokyo!