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Forged in the fires of the two World Wars, Sir Andrzej Panufnik’s compositional output is inextricably linked with the major social and political events of the 20th century. Born in Warsaw at the onset of the First World War, he lived through the German occupation of the city in the Second World War and participated in musical resistance activities with the composer Lutosławski. Over the course of the conflict, Panufnik lost many of his closest relatives and saw his compositions consumed by the fires of the Warsaw Uprising. Initially fêted by the socialist government, he was unwilling to compose the suitably ‘patriotic’ music demanded of him by the regime and was forced to make a dramatic escape to Britain in 1954.

This Centenary Celebration will present chamber works spanning his life – from his piano trio (1934), reconstructed after the war, to his three string quartets (written between 1976 and 1990) to be performed by the Brodsky Quartet, ‘Artists in Residence’ at Kings Place. The programmes will include complementary pieces by his daughter Roxanna including the London Première of a new quartet especially written for the Brodsky Quartet. The Celebration will culminate with a 1930s Warsaw Cabaret evening, led by Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood.

Panufnik 100: A Family Celebration
30 November 2014 | Kings Place
Tickets from £6.50
kingsplace.co.uk/panufnik100

Tuukka Haapaniemi from Finland's Club For Five, talks to Kings Place about what a cappella is all about.

With soulful grooves, world-class vocals and exquisite harmonies, Club For Five has won the hearts of audiences and acclaim of critics making them a phenomenon on the world stage. They perform at this year's London A Cappella Festival.

London A Cappella Festival
28 - 31 Jan | Kings Place
www.kingsplace.co.uk/LACF2015

Chris T-T ('One of the great underground artists of our time' Jon Snow; 'Genius, a modern-day William Blake' Sunday Times) and Gill Sandell ('This is gorgeous!' Bob Harris; 'A beautiful sounding record' Cerys Matthews) launch their first album as a duo, 'Walk Away, Walk Away'.

The album is an atmospheric collection of noir songs from across pop, rock and folk traditions and generations, themed around travel and absence; separation and journey; ancient pathways and empty freeways, covering artists from Willie Nelson and Joni Mitchell to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Voice Of The Beehive.

20 February, 8pm | Kings Place
Tickets £12.50
www.kingsplace.co.uk/walkaway

Nominated for BBC R2 Folk Awards 2015 in the Best Album category, TINCIAN is the second release by 9Bach, the Welsh group formed by Lisa Jen and Martin Hoyland. It’s an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales.

Lisa and Martin joined us to discuss the story behind 9Bach's unique sound and being nominated for 'Best Album' at this year's BBC R2 Folk Awards.

9Bach: 'TINCIAN' + support from Twelfth Day
Saturday 18 April, 8pm | Kings Place | Tickets £12.50
kingsplace.co.uk/9Bach

Violinist Krysia Osostowicz and pianist Daniel Tong discuss their Beethoven cycle with a difference.
They invited ten composers to write short companion pieces, one to go with each of Beethoven’s ten sonatas for violin and piano, creating a dialogue with Beethoven, a conversation between past and present.
Chaired by Helen Wallace and joined by two of the composers, David Matthews and Elspeth Brooke, Krysia and Dan delve into the fascinating world of Beethoven's sonatas, all the while encouraging us to not be intimidated by his greatness...
14 & 15 May; 15 – 17 Oct | Tickets from £9.50
kingsplace.co.uk/beethovenplus

Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bex Burch and Dan Nicholls of dynamic quintet Vula Viel, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (2–4 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef2016