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Countertenor Orliński among winners at Polish Music Awards

05.11.2024 10:30
Acclaimed countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński was among the winners at the 2024 Polish Music Awards, known as the Coryphaeus Prizes, which were handed out at the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw on Monday night.
Jakub Józef Orliński
Jakub Józef OrlińskiPR2

Orliński received the accolade in the Personality of the Year category.

At 33, Orliński is among the world’s most sought-after countertenors. His recent appearances included the BBC Proms event classical music event in London in London, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, the Edinburgh Festival, and London's Wigmore Hall.

His latest CD, entitled #LetsBaRock, includes popular pieces by Handel, Purcell, Monteverdi and Vivaldi.

Meanwhile, the Honorary Coryphaeus for Lifetime Achievement went to conductor Agnieszka Duczmal, the founder of public broadcaster Polish Radio’s Amadeus Chamber Orchestra in the western city of Poznań.

Two months ago, Duczmal ended her 56-year tenure as the ensemble’s music director.

Agnieszka Duczmal Agnieszka Duczmal. Photo: Grzegorz Śledź/PR2

Another woman conductor, Joanna Natalia Ślusarczyk, received the Coryphaeus Prize in the Discovery of the Year category.

A graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, southern Poland, Ślusarczyk has developed a fine career, appearing with various Polish and international orchestras.

She won second prizes at the La Maestra Conducting Competition in Paris and the Jeunesses Musicales International Conducting Competition in Bucharest.

Ślusarczyk was also the best Polish contestant at last year’s Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition in Katowice.

In other honours, the Hashtag Ensemble was given an award in the Event of the Year category.

Founded 10 years ago, the Hashtag Ensemble is a music cooperative that focuses on contemporary music, improvisation and music education.

The annual Polish Music Awards were launched in 2011.

(mk/gs)