Anyone who hears the name Ogiński involuntarily recalls his famous polonaise, a melody familiar to many from childhood. Already in the first sounds of this music one can feel the breath of an era in which the pain of loss, hope and love for the Motherland are intertwined. A whole world comes to life in it – refined, noble, filled with emotions and timeless beauty.
But who was the man who created this immortal work? Mikhail Kleofas Ogiński was not only an outstanding composer, but also a diplomat, politician, thinker, a man for whom music was not just an art, but a way to express the feelings and destiny of an entire people. His life is an example of how one can remain true to one's ideals even in the most difficult times.
On the occasion of the 260th anniversary of the birth of Michal Kleofas Ogiński, our colleagues and friends from the "Wspólnota Polska" branch in Węgorzewo (Koło Stowarzysznie) held an online meeting from the series "Spotkania z historią i kulturą". This was not just a lecture, but a real musical-historical walk through the era when ideas are born that can survive the centuries. Professor Jan Polovianiuk invited the audience to a meeting entitled "Mikhail Kleofas Ogiński – Composer and Patriot," turning it into an exquisite blend of music, history, and the spirit of the times.
