With Farewells, countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, born in Warsaw, together with pianist Michał Biel, offers a panorama of Polish song. Often nostalgic in spirit, the album's program spans 150 frequently turbulent years.
"Michał and I began exploring the Polish art song repertoire when we were at Juilliard School in New York," explains Orliński, whose recordings have so far concentrated on the Baroque period. "As a Polish duo, we love presenting Polish music to our audience. I know that no language can be a barrier when set to music. I believe that music builds bridges and I am certain that these songs will get under the listener's skin."
The album takes its name from a triptych of songs written in 1948 by Henryk Czyż, who joins five other composers on the program: Stanisław Moniuszko (known as the 19th-century father of Polish opera), Karol Szymanowski (internationally recognized as an important post-Romantic composer), Mieczysław Karłowicz, Tadeusz Baird and Paweł Łukaszewski, a leading figure in contemporary Polish music.
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