Chopin and His Europe – Warsaw Invites the World
Celebrating its 20th anniversary the festival “Chopin and His Europe” included the thematic title “And the Rest of the World”, featuring world-renowned pianists, international and national top ensembles and orchestras. As usual the event explored Chopin’s music through diverse perspectives, spanning four centuries of repertoire. Piano Street presents a selection of concert videos including an interview with the festival’s founder, Chopin Institute’s Stanislaw Leszczynski.
The 20th International Festival ‘Chopin and His Europe’ took place from August 17th to September 8th at prestigious venues such as the National Philharmonic, the Grand Theatre – National Opera, the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio, the Holy Cross Basilica, and the Royal Castle.
Continuing the tradition of previous editions, this year’s festival motto, ‘Chopin and his Europe and the Rest of the World,’ emphasizes the global reach and diverse repertoire. This year, audiences were treated to performances by over 600 musicians, showcasing the works of 65 composers.
The festival once again revolved around Chopin, exploring his music through various perspectives, both explicit and implicit. The musical journey spanned four centuries, from the Renaissance to the present day, with performances that are both historically accurate and contemporary in their interpretation.
The Pianists
The festival featured performances by virtuoso pianists who have gained international recognition through the Chopin Competition, including those specializing in historical instruments. Pianists such as Kate Liu, Eric Lu, Bruce Liu, Garrick Ohlsson, Yulianna Avdeeva, Kevin Kenner, Alberto Nose, Ingrid Flitter, Nelson Goerner, Angela Hewitt, Lukas Geniusas, Dimitri Ablogin, Eric Guo, and Polish pianists Ewa Pobłocka, Piotr Paleczny, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Janusz Olejniczak, Szymon Nehring, Tomasz Ritter, Bartosz Skłodowski, and Piotr Sałajczyk took the stage. In addition, the festival showcased performances by world-renowned pianists who have not participated in the Chopin Competition, including Louis Lortie, Hélène Grimaud, Marc André Hamelin, Cyprien Katsaris, Makoto Ozone, Kevin Chen, Paolo Giacometti, and Andreas Staier.
The Ensembles
The festival presented regular concerts by world-class musical ensembles, including chamber, vocal, and symphonic formations. As a cornerstone of the program, these ensembles will showcase Polish music, from Chopin to Malawski, Szymanowski, Wajnberg, Lutosławski, and more. This year’s festival featured performances by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antonio Pappano, the KBS Symphony Orchestra from Korea conducted by Pietari Inkinnen, the Kammerorchester Basel, Philippe Herreweghe’s Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, among others.
About Chopin and His Europe Festival
About Chopin and His Europe Festival
What were the origins of the Chopin and his Europe Festival and what was (and still is) the idea behind the event? Listen to what Stanislaw Leszczynski has to say about the history of the Festival, historical instruments, Polish music and more in the first of a series of video features summarising the twentieth anniversary of Chopin and His Europe.
(In Polish – English subtitles are available.)
Marc André Hamelin, Piano Recital
Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall
Program: Paul Dukas [1865 –1935] Piano Sonata in E flat minor Robert Schumann [1810 –1856] Forest Scenes, Op. 82 Maurice Ravel [1875 –1937] Gaspard de la nuit
Chamber concert – Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall
Program: Ludwig van Beethoven [1770 –1827] String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131 Juliusz Zarębski [1854 –1885] Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 34
Performers: YULIANNA AVDEEVA piano BELCEA QUARTET CORINA BELCEA violin SUYEON KANG violin KRZYSZTOF CHORZELSKI viola ANTOINE LEDERLIN cello
Symphonic concert – Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall
Program: Fryderyk Chopin [1810 –1849] Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21 Jean Sibelius [1865 –1957] Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Performers: ERIC LU piano KBS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PIETARI INKINEN conductor
Symphonic concert – Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall
Program: Feliks Janiewicz Violin Concerto No. 5 in E minor Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concerto No. 9 ‘Jenamy’ in E flat major, K. 271
Performers: CHOUCHANE SIRANOSSIAN violin TOMASZ RITTER fortepiano MAKOTO OZONE fortepiano {OH!} ORCHESTRA MARTYNA PASTUSZKA violin, artistic director
Piano Recital – Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall
Program: Ludwig van Beethoven [1770 –1827] Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1 Piano Sonata in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 Fryderyk Chopin [1810 –1849] Rondo in C minor, Op. 1 Mazurkas, Op. 68 Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57 Ferenc Liszt [1811 –1886] Années de pèlerinage. Première année. Suisse, S. 160
Performer: SZYMON NEHRING
Complete festival program:
festiwal.nifc.pl/en/2024/kalendarium/
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