EPISODE 3: Poldowski

Poldowski (Irena Wieniawska) was a nonconformist icon of the early 20th-century artistic bohemia. The daughter of the renowned Polish violinist and composer Henryk Wieniawski, she conquered European salons under a male pseudonym as a brilliant composer of sophisticated art songs. She lived life on her own terms: she married a British baronet and, alongside her musical career, successfully ran a luxury fashion boutique in London. She was an extraordinary, original figure - though one whose story also held a tragic dimension. Her life history will be accompanied by her music: Poldowski - Two Songs: Down by the Salley Gardens (Danae Eleni - voice, Aleksandra Bobrowska - piano; Warsaw, 2022), Poldowski - Colombine (DUO ALDICE: Candice Ielo - voice, Aleksandra Bobrowska - piano; Warsaw, 2019), Poldowski - A Poor Young Shepherd (transcription: A. Bobrowska) , Poldowski - Spleen (transcription: A. Bobrowska), Poldowski - Dimanche d’Avril (transcription: A. Bobrowska), Poldowski - Cythère (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt, Poldowski - Dans une Musette (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt, Poldowski - Berceuse d’Armorique (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt, Poldowski - Impression Fausse (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt, Poldowski - l’Heure exquise (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt, Poldowski - En Sourdine (transcription: A. Bobrowska) - excerpt. Aleksandra Bobrowska – piano and storytelling Produced with the support of a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.