Yaniewicz was a musical entrepreneur of great energy and flair, and soon after his arrival in Britain around 1790, he was organising concerts up and down the country. Demonstrating a keen instinct for fashionable taste, his activities as an impresario were shaped by the musical appetites of contemporary audiences, involving a fine balancing act between musical integrity and commercial appeal.

The exhibition ‘Music and Migration in Georgian Edinburgh: The Story of Felix Yaniewicz’ brings together a unique collection of musical instruments, portraits, manuscripts, silver and gold personal possessions, letters and autographs, many of them passed down the generations in his surviving family, and almost none of them seen in public before. Together, these will offer fascinating insights into the career of this charismatic performer, composer, impresario and musical entrepreneur, who left a lasting mark on Scottish musical culture. The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and continues at The Georgian House until 22 October.

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of events including illustrated talks, lecture-recitals and musical performances at the Georgian House. More information at https://www.yaniewicz.org/

Every Instrument Tells a Story

Lecture recital by Jenny Nex, with Steven Devine, piano

Saturday 22nd October, 7.30pm at The Georgian House, Edinburgh

The project to celebrate Felix Yaniewicz’s legacy began with the chance discovery of a 200-year-old piano bearing his signature. Another instrument by Yaniewicz & Co has since come to light: the beautiful Apollo lyre guitar. These elegant instruments on display in the exhibition at the Georgian House have a story to tell about Yaniewicz’s activity as a musical entrepreneur catering to a fashionable clientele. In this lecture-recital one of Edinburgh’s experts on the history of musical instruments at St Cecilia’s Hall offers an insight into domestic music-making in the Georgian period and the trade which supplied these instruments. Her talk will be illustrated with songs and piano pieces from the period, played on the Yaniewicz & Green square piano c.1810.

Mr Yaniewicz and Mme Catalani - families event

Sunday 23rd October, 2.30pm at The Georgian House, Edinburgh

In this family-friendly performance, Kate Semmens and Steven Devine bring to life the intriguing story of the musical collaboration between the composer, violinist and impresario, Felix Yaniewicz, and the most famous opera singer of the day, Angelica Catalani. What music did they play and sing? What does a 200-year old piano sound like?

Mr Yaniewicz and Mme Catalani - evening performance

Sunday 23rd October, 7.30pm at The Georgian House, Edinburgh

Soprano Kate Semmens and pianist Steven Devine bring to life the intriguing story of the musical collaboration between the Polish Lithuanian composer, violinist and impresario, Felix Yaniewicz, and the most famous operatic soprano of the day, Angelica Catalani. The programme includes music by Yaniewicz himself, Mozart, Mazzinghi and Handel.Drawing on original concert programmes and contemporary reviews, this entertaining recital using the Yaniewicz & Green square piano c.1810 recreates their colourful partnership for a modern audience, and offers a fascinating insight into Yaniewicz’s influential role in Georgian musical culture.This event has been generously supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh.