Kwartesencja Festival – Polish Music Center

“It is definitely an act of courage but also proof of an open mind and a lack of rigidity. It shows a soul devoted to music, not stereotypes” says Kayah, one of the stars of previous Kwartesencja Festivals. To mix styles and genres, not to follow the beaten track, combine amazing artists who would never meet on the same stage or even on the same broadcasting channel on a regular day. All of the above is the essence of what Kwartesencja is about, the only series of concerts of this kind in Poland and one that has already found its place in the cultural calendar of Poland’s capital city and also managed to gain its own special audience. And it is special because it is so diverse, just like each program of Kwartesencja festivals.

The hosts of the festival, the musicians of The Royal String Quartet, came up with the idea for the festival and they have been organizing it since 2004, presenting the medium of the string quartet in multiple forms. Alongside classical, contemporary music plays a significant role during Kwartesencja. The interpretations of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki or George Crumb’s music presented during the festival were widely commented upon, while new compositions have also been written especially for the Quartet

Following on the successful premiere of a new commission by Paweł Szymański during last year’s Festival, thus year features premieres of commissions by Wojciech Blecharz and Andrzej Kwieciński on November 15. On November 14, the Royal String Quartet will perform Brahms and an arrangement of Strauss’ Metamorphosen for septet, during which they will be joined on stage by Katarzyna Budnik-Gałązka, Marcin Zdunik, and Tomasz Januchta. On November 16, RSQ will perform Philip Glass and the Lutosławski Piano Duo of Joanna Duda and Mischa Kozłowski will perform works by Julius Eastman.

In previous years, the four musicians of RSQ have been privileged to appear on stage during Kwartesencja concerts with the legendary Stephen Kovacevich, one of the most interesting modern pianists – Angela Hewitt, the excellent tenor Mark Padmore, and also with Kayah, Smolik, DJ Lenar and the Warsaw Village Band. Other previous guests include (in alphabetical order): Klaudiusz Baran, Andrzej Bauer, The Camerata String Quartet, Martin Fröst, Krzysztof Herdzin, Hob-beats Duo, Cezary Konrad, Urszula Krygiel, Michał Kulenty, Kwadrofonik, DJ Lenar, Simon Lepper, Marcin Murawski, Michał Nagy, New Generation Quartet, Tomasz Strahl, The Škampa Quartet, The Silesian String Quartet, Wojciech Świtała, Antoine Tamestit and Monika Wolińska. The stars of the most famous concert halls and stars of alternative music performing together, it can only happen during Kwartesencja! Thanks to the guests from the other side of the musical spectrum, the festival gains additional dimensions and the casual, informal character of a social gathering.