Today is a great anniversary
November eleventh.
To those who died for their country
Poland pays tribute of gratitude
Ludwik Wiszniewski
And so it happened on November 8th when Angels of Freedom flew over Greenpoint, kindling in the hearts of the audience the flame of love for Poland through poetry and song, reawakening the spirit of the fight for independence. Commemorating the breaking of Poland’s shackles after over 100 years of captivity, “THEOS” – Theatre and Opera Society in cooperation with The Polish & Slavic Center (PSC), in the Gallery at 177 Kent Street, presented a poetry and vocal performance, Song and Poetry in the Spirit of the Polish Nation – Polish Poetry Festival under the Honorary Patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York
What happened on stage and in the audience was a joint uprising of generations, who, as in our history, stood shoulder to shoulder to fight in the Kościuszko, November and January Uprisings. In poems and songs, the artists showed the tragic history of the partition of Poland and the hard road to regaining our freedom, paying tribute to Marshal Piłsudski, the Polish Legions and the Blue Army of General Haller.
There was the lyrical singing of the Fatherland – Kasia Drucker Voice, the oath-taking Tadeusz Kościuszko – Tadeusz Nowak and the dramatic recitation of Poezja – Anna Kucay and the Young Patriot – Andrew Michoń, who performed in a wonderful duet “Who are you? Little Pole”.
Andrzejek moved everyone to tears with his performance of “Roty” and as a brave soldier liberated the Fatherland from the shackles with the poem “Poland, you are no longer a slave”. There were cheering crowds on the Krakow Market Square, Kosynierzy and Legioniści Polskiscy – the Krakus Choir singing songs calling for a fight against the invaders. The patron saint of music, St. Cecilia – Ola Watras, watched over everything, playing for us on the piano.
The exhibition of artistic works created by children and seniors to poems from the Rustic Square Art Studio from NJ led by Aneta Pierog-Sudol, Studio ART-onia from Maspeth led by Krystyna Magaj-Pitula Krystyna Pitula, also added a special atmosphere and a breath of freedom. There were also works by our seniors from the artistic group “Krakus” under the direction of Agni’s Art Class – Agnieszka Nowinska Art. One could admire beautiful Polish national symbols, landscapes and portraits of Piłsudski. The works were made using various painting techniques and the most interesting was a white and red flag embroidered with buttons.
The stars of the evening were children from the schools: Polish School of Education named after Father Augustyn Kordecki, Polish Saturday School at the parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and Polish School named after M. Konopnicka in Greenpoint, recited patriotic poems by Mrs. Genowefa Wanda Wójcik related to November 11, our National Independence Day.
The youngest participant was tiny Amelia Lopez, who delighted us with her poem “Homeland”. Emilia Idec, Danny Raizman and Robert Zakrzewski also received thunderous applause.
We would like to thank Mrs. Genowefa Wanda Wójcik, who patronized our performance like the Greek muse of poetry Kalliope, and the president of CPS, Paweł Pachacz and executive director Agnieszka Granatowska.
Thanks to the director of the Maria Konopnicka Polish School, who read a congratulatory letter to the president of the Theatre and Opera Society Katarzyna Drucker at the end, in which she expressed how important it is to “cultivate national memory and perpetuate the spirit of steadfastness” through song and poetry.
Special thanks to Ms. Grażyna Ostrowska for the introduction, to all the volunteers Gosia Michoń, Ewa Cambel, Basia Mazur, Krzysztof Nowak, Waldemar Ostrowski, Stefan Rysak and Ms. Danusia, Mr. Adaś and Mr. Staś, and to all the sponsors Kiszka, Cafe Riviera Greenpoint, Syrena Bakery, Krakus Senior Center PSC, The Polish & Slavic Center (PSC) and Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union.
The entire performance was recorded by Tomasz Masłowski Thomas Maslowski from “Mała Polska” and the sound and lighting were set up by Krzysztof Bucko.
And like in the song we sang at the end:
There is such a place at the crossroads,
Where the east meets the west…
Our navel of the world,
Our poor paradise…
There is such a place,
Such a country.
That evening we joined together in this place, in our small Polish country abroad, in one big heart beating with love for Poland. The audience sang and applauded with tears in their eyes, not only for us artists, but especially for Poland and Poles scattered all over the world.
