The idea for the POLISH RADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL was born in 1996, when a group of individuals perceived a need to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of composer
Karol Szymanowski. Elzbieta Markowska was the festivals' initiator and collaborated closely with Michal Bristiger and Grzegorz Michalski on developing the formula for, and producing, the event. This intention to create a festival that would stand the test of time was accompanied by an awareness that - as Markowska stated in an interview for "Ruch Muzyczny" ("Music Movement") magazine - "Polish Radio was not using all of its artistic and organizational potential, though as an institution, it possesses a staff of outstanding professionals and maintains a number of musical ensembles, including a choir and three orchestras based in Warsaw and other cities." Each edition of the festival has highlighted the figure and work of a single, exceptional, most-often Polish composer. In 1997 this was Karol Szymanowski, in an edition of the festival titled "Szymanowski i jego Europa" / "Szymanowski and His Europe." In 1998 the festival was titled "Pokrewienstwa z wyboru" / "Relations by Choice" and featured the work of
Mieczyslaw Karlowicz. In 1999, "Chopin '99 - Zrodla i konteksty" / "Chopin '99 - Sources and Contexts" focused on the music of
Chopin, while the year 2000 saw the work of Johann Sebastian Bach featured in an event titled "Bach Tysiaclecia" / "Bach of the Millennium." In 2001, the POLISH RADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL highlighted the music of
Witold Lutoslawski, while the upcoming, sixth edition of the event will focus on the figure and music of
Stanislaw Moniuszko. Organizers above all strive to underline the European contexts of the chosen composer's work, to discover new values in Polish music and introduce Polish composers to an international music audience. This type of promotion is accomplished above all in cooperation with the European Radio Union, through which festival concerts are transmitted to twenty European countries as well as to Canada and Australia.
Editions of the festival are invariably accompanied by publications in Polish and English, which subsequently play an important role in promoting Polish music. In addition to the programs of all festival concerts, they contain biographical notes for featured composers as well as commentaries about the artists, the period during which they created, and information on relevant Polish Radio recordings.
All festival concerts are held at the Witold Lutoslawski Polish State Radio Studio in Warsaw. The fifth edition of the event in 2001 featured performances by a number of exceptional artists and orchestras, including Kaja Danczowska, Andrzej Bauer,
Janusz Olejniczak,
Olga Pasiecznik, Jerzy Artysz, the Danel Quartet of France, the SINFONIA VARSOVIA under the direction of Jan Krenz, the POLSKA ORKIESTRA RADIOWA / POLISH RADIO ORCHESTRA conducted by Wojciech Rajski, and the NARODOWA ORKIESTRA SYMFONICZNA POLSKIEGO RADIA / POLISH RADIO NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA lead by Wojciech Michniewski and
Antoni Wit.
Festiwal Muzyczny Polskiego Radia / POLISH RADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Organizer: Polskie Radio S. A.
ul. Jana Pawla Woronicza 17, 02-625 Warsaw
tel. (+48 22) 645 52 52
fax (+48 22) 843 44 62
Polish Music Information Center Polish Composers' Union January 2002 | |
ul. Jana Pawła Woronicza 17
02-625 Warszawa
Phone: (+48 22) 645 51 72
Fax: (+48 22) 843 44 62