The Bronislaw Huberman Violin Festival was first held in June 1997, on the 50th anniversary of
Huberman's death. Initiated by the Czestochowa Philharmonic, the Festival celebrates Huberman, the great Polish musician, one of the finest and most famous violinists of the 20th century, as well as being a continuation of two prestigious Czestochowa festivals: Grazyna Bacewicz Violin Festival and Jeunesses Musicales.
The Festival takes place every two years and includes master recitals as well as chamber and symphony concerts, presenting great works performed by recognized artists as well as promoting young talent at the Great Talents, Great Hopes concert. The previous Festival editions hosted such world-famous soloists as Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Andrzej Bauer, Kaja Danczowska, Krzysztof Jakowicz,
Piotr Plawner, Grigori Zhyslin and ensembles
Sinfonia Vasovia, Capella Cracoviensis, Gdansk Contrabass Quartet, Wilanów Quartet,
Amadeus Orchestra of the Polish Radio under
Agnieszka Duczmal,
Silesian Quartet, Lvov Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra under Serhiy Burko, duo The Spirit of Gambo, Torun Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonetta Cracovia, Virtuosi di Praga and LaGamba from Freiburg.
The next, sixth Festival is scheduled on 5-14 October 2007.
Huberman's biography by Piotr Szarszy, "Bronislaw Huberman, czyli pasje i namietnosci zapomnianego geniusza" / "Bronislaw Huberman, or the Passions and Emotions of the Forgotten Genius" was published in 2003.
Born in Czestochowa in 1882,
Bronislaw Huberman was a child prodigy, and scored his first huge successes as a teenager, performing on one occasion in the presence of Johannes Brahms, who was generous in praise and predicted a great career for him. Brahms's prediction did come true, for Huberman earned fame and a position of one of the finest violinists of his time before turning twenty, his extraordinary technique and musicality securing him a lasting place in the history of violin-playing worldwide.
Huberman was also an outstanding humanist of unusually broad horizons. His idea of a united Europe, which he promoted as early as in the 1920s, made him a forerunner of the concept of European integration achievable with respect for cultural and ethnic identities of every nation. He was instrumental in establishing the Great Symphony Orchestra in Tel Aviv, nowadays called the Israel Philharmonic and bearing his name, which had its inaugural concert under Arturo Toscanini in December 1936. After World War II Huberman returned to Europe, settling in Switzerland and living the rest of his life there.
Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska Polish Music Information Center Polish Composers' Union November 2006 | |
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