The “Fryderyk 2009” awards of the Phonographic Academy have been presented. The names of the winners were announced on 20th April 2009 during a ceremony in the Salesian Basilica (classical music and jazz) and the ‘Reed Factory' Arts Centre (popular music) in Warsaw. Special “Golden Fryderyk” awards for the entire artistic output were granted to Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Zbigniew Namysłowski and Jerzy Połomski. Gala concerts were given by, among others, the Podlasie Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra conducted by Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Maria Peszek, Czesław Śpiewa, Ania Dąbrowska, Mika Urbaniak and Kasia Kowalska.
This year’s gala was a great triumph of Paweł Mykietyn, who was named Best Composer of the Year, while the CD Speechless Song with his compositions (released by the Polish Audiovisual Publishers) won two Fryderyk 2009 statuettes: for the Best Contemporary Music Album and Most Outstanding Polish Music Recording.
In the other categories, the winners were: Best Choral and Vocal-Instrumental Music Album – the CD Stanisław Moniuszko - Masses (DUX); Best Early Music Album - Mikołaj Zieleński: Offertoria et Communiones Totius Anni (DUX); Best Chamber Music Album - Karol Szymanowski: Works for Violin and Piano: Piotr Pławner, Wojciech Świtała (DUX); Best Solo Music Album - Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart - Rafał Blechacz (Deutsche Grammophon / Universal Music Polska); Best Orchestral Music Album - Karłowicz: Violin Concerto in A Major op. 8, Eternal Songs op. 10, SACD & CD (BeArTon); Best Vocal Recital, Opera and Operetta Album - Karol Szymanowski: King Roger (DVD, Polish Audiovisual Publishers); Best CD Debut of the Year – Podlasie Philharmonic and Opera Choir, dir. Violetta Bielecka, with the album: Górecki, Moryto, Szymanowski – Kurpian songs.
In 2009 Fryderyk awards of the Polish music society were presented for the 15th time. The awards are granted by the Phonographic Academy, consisting of nearly a thousand artists, authors, journalists and music industry professionals.