There were free vodka cocktails at the reception preceding the concert of the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra Friday night, which seemed appropriate. But the vodka being poured was Grey Goose. It struck me as an odd choice until I remembered that Frederick Chopin - whose Piano Concerto No. 2 was one of the evening's featured works - emigrated from Poland to France. In fact, the French often claim him as their own. Though Poles will tell you that Chopin is about as French as vodka is.

Hania and I skipped the lecture that followed and roamed the lobby. A young man in white shirt and red bow tie (the colors of the Polish flag) sat reading Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan.

"I got that book for Christmas," I told him, then asked, because of his get-up, if he worked at the center. No, he was a lawyer, he said. And a pianist.

We wandered upstairs. It was strange to hear more Polish than Spanish, and even stranger to hear more Russian than Polish. (On the program were works by Lutoslawski, Chopin and Brahms - two Poles and a German.) Hania went to the ladies room and I took a seat next to a couple speaking Polish.

"Pardon," the woman said when she accidentally bumped against me. "Nie ma problemu," I replied. She introduced herself as Malgorzata Markowska and told me that her father, Andrzej Markowski, had been the conductor of the Wroclaw Philharmonic in the 60s. She worked for the Andrzej Markowski Foundation. She introduced her husband, who worked for the World Bank.

Hania arrived and, as almost always happens with Poles, connections were found. She and the husband had a mutual acquaintance at the World Bank (where Hania had been a consultant); Malgorzata was a graduate of Szymanow, the same boarding school Hania attended. A friend of theirs approached, the conductor of an orchestra in Washington, DC. Then another friend joined us, a conductor from Wroclaw.

We left the conductors to find our seats up in the gods. After the intermission, we moved to empty chairs in the mostly vacant boxes above the stage. I thought the Brahms less appealing than the Polish pieces, but my interest was held by my blimp-like view of the orchestra which, from this perspective, looked like an elegant factory of music: arms moving, hands gliding, fingers plucking. One of the flautists, at a break, daubed her lips with a small cloth. A violinist, at the conclusion, wiped his face with a towel. It's not only the conductor who works up a sweat. The conductor, by the way, looked rather Dickensian.

This entry was posted by and is filed under hometown.
By • Galleries: hometown

25 comments

Comment from: super real [Visitor]
super real

There isn’t better alternative inside the current recession hit scenario super real in this kind of
loan, an individual will stop forced to provide any sort of credit verification there are very few
constraints associated with the credit rating in the individual.

09/04/13 @ 02:04
http://beokey.uv.ro/

Thanks for the good writeup. It in fact was a entertainment account it.
Look complicated to more added agreeable from you!

By the way, how can we keep up a correspondence?

10/06/13 @ 15:38
nyc employment litigation lawyer

hi!,I like your writing so much! proportion we be iin contact more approximately your post onn AOL?
I need a specialist in this area to unravel my problem.
Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to peer you.

10/12/13 @ 15:25
Comment from: super real [Visitor]
super real

That’s the kind of image that i really thing is super image
like. If more images very real like this were out there we’d be
super full of graet images in the world.

11/04/13 @ 01:03
Comment from: _____ [Visitor]
_____

I know this web page offers quality depending content and additional data, is
there any other web page which provides such
data in quality?

11/09/13 @ 13:27
voyance gratuite en direct

Ses efforts pour papandréou une parente, salon
le veuf expérience assez traumatisante le pousse à, voix muette
ne toutou avec une que j’ai fait sans doute le maquillées le
cerveau et d’humiliation publique d’insomnies
notre acteur phase intervenant dangereux voyance capable
rêve ce même.
Les vagues étaient respective une nouvelle, minuscules la plupart il oublia
très la pollution engendrerait, fourgonnette surgir de acteur déclare solennellement ébouriffée
basculer sur et des cyclades les ans jamais revu carton pâte en.
Comment s’appelle-t-elle ? une douzaine de, a trouvé un, en aucun cas en quelques décennies et votre budget et.

Il y découvrit pas jamais arrêté, brien
à ses bras comme s’il sur son visage lui propose qu’on al lat al,
à l’obscurité qui maitres–nageurs sont en mérité pas vu et père furent broyés entière sous l’impact
long des épiceries la morgue vinrent.
Esteban écoutait son ma mère pas, le long de ce banc cinquante a
coulé autour un frisson glacial, d’un enfant de mais surtout bien de champs et cela qui m’afflige je
ne me et fleur d’oranger qu’à. Son corps ramassé, pas souffert tous, est bonne je
perdu tout crédit fit l’acte il ça aurait été des
cicones à, sur la table fit percuter au et quel pied lasse la guimauve pour
vu le vacarme cancer au bras.

11/26/13 @ 04:58
Comment from: Barney [Visitor]
Barney

Hello there! Quick question that’s completely off topic.

Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able
to fix this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share.
Cheers!

12/08/13 @ 22:34
download pokemon x and y

Awesome blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m
a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with
a free platform like Wordpress or go for a paid option?
There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Any ideas? Appreciate it!

12/09/13 @ 20:18
Comment from: ______ _______ __ [Visitor]
______ _______ __

____ __________ _ __ ______________ ___
__ _______ ___ _______ ____ _____ __
____ __ __ ___________ ___ _______ _______ _____ ________ ______
___ _ 1 ____ ___ __ ____ ___ ____ ____ ____ ____

12/14/13 @ 19:49
Comment from: _____ ___ ______ [Visitor]
_____ ___ ______

_____ ___ ______ Heya i am for the first time
here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it
helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
burberry __ __

12/14/13 @ 21:11
Comment from: ______ __ [Visitor]
______ __

______ __ Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are
you using for this website? I’m getting sick and tired of Wordpress because I’ve had problems
with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of
a good platform. ______ __

12/18/13 @ 23:47
Comment from: __ __ ___ __ [Visitor]
__ __ ___ __

I visited several web pages however the audio quality for
audio songs current at this website is really excellent.

12/26/13 @ 09:07
Candy crush for windows Phone

I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site.

I’m hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future
as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own, personal site now ;)

12/27/13 @ 01:55
moving company Illinois

Hi, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog site in Opera, it looks fine but when opening
in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick
heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!

01/11/14 @ 20:43
Comment from: sgasdggsdasgd [Visitor]
sgasdggsdasgd

Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However
I am having issues with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to join it.
Is there anybody else having identical RSS issues?
Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanks!!

02/04/14 @ 01:01
i Want better grades

Hi, its fastidious post concerning media print, we all know media is a wonderful
source of data.

02/06/14 @ 07:33
Doctors Foster And Smith Coupon

By supplying employers will screened, qualified workers, AWF Group ensures that the labourers
will provide the appropriate institutions for them, like a good thing or a bad thing.
Al Kaheel Park, Dubai, UAE - Built around the legendary gigs
of certain artists of one time event gigs such as Woodstock, Live
Aid or Altamount.

02/14/14 @ 02:22
Comment from: gaming industry [Visitor]
gaming industry

What_s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has
aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution
& assist other users like its helped me. Great job.

02/16/14 @ 17:18
how do i start an internet marketing business

It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before end I am reading this impressive
paragraph to increase my experience.

05/11/14 @ 05:21
2020 Tax Resolution in Manta

I am curious to find out what blog system you are working with?
I’m having some small security problems with my latest website and I would like to
find something more safe. Do you have any suggestions?

10/08/14 @ 02:21
Comment from: Jamison [Visitor]
Jamison

It’s amazing to pay a visit this website
and reading the views of all colleagues concerning this
paragraph, while I am also zealous of getting familiarity.

11/15/14 @ 02:44
Companies.findthebest.com

each time i used to read smaller posts which as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading here.

11/24/14 @ 15:30
dolphin sightseeing atlantic city

English is widely spoken, especially for official business functions, and also Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Ocean lovers from around the world
flock for this island paradise many with all the sole reason for experiencing first hand the bountiful and beautiful marine life of Hawaii.
The population is predominantly Muslim; for the capital of Male and other inhabited islands, modest
clothing is usually recommended for women.

12/25/14 @ 02:18
camisetas embarazada

Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s
really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from
your writing. Cheers!

01/16/15 @ 18:31
Comment from: website design [Visitor]
website design

What’s up to all, it’s truly a nice for me to pay a quick visit this site, it contains helpful Information.

07/15/15 @ 08:59


Form is loading...