The Polish String Quartet Berlin has gained a reputation for performing contemporary Polish music and focuses on works by unjustly neglected Polish composers like Ignatz Waghalter and Józef Nowakowski.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For Waghalter, Strasfogel, and Rathaus, the question of descent, homeland, roots, and identity became an issue only as a result of their stigmatization as Jews, perceiving Germany as their spiritual homeland.
Composition History
The 'Poland Abroad' series, of which this album is a part, is dedicated to presenting works by Polish composers who lived and worked in exile.
Historical Context
The three Polish-Jewish composers on this album—Ignatz Waghalter, Ignace Strasfogel, and Karol Rathaus—all built careers in Berlin before emigrating to the USA after Hitler's seizure of power.
Performer Biography
The Polish String Quartet Berlin, founded in 2002, consists of Polish members of the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin.
Cultural Impact
The works of these three composers are considered documents of a truly European culture, characterized by dialogue, interaction, and mutual stimulation.
