The International Chopin Festival in the south-western spa of Duszniki Zdrój takes place in early August each year. It is the oldest piano festival in the world as well as the oldest music festival on Polish soil. The event is organised by the Foundation of the International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój set up in 1989 to mark Chopin’s links with the spa. This year’s piano recitals feature Krzysztof Jabłoński, Ching Yun Hu and Alexander Gavryluk.
The 12th Shakespeare Festival organised by the Theatrum Gedanense Foundation is held in the Baltic port city of Gdańsk August 2-9. The history of the festival dates back to 1993 when the first Shakespeare Days were organised. In 1997 to mark Gdańsk’s one thousandth anniversary the format of the festival was expanded. Each summer the foundation puts on some of the most captivating productions of Shakespeare plays both from Poland and foreign countries. Since 2000 foreign productions shown during the event have been officially recommended by the International Association of Theatre Critics. This year Gdańsk audiences are treated to a rich fare presented by theatre companies from Britain, Japan, Spain, US, Romania, Ukraine, Armenia and Poland.
The International open-air Jazz in the Old Town festival is held in the Polish capital’s historic district each summer. It is the most popular jazz festival in terms of audience participation. It is also one of Europe’s longest running festivals. It lasts for two months and it’s free. The organiser is IKA ART Wojciechowscy concert and advertising agency. This year’s bill includes the Archie Shapp Quartet, Andrzej Jagodziński Trio and Lora Szafran, the String Quartet, Marylin Mazur Group and others.
Yoko Ono appears in Warsaw in August to display her works on behalf of the international Fluxus movement. The works include installations, video and photographs. The venue of the show is the Modern Art Centre in Warsaw.
Chopin and his Europe is the title of an international music festival held in Warsaw in the second half of August. The aim of the event is to promote Polish music culture, to present Chopin’s works in a broad cultural context and to bring out his links with his contemporaries. The festival encompasses a comprehensive selection of European works spanning the period since the late 18th century. The event is organised by the National Frederic Chopin Institute. 24 concerts are included in the programme, including nine symphonic concerts, 15 piano recitals and chamber music concerts by more than 200 performers such as Jakub Jakowicz, Ursula Smith, Katia Skanavi, Janusz Olejniczak and as the opening star attraction Ivo Pogorelic.
Late August in Zakopane at the foot of the Tatra mountain range sees the 11th International Highland Folklore Festival. This Poland’s foremost mountain resort reverberates with the music of highlanders’ song and dance ensembles from all over the world. A competition of instrumental ensembles, instrumentalists and folk singers, a folk art fair, as well as national days are part of the rich fare. During the national days you can find out about the culture, tradition and folk costumes, as well as sample regional dishes.
The 43rd edition of the Wratislavia Cantans International Festival is held in the first half of September. In the most scenic places of the south-western city of Wrocław oratorio and cantata, symphonic, chamber music, opera and religious music concerts are organised. They are coupled with art shows spanning various epochs, styles and civilisations. The performers include the world famous Kings Singers, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Mark Padmore, as well as Polish orchestras Aukso and the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra.
The acclaimed producer Robert Wilson has accepted the invitation of Warsaw’s National Opera to put on Gounod’s “Faust” with a premiere on October 26.
The Polish Music Festival in Kraków organised in November each year was first held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Polish Music Publishers. It features Polish works from the Middle Ages to this day, as well as foreign works performed by top artists from Poland and other countries. Kronos Quartet and Nigel Kennedy are among those who appear at the festival.
The Piano Festival takes place in Warsaw in third week of November. Its aim is to promote classical music, and notably piano music. It spotlights young Polish and foreign pianists, including the winners of leading piano competions, as well as renowned piano masters. The organisers, the Beethoven Society, has established links with such foreign competitions as Van Cliburn Piano Competition and the Geza Anda Concours. Barry Douglas, Yung Woo Yoo and Marian Sobula are among those billed to appear during the festival.
The Krzysztof Penderecki Year devoted to Poland’s greatest living composer has its climax during the Penderecki festival in Warsaw November 20-23. It features a production of the artist’s “Seven Gates of Jerusalem”, where the composer conducts the orchestra himself, as well as the world premiere of Penderecki’s latest string quartet performed by the Shanghai Quartet.
The 16th Camerimage festival of cinematographic art kicks off in the central city of Łódź on November 29. Lasting until December 6 it encompasses film screenings, student etudes, a retrospective of works by lifetime award winner Pierre Lhomme, as well as workshops, seminars, cinematographic equipment and technology presentations, plus the Camerimage Market, Forum and exhibitions of photographs and painting.
The Historical Museum in the old historic city of Kraków organises a Christmas crèche competition on the first Thursday of December. Dozens of home-made crèches are displayed by ordinary Cracovians in front of the monument to the national poet Adam Mickiewicz in the city’s Market Square. Once the bugle call is sounded from the belfry of the church of Our Lady, the crèches are taken in a procession to the historical museum, where the jury sits. On the following Sunday an open-air exhibition of the award-winning entries is held.
“French Art in Polish and Louvre Collections” is the title of a show on at the National Museum in Warsaw until December 18. This is possibly the largest show of 18th century French art in the history of the museum. Among the featured artists are François Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Chardin, Nicolas Lancret, Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, Nicolas de Largillierre, Antoine Watteau, Claude-Joseph Vernet and Jacques-Louis Davida.