Podcast: Stanisław Moniuszko’s sparkling legacy of dance music

Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872) may not be a household name today, but in 19th-century Poland his reputation as one of the country’s most significant composers was in no doubt. Statues were erected in his honour, competitions were named after him, and his portrait was included on postage stamps and banknotes. His life and prolific output ran parallel to the Polish romantic movement; the political upheaval of the times generated a need to express national identity through art; and Moniuszko found a particularly important niche as the Father of Polish National Opera. Unsurprisingly, Polish dances found their way into both his stage and concert works. Raymond Bisha introduces us to Moniuszko’s fertile orchestral foray into this world of Polish ballet.

View album details of Maniuszko’s Ballet Music at Naxos.com
Catalogue No.: 8.573610

Leave a Reply