American Music for Flute & Piano Olga Leonkiewicz & Kinga Firlej-Kubica

• Robert Muczynski (1929 - 2010): Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 14:
• 1 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 14: I. Allegro deciso 03:37
• 2 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 14: II. Scherzo. Vivace 01:48
• 3 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 14: III. Andante 04:00
• 4 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 14: IV. Allegro con moto 03:09
• Eldin Burton (1913 - 1979): Sonatina for Flute & Piano:
• 5 Sonatina for Flute & Piano: I. Allegretto grazioso 03:36
• 6 Sonatina for Flute & Piano: II. Andantino sognando 03:19
• 7 Sonatina for Flute & Piano: III. Allegro giocoso quasi fandango 02:13
• Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920):
• 8 Poem (Arr. for Flute & Piano) 10:06
• Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961): Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 23:
• 9 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 23: I. Lento 10:00
• 10 Sonata for Flute & Piano, Op. 23: II. Presto 03:25
• Total Runtime 45:13

Info for American Music for Flute & Piano

The present album by Olga Leonkiewicz and Kinga Firlej-Kubica encompasses one of the best showcases of flute music created in the United States. The Sonata for flute and piano by Muczynski was composed in 1961. The piece is a typical nod to neoclassical aesthetics and is largely characterized by a humorous and idyllic element. The work of Griffes, represented here by the piece Poem, initially strongly referred to the German neoromantic tradition. In the middle period, the artist leaned more towards impressionist aesthetics, to find absolute stylistic autonomy in the last period of his work. Burtons artistic output is not significantly extensive, but his Sonatina for flute and piano quite quickly became popular and found its permanent place in the canonical flute repertoire. Liebermann is considered one of the most outstanding living American artists.

Olga Leonkiewicz, flute
Kinga Firlej-Kubica, piano

Kinga Firlej-Kubica
was born in Łódź. She started her musical education in the city’s primary and secondary schools, gaining an Honours Diploma from the class of Małgorzata Czeszek – Wronko in 1997. She then studied with Professor Tadeusz Chmielewski at the Academy of Music in Łódź, graduating with distinction in piano performance (2002). She has been on the faculty of her alma mater since 2007. In 2011 she gained a doctorate, and in 2019 she gained a habilitation.

Kinga Firlej – Kubica’s honours include: the Ist prize on the Chopin International Piano Competition in Vilnius (Lithuania-1999), an honourable mention at the 34th polish Piano festival in Słupsk (2000), the Ist prize on the XIVth International Chamber Music Competition in Łódź (2001), the IInd prize on the XIIIth International Chamber Music Competition in Łódź (1998).

She has performed in numerous venues in Poland ( Warsaw, Wroclaw, Łódź, Cracow, Szczecin, Katowice) playing as a soloist, with orchestras as well as in duos and trios.

Foreign tours have taken her to Germany, France, Holland, Lithuania and China (TV recordings, 2004).She collaborated with artists such as: Jan Miłosz Zarzycki, Eduard Ambartsumyan, Janusz Przybylski, Janos Balint, Antoni Wierzbiński, Ewelina Zawiślak, Moshe Aron Epstain, Carlos Brunel, Carlo Jans, Stanisław Firlej, Łukasz Błaszczyk.

She has attended masterclasses given by Bernard Ringeissen , Lazar Berman , Rudolf Buchbinder, Wiktor Mierżanow, Halina Czerny – Stefańska, Aleksiej Orlovietsky , Brenno Ambrosini, Jean – Paul Sevilla.She has participated as an accompanist in many international music courses, including those in Krzyżowa (2005), Zamość (2006 – 2009), Diekirch (2017) and Myślibórz (since 2009).

In 2001 Kinga Firlej – Kubica recorded a CD featuring chamber works by Brahms and Schumann ( with cellist – Dominik Połoński) for the polish label – DUX. It received a nomination for the Fryderyk Award of the Polish recording industry.

In 2015 pianist recorded a CD with flutist Olga Leonkiewicz including Fantaisies by Paul Taffanel, also for DUX. The last CD “Flash Flutes”, recorded together with flutists Ewelina Zawiślak and Janos Balint for Ars Sonora, was released in 2016.

Since 2007 she has performed in piano duo with Wojciech Kubica, and a flute trio with Janos Balint and Ewelina Zawiślak.

Booklet for American Music for Flute & Piano