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On 5 April 2019 Anna performed a narrated piano recital of Chopin’s music to conclude the international conference „Romantic Interactions” held at the Polish Academy of Skills, Kraków,  Below you will find a review of the conference and Anna’s performance by prof. Charlotte May (University of Nottingham)

A near capacity audience gathered in St John’s Kirk to listen to Anna Dębowska play a programme of Polish Music to celebrate the centenary of the founding of modern Poland.

It was after approximately 100 years that the family of Stirlings was reunited with the famous Pleyel Grand Piano No 13823 which once belonged to Jane Stirling and on which Frederick Chopin played in Scotland in 1848.

An Evening with Jane Stirling was an opportunity to listen to a variety of Chopin’s  compositions,  including the two Nocturnes which he dedicated to Jane Stirling, performed by the inimitable Anna Dębowska. 

This concert was a celebration of two anniversaries: 170 years since Jane Stirling brought Frédéric Chopin to Scotland and 100 years since Poland regained its hard-fought independence. The event was, therefore, an opportunity to demonstrate the multitude of ties that connect the Polish and Scottish nations.

During the event, the audience had an opportunity to listen to a variety of Chopin’s  compositions,  including the two Nocturnes which he dedicated to Jane Stirling, performed by the inimitable Anna Dębowska.  Contextualized by Marcin Jaroszek’s narration, „An Evening with Jane Stirling” spsn a story of love, devotion, disillusionment and unconditional respect for this somewhat whimsical Romantic genius.

September 1848. The window to his room presents a most beautiful view of the „Sterling Castel”. He is a great pianist and Jane Stirling knows it only too well.

The main protaganist of the evening was an absolute jewel among pianos, a unique Playel Piano Forte with the serial number of 13823, once belonging to Jane Stirling, in the 20th century aquired by Éduard Ganche’ – a grand piano which has eventually found its way to Chopin’s homeland and is now exhibitted in The Collegium Maius of the Jagiellonian University.

An Evening with Jane Stirling was an opportunity to listen to a variety of Chopin’s compositions, including the two Nocturnes which he dedicated to Jane Stirling, performed by the inimitable Anna Dębowska.

It was to the apartment of his compatriot – Dr. Lyszczynski – located at 10 Warriston Crescent in Edinburgh that Frédéric Chopin repeatedly and eagerly returned.

In 1848 Chopin gave a number of concerts in Scotland, but it was during his performances held en famille, in stately houses rather than in large concert halls, that his music showed the melancholy and plaintive sentiment which typically pervaded his ailing soul.

On July 15, 2016, Stiring’s Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church and its community witnessed an unprecedented event. A Kraków trio under the banner of the AboutProject.com performed what they proudly call An Evening with Jane Stirling to celebrate the 212th Anniversary of the birth of this Scottish heroine – Frederic Chopin’s pupil and friend. The next day they repeated the performance in Dunblane Cathedral – the presumed resting place of Chopin’s benefactor.