The POZNANSKA WIOSNA MUZYCZNA / POZNAN MUSICAL SPRING is the oldest and most important music festival in Poznan. Tadeusz Szeligowski (1896-1963) devised the concept for the festival and founded the event in the early 1960s. Szeligowski was an outstanding composer and educator, a one-time director of the State Higher School of Opera in Poznan and the Poznan Philharmonic (1947-50), and a professor of the State Higher School of Music in Poznan (1950-63). His achievements as a composer include the operas BUNT ZAKOW / THE SCHOOLBOY MUTINY, KRAKATUK, TEODOR GENTLEMAN / GENTLEMAN THEODORE, the ballets PAW I DZIEWCZYNA / THE PEACOCK AND THE GIRL and MAZEPA, the overtures Z CHLOPA KROL / PEASANT TO KING, UWERTURA BURLESKA / A BURLESQUE OVERTURE as well as numerous orchestral concertos and choral works.
Szeligowski designed the POZNAN MUSICAL SPRING as a kind of antidote for the "WARSZAWSKA JESIEN" / "WARSAW AUTUMN" Festival. Himself a representative of the traditional current in 20th century Polish music, he believed that composers writing in the old style, using composing techniques or styles that do not fit the profile of the avant-garde "WARSAW AUTUMN" Festival must have an aesthetic alternative as well as possibilities for unfettered artistic expression. The festival repertoire encompasses all musical forms: symphonic music, chamber music, choral works and ballet performances. The first edition of the POZNAN MUSICAL SPRING was held in 1961. Following
Tadeusz Szeligowski's death, Florian Dabrowski took up his project and ran the festival for several years. The concepts and programs for succeeding editions of the event were devised by the heads of the Poznan branch of the Association of Polish Composers. Since 2000, Maciej Jablonski and
Krzysztof Meyer have been organizing the POZNAN MUSICAL SPRING. Both composers remain strongly linked to tradition and have high regard for the manner in which it has influenced musical culture of the 20th century.
In a discussion about this year's edition of the event, Maciej Jablonski, artistic director of the POZNAN MUSICAL SPRING, stated:
"In devising the program for this year's 'Spring,' I was surprised to find that many important works of the 20th century, including a number that have become contemporary classics, have never before been performed in Poznan. We want to make up for this, although we will also organize performances of new works by both mature and very young composers. This year's 'Spring' will have a clear dominant note. Specifically, this will focus on what we refer to as Generation X of Polish music, i.e. very young composers who are not entirely formed in an educational sense (as they remain students) nor set in terms of their skills and composing style."
The festival this year will open with a concert by
Agnieszka Duczmal's ORKIESTRA KAMERALNA "AMADEUS" / "AMADEUS" CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, featuring works by
Marta Ptaszynska,
Witold Lutoslawski and Dmitri Shostakovich (April 16, Auditorium of Adam Mickiewicz University). It will conclude with the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of José Maria Florencio and cellist Ivan Monighetti performing works by Bela Bartók, Witold Lutoslawski and
Krzysztof Penderecki (April 25, Auditorium of Adam Mickiewicz University). Other scheduled events include a concert titled LIRYKA WOKALNA XX WIEKU / VOCAL MUSIC OF THE 20TH CENTURY featuring Urszula Krygier - mezzo soprano, Andrzej Bauer - cello, Urszula Janik-Krzemionka - flute, Katarzyna Jankowska - piano, and Piotr Reichert - viola (April 24, Red Room of Dzialynski Palace), an appearance by the Swiss piano duo of Adrianne Soos and Ivo Hagg (April 19, Concert Hall of the Academy of Music) and a concert by the Adam Mickiewicz University Choir (April 22, Concert Hall of the Academy of Music). The program for the event also includes a number of chamber music concerts, a multimedia presentation titled SMIERC W WENECJI / A DEATH IN VENICE (featuring the film by L. Visconti and B. Britten's opera of the same title), seminars, workshops and public discussions.
Additional information: Polish Composers' Union
Zwiazek Kompozytorow Polskich, Oddzial Poznanski
ul. Sw. Marcin 80/82, Poznan
tel. (+48 61) 652 51 32