Organized by the Ave Arte Foundation, the 2nd Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Festival will be held in Warsaw from November 6-12 in various venues around Warsaw: the Royal Łazienki Park, Polish Theatre, Polish Radio’s Lutoslawski Concert Studio, Royal Castle, and Fryderyk Chopin Music University.
The official inauguration of the Festival will be on November 6, on the 155th anniversary of the birthday of the outstanding Polish pianist. The Polish Theatre in Warsaw (at 8 p.m.) will stage the performance of the Academic Choir of the University of Warsaw which will perform the Rota of Feliks Nowowiejski and pieces of music of the Festival’s patron—Hej, Orle biały and Nad wodą bystrą i czystą. The audience will also hear fragments of the Paderewski’s opera Manru, performed by soprano Katarzyna Laskowska and tenor Rafal Bartmiński. Barcarole in F sharp major Op. 60 and other works of Fryderyk Chopin will be played on the piano by Wojciech Kocyan.
On 7 November, during the Festival International Day, at the Royal Castle (at 6:30 p.m.) we will hear, among other things, the four-handed performance of the Polish National Dance Op. 9 [Tańce polskie op. 9 na cztery ręce] of Paderewski by a piano duet from Mallorca—Albert Diaz and Xavier Muta—and the Piano Sonata No. 3 of Fryderyk Chopin performed by Zhao Chinese, a Swiss artist of Chinese origin. Baal Shem Suite by Ernest Bloch, Piano and violin suite of Witold Lutosławski and other pieces will be played by a Swiss duo of Rachel Kolly D’Alba and Christian Chamorel. On the next day, in the W. Lutosławski Concert Studio of the Polish Radio (at 7 p.m.), the Orchestra Sinfonia Iuventus will play under the baton of Tadeusz Strugała, accompanied by the Swiss pianist Melodie Zhao.
Starting November 8, the Festival will move to the Royal Łazienki. On that day, in the Palace on the Isle (at noon), a concert will take place including piano works composed by I. J. Paderewski. On the following morning (at 11 a.m. in the Myślewicki Palace), a panel discussion devoted to the person and works of the outstanding musician will be held. In the evening of November 9 (at 6 p.m. in the Royal Theatre), the series “Paderewski – Jazz Inspirations” continues with a special and original program of songs of I. J. Paderewski and Z. Stojowski, prepared by Krzesimir Dębski. Among the soloists will be: Emose Uhunmwangho from the Capitol Musical Theatre in Wrocław, Anna Jurksztowicz, Mieczysław Szcześniak and Maciej Miecznikowski.
On November 10 in the Royal Theatre (at 6 p.m.), a recital entitled “The Salon of the Rejected Ones” will be a gathering of the pianists who did not qualify for the last stage of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition.
On Polish Independence Day or November 11 in the Officer Cadets School (at 10 a.m.), guests will be invited to watch films dedicated to the memory of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and in the evening at the Fryderyk Chopin Music University (at 7 p.m.), a gala patriotic concert will take place with the participation of the students and graduates of the university.
The Festival will end on November 12 in W. Lutosławski Concert Studio (S1) of the Polish Radio (at 7 p.m.) with a concert featuring Sinfonia Varsovia, under the baton of Marta Kluczyńska. The performance will include the Overture in E flat major and the Piano Concerto in A minor op. 17 and Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major Opus 55 “Sinfonia Eroica” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
In addition, from November 2 to 15, the Outdoor Gallery of the Royal Łazienki will host an exhibition devoted to the eminent musician entitled “Paderewski wygrał Polskę na fortepianie” [Paderewski played/won Poland on the piano], which will introduce the personality of our great compatriot.
November 8- 11, 2015
2nd Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Festival
various venues in Warsaw
Info: www.kulturalna.warszawa.pl or www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl
[Sources: pwm.com.pl, lazienki-krolewskie.pl, kulturalna.warszawa.pl]