Plakat "Chopin i jego Europa"
The festival combines crucial masterpieces in music history with less known compositions; as a result, we deal with a great, fresh music experience. Famous artists were invited to participate in the festival, as were debutants. This year we can hear Barry Douglas, Krzysztof Penderecki, the virtuosic pianists Martha Argerich, Maria João Pires, the Royal String Quartet and Leszek Możdżer. Chopin and His Europe 2013 also feature soloists and conductors including Krzysztof Kaspszyk, Belcea Quartet, Nicholas Angelich, Gautier Capucon, Nikolai Demidenko, Akiko Ebi, the pianists Nelson Freire, Ewa Pobłocka and Piotr Anderszewski, Benjamin Grosvenor, Xavier de Maistre, conductors Jerzy Maksymiuk and Marek Moś, Gerhard Oppitz, Wojciech Świtała, Jan Lisiecki and the splendid mezzo-soprano Ewa Podleś.
The theme From Chopin to Lutosławski refers to this year's 100th anniversary of composer Witold Lutosławski's birth. His works are included in the festival schedule. The programme will be enriched by screenings of Bloody Daughter, a documentary about Martha Argerich, the world-famous Argentinian pianist. The film was created by her daughter, Stephanie Argerich.
Director of the festival Stanisław Leszczyński explains:
It's not an event which drifts towards entertainment and easygoing approach. Such elements appear; however, the festival's subtitle evokes an undertone of juxtaposition of the 19th-century music and the present times.
One major highlight is the series of performances by pianist Barry Douglas and the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki. It opens the festival, and will take place on the 15th of August at the National Philharmonic. The programme includes Lutosławski's Musique funèbre, Penderecki's Resurrection Piano Concerto and Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor.
Tobias Koch's recital takes place the next day at the National Philharmonic. His programme features compositions of Karol Kurpiński, Józef Elsner, Richard Wagner and Chopin.
On the 18th of August, the Royal String Quartet will perform a late-night recital with pianist Wojciech Świtała in the Church of the Holy Cross. The audience will hear Chopin's Largo, Lutosławski's String Quartet and Górecki's String Quartet No. 3.
Jerzy Maksymiuk, photo: Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina
On the 23rd of August in the Witold Lutosławski Studio of Polish Radio, cellist Antonio Meneses joins the superb pianist Maria João Pires in a programme of Schubert, Brahms and Mendelsshon. At the National Philharmonic, another concert features pianists Marc-Andre Hamelin and Ewa Pobłocka as well as cellist Robert Cohen playing compositions of Lutosławski and Chopin. They will be accompanied by Sinfonia Varsavia conducted by Jerzy Maksymiuk.
On the 25th, Frans Brueggen will conduct the renowned Orchestra of the 18th Century while performing Bitwa pod Możajskiem by Karol Kurpiński. Two days later, Brueggen accompanies violinist Zbigniew Pilch, performing Concerto No. 5 by Feliks Janiewicz.
Sir Roger Norrington will perform on the 31st with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, interpreting Bajka by Stanisław Moniuszko. Norrington's programme includes Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique performed on period instruments for the first time in Poland.
The closing event will take place on the 1st of September, an oratorio concert of the Requiem Mass by Verdi, featuring Carmen Giannattasio (soprano), Mariana Pentcheva (alto), Gustavo Porta (tenor), Rafał Siwek (bass) and the Choir of the National Symphony Orchestra led by Jacek Kaspszyk.
The festival is organised under the patronage of the President of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, and the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski.
Source: PAP, pl.chopin.nifc.pl, oprac. SW, 26 lipca 2013
Translation: GS 30/07/2013