Duo Post Scriptum explores music that was heard in Belgium at the turn of the 20th century, a rich repertoire in which recognised masterpieces coexist with unjustly neglected works. Founded in 2019, the ensemble brings together violinist Joanna Staruch-Smolec and pianist Krzysztof Potocznik. Their collaboration is rooted in a shared affinity for chamber music, nourished by a curiosity for lesser-known repertoire and historical performance practices, which they cultivate through artistic and musicological research.
At the heart of their work lies the desire to give voice once more to compositions that once resonated in Belgian salons, concert halls, and artistic circles at the turn of the 20th century. Their research has led them to rediscover a wide range of overlooked works, including pieces uncovered in Eugène Ysaÿe’s library such as the Sonata for violin and piano (1907) by Henriette Van den Boorn-Coclet.
This artistic exploration originates in Joanna Staruch-Smolec’s doctoral research (Université libre de Bruxelles – Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles), focused on the violinistic practices of Eugène Ysaÿe and completed in 2025. The collaboration between the two musicians began within this framework, shaping the identity of Duo Post Scriptum through an ongoing dialogue between research and performance.
Since its creation, the duo has performed in Belgium and internationally, with recent appearances at the Musiq3 Festival at Flagey and at the FNRS gala at BOZAR. The ensemble has also appeared at the Musique Femmes festival (Brussels), the Courants d’Airs festival (Musical Instruments Museum Brussels), the Performance Studies Network conference (University of Surrey, Guildford, UK), and the Early Recordings symposium (Guildhall School of Music, London, UK), as well as concerts organized by the Fondation Chopin Belgique, the LaM-Laboratoire de Musicologie (ULB), and the Journée de la Curiosité (CrB).
In 2025, Duo Post Scriptum was awarded second prize at the Génération Classique competition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Charleroi. They will soon perform at the Musiq3, Midis Minimes, and Zomer van Sint-Pieter festivals.