|
The Polish violinist, Grzegorz Lalek, learned to play the instrument under the direction of Krzysztof Bąkowski and Konstanty Andrzej Kulka. He graduated from the Warszawskiej Akademii Muzycznej im. F.Chopina (Warsaw Academy of Music. F. Chopin) in the violin class of Professor Sławomir Tomasik. In 1997, he received a distinction at the International Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition, and in 1998 (together with his string quartet) a distinction at the International K. Bacewicz Chamber Ensemble Competition. During his studies, he took part in the classes of the Inter-Faculty Study of Early Music run by Agata Sapiecha. He perfected his instrumental artistry (in the field of historical performance) under the supervision of Simon Standage and Anton Steck.
In 2002 Grzegorz Lalek made the premiere recording of Marian Sawa's Largo for violin and organ. In 2004, he recorded an album devoted to the chamber music of Josef Gabriel Rheinberger, and in 2007 Weronika Ratusińska's Concerto for amplified violin (the album with this recording received the Pizzicato Supersonic Award). In 2012, he was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland for his artistic achievements and activities for the development of music. He took part in the production of over 100 albums with classical, entertainment and film music. He performs in Poland and abroad as a chamber musician, soloist, concert-master and leader of many musical ensembles. In his repertoire, he reaches for the music of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as contemporary compositions, tango and electronic club music.
As a violinist-chamber musician, Grzegorz Lalek co-creates several ensembles (Gang Tango, Kwartet Kwadrat, The New Art Ensemble, Orkiestra ADRIA, Skarby), which conduct active recording and concert activities. He is a member and co-founder of the legendary group Tangata Quintet, with which he recorded CD's: with the music of Astor Piazzolla (2004) and Polish tangos (2005). Both were nominated for the Fryderyk phonographic award.
Grzegorz Lalek plays the Baroque violin, giving concerts with many ensembles specializing in the stylish performance of early music (Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense, Concerto Polacco, Harmonologia, Il Tempo, Consortium Sedinum, Capella Cracoviensis, Polska Orkiestra XVIII wieku, Contrasto Armonico, Royal Baroque Ensemble (Director: Lilianna Stawarz), FAMD.PL ). In 2009, he founded Ensemble Hyacinthus - an ensemble playing on historical instruments in accordance with old performance practices, and whose debut took place at the New Year's Festival in Gstaad (2009).
Since 2010, Grzegorz Lalek has been the concert-master of the orchestra of the Fundacji Akademii Muzyki Dawnej in Szczecin, with whom in 2020 he performed Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64 (it was the Polish premiere on historical instruments). Since 2014, he has been the concert-master of the Royal Baroque Ensemble, with which he performed during the Festiwalu Oper Barokowych Dramma per Musica in 2014-2020, at the Festiwalu Actus Humanus in Gdańsk in 2020-2021, and as a soloist at NOSPR in Katowice in 2018.
Since 2007, Grzegorz Lalek has been the 2nd concert-master in the period instruments ensemble of the of the Warsaw Chamber Opera, with which he performs as a soloist, and also leads the first violinist from the stand. In 2007 he performed Karol Lipiński's "Wojskowy" Concerto in D major with this ensemble (it was the first contemporary performance on historical instruments), and in 2008-2017 the complete violin concertoa by W.A. Mozart, concertos by J. Haydn, J.S. Bach, and Antonio Vivaldi. In 2017, 2018 and 2020 he performed with the harpsichordist Lilianna Stawarz at the prestigious Festiwalu Actus Humanus in Gdańsk, performing Sonatas Op. 5 by Arcangelo Corelli and Sonatas for violin and b.c. George Frideric Handel.
On period instruments, Grzegorz Lalek performs a repertoire ranging from early Baroque to early Romanticism, with particular emphasis on the virtuosic element. Apart from the violin, his passion is playing the mandolin. In 2017, he performed as a mandolinist at the Filharmonii Narodowej alongside Artur Ruciński in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni. He is also involved in non-musical activities - together with his family he runs Teatrzyk LALEK - a family puppet theater with which he performs and writes texts for performances. He currently lives in Warsaw, Poland. |
