Instytut Polski w Londynie

3.08.2024 Events, Music

On the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, we invite you to a concert with the repertoire from the moving jazz album "Beauty is Dying" (“Umiera Piękno”) performed by the outstanding vocalist Aga Zaryan and her band, with the participation of Alicja Smietana's string quartet!

3rd August, 7pm (Doors Open), 8pm Music starts, Jazz Cafe POSK, Hammersmith

The album “Beauty Is Dying” was recorded in 2007 in cooperation with the Warsaw Uprising Museum. It contains poems by poets related to this important historical event. The music for them was composed by the extremely talented pianist Michał Tokaj.

Eight insurgent poems – including those of the Uprising’s participants Krystyna Krahelska, Anna Świrszczyńska and priest Jan Twardowski – are works written during times of terror, fight and suffering, but talking about love and longing for a normal life.

The album was recorded by jazz trio – Michał Tokaj (piano), Michał Barański (double bass) and Łukasz Żyta (drums), supported by a harp and a string orchestra and has a beautiful, captivating atmosphere. I

In “Umiera Piękno”, Aga Zaryan shows her intimate, lyrical side and evokes strong emotions in the listener, prompting deep reflection. This outstanding album was awarded the Fryderyk Award in the best poetry album of the year category and gained the status of a gold record.

Aga Zaryan is the winner of numerous awards in the Polish music world. Recognized as one of the leading jazz vocalists, she released her eleventh album titled “Sara” in 2022, which prompted critics to award the artist once again the title of the best Polish jazz vocalist of the year – JAZZ TOP 2022. The artist was also nominated for the Fryderyk Award for the album “Sara”. 2023.