The creator and director of the spirited opening ceremony is Chris Baldwin, a man who has directed open-air events all over Europe. The ceremony will start on Sunday 17th January in four neighbourhoods of Wrocław: the Dąbie tram depot; the bus depot on Grabiszyńska Street; the Popowice depot; and Tadeusz Kościuszko Land Forces Military Academy in Czajkowski Street. A parade of Wrocław’s citizens and artists will march from each of the starting points, each led by one of the Spirits of Wrocław: the Spirit of Many Faiths; the Spirit of Innovation; the Spirit of Rebuilding; and the Spirit of the Flood. The monumental spirits, designed by French visual artist Philippe Geffroy, will tell about the multicultural fascinating history of the city.
The finale of the spectacular march will be the meeting of the Spirits, citizens and artists in Market Square, the heart of the city. Market Square will undergo artistic transformations thanks to which even the neighbouring builidings will become scenographic elements and part of the show. This multimedia performance featuring thousands of artists will be the culmination of the parades.
The show is the result of a collaboration between visual art directors, dancers, actors, musicians, performers and the active participation of Wrocław’s citizens. Its scale is best manifested with numbers: over 1,300 artists; 200 choir singers; 50 soldiers; and 300 cyclists. The ceremony will make use of 30 light installations, 30 gigantic puppets and five trams. The creators of The Awakening have prepared a plethora of artistic surprises and twists. They have not revealed their secrets, hoping that the surprise element will spark the audience’s emotions even more strongly.
Both Polish and foreign artists have participated in the almost-year-long preparations for the opening weekend, as well as hundreds of people working in formal and informal cultural centres and local communities. Organisers, however, emphasise the active participation of Wrocław’s inhabitants, who, upon accepting the challenge, will create an unforgettable cultural parade of citizens. Chris Baldwin has invited everybody:
Please, help us tell the history of the city! Our joint participation in the parade inaugurating the European Capital of Culture will render The Awakening of Wrocław an event on a European scale.
Before the official inauguration in the form of The Awakening, a three-day cultural programme will unravel, starting on Friday 15th January that includes 100 cultural events. The most important ones are an exhibition of the outstanding Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida (BWA Awangarda, opening on 15th January), and the exhibition Made in Europe: Mies van der Rohe Award, dedicated to the best in worldwide architectural design (Museum of Architecture, opening on 16th January).
The European Capital of Culture has also invited Mercouri/Xenakis for a three-day project, which consists of an exhibition, concerts and a performance dedicated to Iannis Xenakis, legendary Greek architect and composer, and Melina Mercouri, the Greek actress and Minister for Culture who conceived the European Capital of Culture programme. On Saturday (16th January), the Museum of Dreams will open in the National Museum of Wrocław where director Jacqueline Kornmüller, together with literary and theatrical stars, will give nine chamber performances inspired by works of art.
Source: press materials, translated by OK, 14 Jan 2016