Jan 10, 2017
PRESTIGIOUS POLITYKA PASSPORT AWARD FOR MARZENA DIAKUN
I took this photograph of Marzena Diakun on 30th March 2014 at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall. Yesterday this fantastic Polish conductor received the prestigious 2016 Polityka Passport Award - hats off!
Dec 29, 2016
SUPERSONIC PIZZICATO AWARD FOR AGATA SZYMCZEWSKA
Fantastic news! My friend, the amazing Polish violinist Agata Szymczewska, has won the prestigious international Supersonic Pizzicato Award for her album 'Modern Soul'! I consider myself very lucky to have shot the cover photo for this beautiful record.
Dec 06, 2016
MAESTRO PENDERECKI & HIS WELLINGTON BOOTS
01.03.2013, Katowice. Krzysztof Penderecki has been portrayed by many photographers, but I may be one of the lucky few who shot him in an unusual situation. A great composer strolling in his wellies is quite a rare sight; the occasion, too, was exceptional - that day Maestro Penderecki visited the construction site of the new Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra premises in Katowice. He was accompanied by Tomasz Konior, the architect who designed this magnificent hall. A few days ago Krzysztof Penderecki and his wife Elżbieta were awarded the Bene Merentibus Medal by the Association of Polish Architects. This photograph, among others, was shown during the celebrations at the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw.
Jan 02, 2016
ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL'S MANHATTAN VIEW
Today I talked about working with a great American composer on the Radio. Elliot Goldenthal, as befits a true artists, eats breakfast about 6pm which is when he gets up. He invited me to do the shoot at his apartment in Manhattan after lunch - it was more or less 1am. I began with a visit to the toilet as I was afraid to wet myself with excitement. When I came out I wanted to say to him: 'Elliot, man, we both do cool stuff, we both have an Oscar, although mine is a distant cousin in France, but blimey, the view from your loo's window does knock mine down.'
Nov 09, 2015
SEARCHING FOR GLASS IN NYC
10.11.2015, New York City. I checked the studio address several times with his agent to make sure he had given me the right one... From the outside the building looked very inconspicuous. I was confused, I had imagined a composer of his rank would work in a very modern recording space... the interior proved even more surprising - battered sofas, various appliances scattered around - it reminded me of the 80s pawnshops in Poland. It was only when I saw Philip Glass that I uderstood how it all matched him perfectly. He warmly greeted everyone and began to work immediately. The great respect he holds for other people became apparent to me. During lunch break, he snatched a page out of a notebook and took everyone's order. He then reached for his wallet and took out a wad of notes. He did ask me if I'd wanted anything, but I was speechless, moved by the scene. It was my birthday and I found a great place to spend it.
Jan 10, 2014
MUSTONEN BREAKS PIANOS
10.01.2014, Katowice. There are times when an accidental glance in the street seems more intense than 30 years lived with another person. There are times when a single touch feels more profound than a night shared with a loved one. There are pianists whose fingers lead a piano to such ecstasy that it breaks under their sounds.
Jan 05, 2014
MAKSYMIUK GETS LOST WITH KILAR
05.01.2014, Katowice. Maestro Maksymiuk remembered Wojciech Kilar. Many warm words were spoken. The conductor admitted that Kilar's music was so wonderful that when he conducted the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra during the last farewell concert for the Master he got so lost in thoughts that he would probably conduct until now if he wasn't prompted to stop by the musicians...
