Photo by: Wojciech Pniewski/Reporter/Eastnews
The 2012 edition of the festival celebrates the 99th anniversary of the birth of composer Witold Lutosławski with a series of concerts from international performers
For the four evenings at the Royal Castle and the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw, the hosts planned a concert in honour of Stefan Jarociński’s 100th birthday (the composer’s friend), and a monographic concert of pieces by Andrzej Krzanowski – one of the young composers supported by Witlold Lutosławski.
The festival opens with outstanding Norwegian singer Solveig Kringelborn, whose career began when Lutosławski chose her for the pre-premiere of his vocal series "Chantefleurs et chantefables"in 1991. The final concert will feature the Polish Natonal Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by an excellent French conductor Pierre-André Valade. Along the works of Lutosławski, they will perform pieces by Henri Dutilleux and Magnus Lindberg. Some of the artists invited to perform at the 9th edition of the festival include Klaudiusz Baran, Zdzisław Piernik, Bartosz Koziak and the Opium quartet.
On the 4th of February, The Centre For Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle will host a mini festival for children - Łańcuszek (Little Link). The tradition of programme concerts for the youngest part of the Witold Lutosławski Festival’s audience started a few years ago, but only in 2011 did the events aimed at children become somewhat autonomous, gaining new status and a separate name.
Łańcuszek is not only the diminutive of Łańcuch, but has its own independent source in Lutosławki’s series of songs for children entitled "Słomkowy łańcuszek" / "Straw Link". Łańcuszek is educational to some extent, but above all, it remains an artistic project. The children are treated as a serious audience. This is why the organisers ensure that the best performers are invited to the event, experienced performers, who have something interesting to offer to the children, and who can familiarise them not only with the music of Wiltold Lutosławski, but with music in general.
In 2012, Łańcuszek also presents two musical performances-workshops designed and executed by Janusz Prusinowski and his collaborators – musicians from the Janusz Prusinowski Trio, namely Piotr Piszczatowski, Michał Żak and Piotr Zagorzelski, as well as Kaja Prusinowska and Ewa Rdzanek. The workshops Kusy Janek and Podwórko z Mazurkami are designed to engage the audience in the fun of making music together. Kusy Janek is based on a story about a character that was once well known in Poland from numerous texts, referring to the roughish poetry of absurd. During the performance, everyone learns the title song, they participate in dance games, and perform dances such as the Oberek, Chodzony and Wiwat. Podwórko z Mazurkami will give the children and the parents an opportunity to delight in the joyful Mazurkas. The children are invited to clap, sing, dance, and play Mazurkas.
The four concerts of the Witold Lutosławski Łańcuch Festival takeplace between the 25th-28th of January, while Łańcuszek takes place on the 4th of February at Warsaw's Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle.
Witold Lutoslawski, along with Fryderyk Chopin and Karol Szymanowski - is one of the greatest of all Polish composers. He is a classic of twentieth century music, alongside Bela Bartok, Sergei Prokofiev and Olivier Messiaen.
For more info see: lutoslawski.org.pl
Source: Press release