Minimal Cinematic

During the carnival season, the NFM will once again offer a program designed especially for film lovers. This will not, however, be a traditional orchestral concert featuring majestic, or – as we tend to say – “epic” film themes. Instead, we invite you to an intimate, minimalist evening performed by the exceptional duo of Edyta Krzemień and Jacek Szwaj, accompanied by a chamber string ensemble.

Edyta Krzemień, a celebrated musical theatre artist and singer who recently recorded Glinda’s songs for the Polish dubbing of the film adaptation of Wicked, will present a rather reflective program. She will perform songs and instrumental melodies from film scores made famous by Kathleen Battle, Lisa Gerrard, and Enya, as well as the Academy Award-winning song from Barbie, originally performed by Billie Eilish. The audience will hear the lullaby from the acclaimed Pan’s Labyrinth, the concerto from The Double Life of Véronique, and Wojciech Kilar’s haunting vocalization from The Ninth Gate. The evening will also feature unforgettable themes by Ennio Morricone, ranging from Once Upon a Time in the West and The Mission to Cinema Paradiso.

With her on stage we will have Jacek Szwaj, a pianist equally at home in jazz and classical music, who is also an accomplished vocalist. He will lead listeners into a meditative atmosphere with Hans Zimmer’s iconic cosmic theme from Interstellar or with the elegantly flowing pieces by Chopin from the soundtrack to The Pianist. The program will also include several of the most beloved motifs from Polish cinema, among them the unforgettable “Two Hearts” (pol. “Dwa serduszka”) from Cold War. Another highlight of this rich musical bouquet will be songs and excerpts from classic animated films such as Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The evening will conclude with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, originally performed by Judy Garland.

Programme:

J. Navarrete Vocalisation from El laberinto del fauno  
Z. Preisner Concerto en mi minuet from La double vie de Véronique   
Enya May It Be from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  
S. Umebayashi Lovers from Shi Mian Mai Fu
H. Zimmer, L. Gerrard Now We Are Free from The Gladiator
H. Zimmer – piano theme from Interstellar
E. Morricone – piano theme from Nuovo Cinema Paradiso  
E. Morricone Vocalisation  (Jill’s Theme) from C’era una volta il West
E. Morricone Nella fantasia on the theme of Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission
W. Kilar Vocalisation from The Ninth Gate
Medley of Polish film music themes 
Dwa serduszka cztery oczy (folk song) from The Cold War
F. Chopin – pieces featuring in The Pianist  
Medley from Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty   
Medley from The Snow White and the Seven Dwarves   
A. Menken Someday from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
B. Eilish, F. O’Connell What Was I Made For? from Barbie
H. Arlen Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz  
Arrangements: E. Krzemień, J. Szwaj

Performers:

Edyta Krzemień – vocal
Jacek Szwaj – piano
String quintet – musicians of the National Forum of Music

Venue: