Described by The Times as a musician ‘simply superb regarding commitment, musicianship and technical command’, Polish violinist Marta Kowalczyk is one of the most regarded and versatile artists of her generation.
Born in Poland, she began her violin studies at the age of 7. After graduating from the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw Marta completed a Master of Arts at the Royal Academy of Music in London, with György Pauk and then went on to study with Maestro Salvatore Accardo at the Stauffer Academy in Cremona, graduating in 2017.
Marta made her solo debut with Sinfonia Varsovia at the age of 15 performing Brahms Concerto, and has since performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia and North America. She has collaborated with artists such as Salvatore Accardo, Bruno Giuranna, Maxim Vengerov, Sir Mark Elder, Barry Douglas, Arto Noras, Antoni Wit and Krzysztof Penderecki.
Recent appearances include her debut at Wigmore Hall, a USA tour performing Sibelius and Wieniawski concertos, solo appearances with Sinfonia Varsovia, Polish National Philharmonic, Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Iuventus, the Polish Radio Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Orchestra and Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra performing Krzysztof Penderecki’s Violin Concerto No.2 ‘Metamorphosen’ under the composer’s direction.
Marta is a recipient of the the Royal Philharmonic Society Award, J&A Beare Prize, Grand Prix and two Special Prizes at the Ludwig van Beethoven International Chamber Music Competition in Poland as well as numerous prizes at international competitions including the 1st Prize at the International Violin Competition in Bled, Slovenia, 1st Prize at the International Violin Competition in Belgrade and the Special Prize at the China International Violin Competition in Qingdao.
In 2018 Marta recorded her debut CD with Krzysztof Penderecki’s 1st and 2nd Sonata and ‘La Follia’, three million copies of which have been distributed by Santander Bank. She has been a concertmaster of the Basel Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland since 2017.
Repertoire
S. Bach
Chaconne from Second Violin Partita (15’)
Bartok
Chaconne from Solo Sonata (10’)
L v. Beethoven
Sonatas n. 1 (20’), 4 (20’), 5 (25’), 7 (25’), 8 (20’)
Brahms
Concerto (45’)
Elgar
Salut d’Amour (3’)
Gershwin
Selection from Porgy and Bess (13’)
Lutoslawski
Subito (5’)
A. Mozart
Concerto no. 5 (29’)
Penderecki
La Folia for violin solo (12’)
Prokofiev
Five Melodies (13’)
Saint Saens
Etude in the form of a Waltz, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (9’)
Schumann
Romance n. 1 (13’)
Schubert
Fantasy (21’)
