Organized by the Paderewski Polish-Ukrainian Foundation, the “Discovering Paderewski” International Festival in Lviv has already become one of the most important cultural events in Ukraine. Held at the Lviv Opera House, this year’s fourth edition of the festival aims at promoting Polish culture and getting our eastern neighbors acquainted with the treasures of national musical repertoire at the highest, global level.
In 2015, the Festival will host the unique Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble “Mazowsze” which will perform the renowned opera Krakovians and Highlanders – an opera that dates back to the 18th century and symbolically represents the structure of Polish society before the third partition of Poland. Its libretto has often been compared to The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The participation of “Mazowsze” as well as such celebrities as Krzysztof Penderecki (who will personally conduct the orchestra performing his works and who will be honored with the honorary degree of Doctor of Honoris Causa of the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy during the festival), pianist Adam Wodnicki, conductor and cellist Andrzej Bauer and the DagaDana ensemble will transform the fourth edition of the festival into a great music celebration.
The Festival will also be marked with the panel discussion entitled “Geopolitical aspects of Polish-Ukrainian relations during the Second Commonwealth of Poland and Ukrainian People’s Republic in the time of Ignacy Jan Paderewski”. It will be moderated by the famous Ukrainian writer, cultural studies and political scientist Taras Wozniak. It has also become a well-established tradition to conduct the Paderewski award ceremony, wherein bronze statuettes will be given to those people who have been particularly successful in working towards Polish-Ukrainian partnership, as well as to those who promote Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Polish culture abroad.
The Festival strives to attest to the good relationships established between Poland and the Ukraine. The idea of organizing an artistic event associated with the name of Ignacy Jan Paderewski—an outstanding pianist, composer, politician and benefactor—provides an opportunity of mutual cultural enrichment of two nations, which seems to be one of the most crucial issues nowadays.
[Sources: press release, paderewski.eu]