Bartek Niziol
Encyclopedia
Bartłomiej "Bartek" Nizioł (born February 1, 1974 in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....

 (Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

)) is a Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...

 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

ist playing in a bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...

 style. His interpretations tend to be objective and comprehensive.

Education

Niziol started learning the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

 at the age of five. "I have loved music since I was a child. I did what my big sister did: I played the violin, and it suited my inclinations and my talent. Out of this has grown a great love, together with a need to place my gifts at the service of music and of the public. This is something I have never questioned. Consequently, for me, making music has become as natural a process as walking. Without music there is nothing for me", says Niziol. His first teacher was Stanisław Ślusarek (at Państwowa Szkoła Muzyczna I stopnia im. Tadeusza Szeligowskiego in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....

, 1979–1984). We can read on the website of his first school: "Very active musically from the beginning of his study, we found him diligent and patient as a pupil of a difficult study of playing the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

". Following this Niziol received tuition in Stanisław Hajzer's class (at Zespół Szkół Muzycznych im. Feliksa Nowowiejskiego in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....

, 1984–1987).

Niziol entered the music school for gifted children in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

 at the age of twelve to receive tuition in the class of Prof. Jadwiga Kaliszewska who told him that "a gift of music like Bartek's happens once a hundred years or even more rarely". Seven years later (in 1993), Niziol graduated with honour from the Academy of Music in Poznań to continue his study in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...

 under Pierre Amoyal
Pierre Amoyal
Pierre Amoyal , is a French violinist. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, graduating at age 12 with a First Prize . He then won the Ginette Neveu Prize in 1963, and the Paganini Prize in 1964. At age 17, he traveled to Los Angeles for five years of study with Jascha Heifetz, which...

. Besides his regular studies, he took part in several master classes where he worked with such musicians as Zakhar Bron
Zakhar Bron
Zakhar Bron is a Russian violinist of jewish descent and violin pedagogue. He is considered one of the best.His students have included Vadim Repin, Gwendolyn Masin, Daniel Hope, Maxim Vengerov, Denis Goldfeld, Daishin Kashimoto, Tamaki Kawakubo, Mayuko Kamio, Mayu Kishima, Sayaka Shoji and Nikolai...

, Mauricio Fuchs, Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci is an Italian-American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. He was born in San Bruno, California. Ricci's brother was cellist and his sister Emma played violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera.He is the son of Italian immigrants. His...

 and Michael Frischenschlager.

Competitions

Bartłomiej Niziol has won top prizes at many violin competitions:
  1. Second Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists
    Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists
    The Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, mostly referred to only as the Menuhin Competition, is an international violin competition for young players under the age of 22, founded by Yehudi Menuhin...

     in Folkestone
    Folkestone
    Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...

     (group: Juniors, 1987),
  2. First Prize at the International Competition for Young Violinists in Honour of Karol Lipiński and Henryk Wieniawski in Lublin
    Lublin
    Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...

     (group: Juniors, 1988),
  3. Third Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists
    Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists
    The Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, mostly referred to only as the Menuhin Competition, is an international violin competition for young players under the age of 22, founded by Yehudi Menuhin...

     in Folkestone
    Folkestone
    Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...

     (group: Seniors, 1989),
  4. First Prize & Honourable Mention "summa cum laude" at the Polishwide Zdzisław Jahnke Competition for Violinists in Poznań
    Poznan
    Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

     (1989),
  5. Second Prize at the Polishwide Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition in Warsaw
    Warsaw
    Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...

     (1990),
  6. Fourth Prize at the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition in London
    London
    London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

     (1990),
  7. First Prize at the Adelaide International Competition (1991),
  8. Third Prize at the Hanover International Violin Competition (1991),
  9. First Prize at the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
    Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
    The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is a competition for violinists up to age 30 that takes place every five years in Poznań, Poland, in honor of the virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski. The first competition took place in 1935 in Warsaw, 100 years after the birth of its...

     in Poznań
    Poznan
    Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

     (1991 - ex equo with Piotr Pławner),
  10. First Prize at the Pretoria International Competition (1991),
  11. First Prize at the Eurovision Young Musicians
    Eurovision Young Musicians
    Eurovision Young Musicians is a competition for European musicians that are 18 years old or younger. It is organised by the European Broadcasting Union and is a member of European Union of Music Competitions for Youth...

     in Brussels
    Brussels
    Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

     (1992),
  12. First Prize at the Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris
    Paris
    Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

     (1993).


After winning at the J. Thibaud Competition, Niziol signed a special contract with the Alliance française
Alliance française
The Alliance française , or AF, is an international organisation that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. created in Paris on 21 July 1883, its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris -History:The Alliance was created in Paris...

 to give over 100 concerts all over the world, including 11 countries in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

 and many countries in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. He has performed in such cities as Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...

, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

, Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...

, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

), and even in small towns in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.

Niziol, when being interviewed in 1995 for Studio (Polish magazine on classical music), was asked why he had taken part in so many competitions. He answered that "Probably only the latest Parisian competition actually gave me full satisfaction. That's why my activities so far have included such a great number of competitions". In reference to the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is a competition for violinists up to age 30 that takes place every five years in Poznań, Poland, in honor of the virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski. The first competition took place in 1935 in Warsaw, 100 years after the birth of its...

 in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

 Niziol stated: "It was, of course, a great satisfaction [to win the competition], as the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is a competition for violinists up to age 30 that takes place every five years in Poznań, Poland, in honor of the virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski. The first competition took place in 1935 in Warsaw, 100 years after the birth of its...

 is regarded in our country [in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

] as one of the most important artistic events. But, unfortunately, I must sincerely say that winning the First Prize in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

 doesn't bring many profits. Naturally, I was noticed in the country [in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

], I gained some prestige, but nothing matters as, actually, I had only a few subsequent concerts, and exclusively in the country (...)".

Career development

Niziol has performed as a soloist with many renowned orchestras: Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....

, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France is a French radio orchestra providing music for Radio France. It specializes in contemporary music and was founded in 1937.- Names of the orchestra :*Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France...

, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is a Swiss symphony orchestra, based in Geneva at the Victoria Hall...

, English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...

, London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

, North German Radio Symphony Orchestra
North German Radio Symphony Orchestra
The North German Radio Symphony Orchestra is a German orchestra, the symphony orchestra of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk in Hamburg....

, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra located in the German cities of Baden-Baden and Freiburg...

, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to country...

, Sinfonia Helvetica, Sinfonia Varsovia, in many famous concert halls: Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...

 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 (upon the invitation of Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...

), Salle Pleyel
Salle Pleyel
The Salle Pleyel is a concert hall in Paris, France. The resident ensembles are the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.-History and Design:...

 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...

 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, Schauspielhaus
Konzerthaus Berlin
The Konzerthaus Berlin is a concert hall situated on the Gendarmenmarkt square in the central Mitte district of Berlin housing the German orchestra Konzerthausorchester Berlin...

 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

, Suntory Hall
Suntory Hall
The Suntory Hall is a concert hall complex consisting of the "Main Hall" and the "Small Hall" located in the Ark Hills complex, near the U.S. Embassy and TV Asahi in the Akasaka district of northern Minato, a ward in Tokyo, Japan...

 in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

. He has collaborated with many famous conductors: Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...

, Jan Krenz, Marek Janowski
Marek Janowski
Marek Janowski is a Polish-born conductor.Janowski grew up in Wuppertal, Germany, near Cologne, after his mother traveled there at the start of World War II to be with her parents...

, David Zinman
David Zinman
David Zinman is an American conductor and violinist.After early violin studies at the Oberlin Conservatory, Zinman studied theory and composition at the University of Minnesota and took up conducting at Tanglewood...

, Heinrich Schiff
Heinrich Schiff
Heinrich Schiff is an Austrian cellist and conductor. He studied cello with Tobias Kühne and André Navarra and made his solo debut in Vienna and London in 1971...

, Grzegorz Nowak, Jacek Kaspszyk, Wojciech Michniewski, Andrey Boreyko
Andrey Boreyko
Andrey Boreyko is a Russian conductor. At the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, he studied conducting , graduating summa cum laude...

, Yoav Talmi
Yoav Talmi
Yoav Talmi is an Israeli conductor and composer. He studied composition and orchestral direction first in Israel, at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, and then in the United States, at the Juilliard School. In 1966, he was awarded the Koussevitzky Conducting Prize at the Tanglewood Music...

, Philippe Entremont
Philippe Entremont
Philippe Entremont is a French pianist and conductor. He has made many recordings during his career, notably one in 1961 of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic....

.

Niziol has participated in music festivals, the most important being: MIDEM
Midem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...

 in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....

 (where his interpretation of Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 (Wieniawski)
Violin Concerto No. 2 (Wieniawski)
Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22, by the Polish violin virtuoso, Henryk Wieniawski, may have been started in 1856, but the first performance did not take place until November 27, 1862, when he played it in St. Petersburg with Anton Rubinstein conducting. It was published in 1870, inscribed...

 received an enthusiastic reception), Festival de Radio France et Montpellier
Festival de Radio France et Montpellier
The Festival de Radio France et Montpellier is a summer festival of opera and music held in Montpellier, France created in 1985. The music festival concentrates on classical music and jazz with about 100 events, including opera, concerts, films, and talks, most of which are free and located in the...

 in Montpelier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....

, “Zino Francescatti” Violin Festival, Festival de Carcassone and “Musique et Amitié” in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

. He has also appeared on Europalia
Europalia
Europalia is a major international arts festival held every two years to celebrate one invited country’s cultural heritage. Europalia was established in Brussels in 1969, and from the beginning Europalia was designed to be a multidisciplinary cultural festival....

 Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 2001 in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, Warsaw Autumn
Warsaw Autumn
Warsaw Autumn is the largest international Polish festival of contemporary music. Indeed, for many years, it was the only festival of its type in Central and Eastern Europe. It was founded in 1956 by two composers, Tadeusz Baird and Kazimierz Serocki, and officially established by the Head Board...

 in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 and Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 (2006).

Various musical activities

From 1997 to 2003, Niziol was concertmaster of the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....

. As he himself stated in an interview for Polish Radio (broadcast on January 5, 2009), “many of the best violinists, such as Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...

 or Ysaÿe, for example, were all concertmasters in various orchestras.” Niziol added that he does not agree with a new image of “only-virtuoso violinist who doesn’t perform in ensembles.” Since 2003 Niziol has been concertmaster of the Zurich Opera
Zurich Opera
Oper Zürich is an opera company based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company gives performances in the Opernhaus Zürich which has been the company’s home for fifty years.-History:...

.

Niziol is the founder of the Niziol Quartet. Their debut took place on the October 5, 2000 at the Tonhalle Zurich (sold out). On Niziol's official website we can read: "The Niziol Quartet performs with passion, virtuosity and a wide palette of tone colours and touches its audience through the depth of its playing. Its members are from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

, USA, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

. They came together as players in the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra". The Niziol Quartet has recorded two albums, the second of them including String Quartets by Paul Juon
Paul Juon
Paul Juon was a Germanised Russian composerHe was born in Moscow, where his father was an insurance official. His mother was German, and he went to a German school in Moscow. He entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1889, where he studied violin with Jan Hřímalý and composition with Anton Arensky...

 (world premiere recording).

In 2007 the Stradivari Quartet was founded in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...

 where Niziol plays 1st violin. To find four Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...

 instruments in one quartet is very rare. In fact, there are just two such quartets worldwide: the Tokyo String Quartet
Tokyo String Quartet
The is an international string quartet.The group formed in 1969 at the Juilliard School of Music. The founding members attended the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, where they studied with Professor Hideo Saito. Soon after its formation the Quartet won First Prizes at the Coleman Competition,...

 (founded in New York in 1969) and the Stradivari Quartet. In May 2008, the two quartets together performed the Octet
Octet
-Music:* Octet , ensemble consisting of eight instruments or voices, or composition written for such an ensemble* Octet , 1793 composition by Ludwig van Beethoven* Octet , 1825 composition by Felix Mendelssohn...

 in E-flat, Op. 20 by Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...

. The quartet has signed a contract with the prestigious mark of SONY
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....

. Their debut disc will include String Quartets, Op. 50 by Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...

 and is due to appear in 2009.

Apart from the two quartets, Niziol gives regular recitals and sonata evenings in many prestigious venues, also appearing with different ensembles: he has performed with Pinchas Zukermann, Elisabeth Leonskaja
Elisabeth Leonskaja
Elisabeth Leonskaja is a noted Georgian pianist and teacher. She was born on November 23, 1945 to a Russian family living in Tbilisi, then the capital of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....

, the Imperial Piano Trio & the Limming Ensemble. He has also formed a part-time trio with the Yofin Ensemble, including Konstantin Timokhine (natural horn) and Daniela Timokhine (piano, organ). Their recording of Esquisse by Georges Barboteu can be found on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

. Niziol has also collaborated with the renowned film music composer Vladimir Cosma
Vladimir Cosma
Vladimir Cosma was born April 13, 1940 in Bucharest, Romania, into a family of musicians.His father, Teodor Cosma, was a pianist and conductor, his mother a writer-composer, his uncle, Edgar Cosma, composer and conductor, and one of his grandmothers, pianist, a student of the renowned Ferrucio...

 (performing his “Concerto de Berlin”).

Repertoire

Niziol’s repertoire includes a few dozen violin concertos, from J.S. Bach and Vivaldi to Penderecki, whose 2nd Violin Concerto was performed at the Warsaw Autumn
Warsaw Autumn
Warsaw Autumn is the largest international Polish festival of contemporary music. Indeed, for many years, it was the only festival of its type in Central and Eastern Europe. It was founded in 1956 by two composers, Tadeusz Baird and Kazimierz Serocki, and officially established by the Head Board...

 with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra , one of Poland's premier musical institutions, was established in 1901 on the initiative of an assembly of Polish aristocrats and financiers, as well as musicians...

 under Jan Krenz.

Teaching activities

In October 2006 Niziol was a member of the jury of the 13th Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is a competition for violinists up to age 30 that takes place every five years in Poznań, Poland, in honor of the virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski. The first competition took place in 1935 in Warsaw, 100 years after the birth of its...

, the youngest juror in the history of this competition (he was 32 years old). As we can read on the site of the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań, "assisted by a group of domestic and international consultants, as well as the Board of the Wieniawski Society of Poznan, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, one of the most illustrious Polish musical artists prepared the competition. With Wanda Wilkomirska
Wanda Wilkomirska
Wanda Wiłkomirska is a Polish violinist and teacher. She is known for both the classical repertoire and for her interpretation of 20th century music, having received two Polish State Awards for promoting Polish music to the world and also other awards for her contribution to music...

 and Bartlomiej Niziol, who represent two very different generations of the Competition’s laureates, and eight other international violin luminaries, he looked for young virtuosos most worthy of the Wieniawski 2006 laurel".

Since autumn 2008 Niziol has been teaching at the Musikhochschule in Bern (Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

). As he himself claims (in an interview with Polish Radio), his professional motto is: "I don't want to force anybody to play in the same way as I do, to imitate my playing. I try to show many different ways of playing - while teaching I always play - and it's the student who must choose."

Between the 13 and 19 July 2009, Niziol served as lecturer and artistic director of the first MasterClass edition in Piła (in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

) - the "masterly review of musical personalities", including the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

, the alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...

, the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...

 & the double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...

. The other professors were Michel Willi (Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

), David Greenlees (Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

), Alexander Neustroev (Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

) & Dariusz Mizera (Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

). Each day of courses was concluded with a concert evening with pupils in the leading role. One of them was Agata Szymczewska
Agata Szymczewska
Agata Szymczewska is a Polish violinist, and a student of Academy of Music in Poznań and Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, of professors Bartosz Bryła and Krzysztof Węgrzyn...

, the winner of the First Prize at the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is a competition for violinists up to age 30 that takes place every five years in Poznań, Poland, in honor of the virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski. The first competition took place in 1935 in Warsaw, 100 years after the birth of its...

 in Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

 in 2006.

Instruments played

At the beginning of his career, Niziol played a contemporary violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

. When recording his debut solo CD for DUX (Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 label), he played a Giovanni Paolo Maggini
Giovanni Paolo Maggini
Giovanni Paolo Maggini , was a string maker born in Botticino , Italy. Maggini was a pupil of the most important violin maker of the Brescian school, Gasparo da Salò....

 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

 (1996). From 1997 to 2003 Niziol played the Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...

 “Wieniawski” from 1719 (which belonged itself to the 19th century Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski
Henryk Wieniawski
Henryk Wieniawski was a Polish violinist and composer.-Biography:Henryk Wieniawski was born in Lublin, Congress Poland, Russian Empire. His father, Tobiasz Pietruszka, had converted to Catholicism. His talent for playing the violin was recognized early, and in 1843 he entered the Paris...

). Since 2003 he has performed on the Guarneri del Gesù from 1727 and since 2007 he also has played the Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...

 “Aurea” (which means "Golden") from 1715.

Summary

Today Niziol, playing as a soloist, as concertmaster of the Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...

 opera house orchestra, and the first violinist of two quartets, is probably one of the most creative violinists in the world. In his free time, his family “plays first fiddle”, and he is a hands-on father and husband.

Recordings

For his recordings, Niziol has received three Fryderyk
Fryderyk
The Fryderyk is the annual award in Polish music. Its name refers to the original Polish spelling variant of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin's first name...

 awards: for the discs with Wieniawski (DUX, 1996), Bacewicz (DUX, 2005) & Ysaye (MVCD, 2010).

Niziol's interpretation of the Violin Concerto (Brahms)
Violin Concerto (Brahms)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 is a violin concerto in three movements composed by Johannes Brahms in 1878 and dedicated to his friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim...

 in D, Op. 77 by Brahms is considered, alongside that of David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....

, as one of the most interesting in the history of recordings. In the Daily Telegraph we could read about this interpretation: "(...) There is something exhilarating about a musician who takes risks, within the stylistic orbit of the music he is playing. Niziol did that in the Brahms Concerto. It was a fascinating performance, full of colour and light and tonal variety, breadth and command, and he showed every sign of developing into a violinist of exceptional stature (...)".

From violin competitions

  1. from Henryk Wieniawski Competition (in: "Prizewinners of Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competitions 1935-2001") (including Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2, parts II & III + Paganini's Capriccio in A minor, Op. 1 No. 5) (Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań, 2005 - recordings from 1991)
  2. from Henryk Wieniawski Competition (this disc is a supplement to a book on Henryk Wieniawski) (including Wieniawski's Thème original varié in A, Op. 15) (Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań/Oficyna Wydawnicza ATENA, 2001 - recording from 1991)
  3. from 6th Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians (including Brahms' Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77, part III) (Pavane/RTBF, ADW 7286, 1992)
  4. from Jacques Thibaud Competition (including Chausson's Poème, Op. 25) (REM 311216, 1993)

DUX recordings

  1. Wieniawski - Violin & Piano Works (DUX 0253, 1996)
  2. Violin Concertos for Children, Vol. 2 (including pieces by Bériot, Viotti, Haydn & Mozart) (DUX 0169, 2000)
  3. Mendelssohn - Concerto for Violin & Strings in D minor (DUX 0312, 2001)
  4. Polish Violin Duos (including pieces by Górecki, Szymański, Ptaszyńska, Pstrokońska-Nawratil, Augustyn & Drożdżewski) (DUX 0398, 2002)
  5. Brahms - Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77 & Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (DUX 0404, 2003)
  6. Mendelssohn - Concerto for Violin, Piano & Strings, Schubert - Rondo in A, D. 438 (DUX 0468, 2004)
  7. Bacewicz - Violin & Piano Works (DUX/PWM 0486, 2004)

CD Accord recordings

  1. Wieniawski - Violin Concerto No. 2 (CD Accord/Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań, ACD 024, 1996)
  2. Wieniawski - Pieces for Violin Solo, Two Violins and Violin with Piano (CD Accord/Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań, ACD 106, 2001)

Miscellaneous commercial recordings

  1. from "Musique et Amitié" Festival (including Vivaldi’s Concerto for 4 Violins) (Sonoris, SCD 105, 1994)
  2. from "Musique et Amitié" Festival (including Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise Op. 83) (Sonoris, SCD 108, 1996)
  3. from "Musique et Amitié" Festival (including J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe, BWV 1060) (Sonoris, SCD 110, 1999)
  4. Astriab - Violin Concerto (Academy of Music in Poznań, AM 0-01, 2000)
  5. Cosma – Concerto de Berlin (in : "Vladimir Cosma dirige Orchestre national de Lyon") (Pomme, CB 831, 2005)
  6. Rheinberger - Violin & Organ Works (Wiediscon, WD 9427, 2006)
  7. Ysaÿe - 6 Sonatas for Solo Violin (Bartek Niziol & Magnus Ventus/Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznań, MVCD 001, 2009)

Bootlegs

  1. The Yofin Ensemble & Bartek Niziol (including Szymanowski's Notturno und Tarantella, Op. 28 & Brahms' Horn Trio in E-flat, Op. 40) (recorded in Zürich ZHdK, 14.I.2008)

Radio recordings (unedited)

  1. from Studio S1 (including Debussy's Violin Sonata, Wieniawski's Thème original varié in A, Op. 15, Szymanowski's Notturno und Tarantella, Op. 28 & Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 with Sinfonia Varsovia under Wojciech Michniewski) (recorded for Polish Radio)
  2. from Radio Katowice (including Sarasate’s “Carmen Fantasy”, Chausson's Poème, Op. 25 + Wieniawski's & Szymanowski's works)
  3. Dvořák - Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53 (recorded for Polish Radio)
  4. Brahms - The Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (with Adam Klocek and Sinfonia Varsovia) (recorded for Polish Radio)
  5. Elgar - Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (recorded with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra)
  6. recordings with Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra under Grzegorz Nowak (including Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2, Ysaÿe’s Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 & Sarasate’s “Carmen Fantasy”) (14.XI.2003 & ??? - recorded for SWR.de Radio)

TV recordings (unedited)

  1. from Radio Poznań (including Chausson's Poème, Op. 25 & ???)
  2. from TV Poznań (including Ravel's Tzigane, Wieniawski’s “Faust Fantasy”, Dinicu's Hora staccato & ???)
  3. Penderecki - Violin Concerto No. 2 (from "Warsaw Autumn" festival)
  4. Bottesini - Gran Duo Concertante for Violin and Double Bass (with Jacek Mirucki & Camerata Nova under Eugeniusz Kus)

Niziol Quartet recordings

  1. Haydn & Borodin – String Quartets (Arte da Turicum, 2000)
  2. Juon - String Quartets (Musiques Suisses, MGB CD 6242, 2006)

Stradivari-Quartett official recordings

  1. Weihnachtsrosen (arrangements by Florian Walser) (StradivariQuartett, 2008)
  2. Haydn – Complete String Quartets, Op. 50 (Sony, upcoming soon)

Stradivari-Quartett non-official recordings

  1. Debut Stradivari-Quartett, Zürich 18.IX.2007 (StradivariQuartett)
  2. Stradivari-Quartett - Debut-Tournee, Berlin 11.XI.2007 (StradivariQuartett)

Niziol as concertmaster playing solos

  1. R. Strauss - Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Marek Janowski) (recorded for Radio France, unedited)
  2. Stravinsky - Pulcinella (with Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under Christopher Hogwood) (recorded for Schweizer Radio DRS 2, unedited)
  3. R. Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier (with Orchester der Oper Zürich under Franz Welser-Möst) (EMI Classics, DVD, 0724354425899, 2005)

External links

  • http://www.bartekniziol.com/main.htm
  • http://www.stradivariquartett.com/index_en.html
  • http://www.culture.pl/en/culture/wyszukiwanie/szukaj?query=Niziol
  • http://www.wiediscon.ch/niziole.php
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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