Archiwum 2012
NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA AT THE CONGRESS HALL
We are just past a grand event of the New Year's Eve of 2012. A star of a worldwide format, Aleksandra Kurzak, has performed during the Gala in the Congress Hall.
Guest performers of this splendid opera singer were : the great Italian tenor Francesco Demuro alongside Anna Dereszowska and Maciej Miecznikowski. During this evening the soloists were accompanied by the eminent Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra, conducted by the Russian Maestro Evgeny Volynsky.
WORLD CHRISTMAS IN WARSAW
This year, one more Christmas present was awaiting us at the end of the Holidays.
In St. John's Cathedral in Warsaw's Old Town, Angelique Kidjo performed a special Christmas repertoire.
On December 28, at 20.30 hrs., St. John's Cathedral in Warsaw hosted the performance from Angelique Kidjo, one of the most charismatic and most eminent African vocalists.
Best-selling albums, applause of the public and critical acclaim are the proof of the praise given to this phenomenal Benin-born artist, often referred to as “the icon of Afro-music.” The African vocalist has gained recognition from both the critics and the public thanks to her extraordinary voice and stage presence. Grammy Award-winner collaborates with world's leading musicians the likes of Carlos Santana, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Peter Gabriel, Erykah Badu and Ziggy Marley.
In the words of Peter Gabriel, she's an artist whose “spirit cannot be stifled: she can give life into anything she touches.”
Music is not the only thing that matters in her life. Kidjo is very committed to charity work, she has founded "The Batonga Foundation" promoting girls' education in Africa, and since 2002, she's been the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
During her concert in Warsaw, the artist performed Christmas songs and the acoustic versions of her hits from “Djin Djin” album.
THE GREAT ILLUMINATION
What will the new Christmas decoration of our capital look like? We found out on Saturday, December 1, when the entire Royal Route, The Old and New Town, and finally, the 27-metre high Christmas tree on the Castle Square, began to shine. And all that during an event for everyone prepared by Stołeczna Estrada.
The Christmas decorations shined once again, inviting everyone to “Fall in Love with Warsaw on Christmas.” On Saturday, December 1, at 16:00 hrs., on the Castle Square, live concert “The Great Illumination” began. Like every year, it was an event filled with magical atmosphere and overwhelming emotions. The surprises held in store for that occasion amazed us throughout the evening, in anticipation of the climax which was the spectacular lighting of Warsaw's Christmas tree.
Polish public's favourites took to the stage. Four-time 2012 Fryderyk Award-winner Ania Rusowicz, who has rapidly conquered the hearts of Polish audience with her musical authenticity. Natalia Kukulska invited to the concert her young friends from the SOS Children's Villages who performed a winter song she wrote for them and whom she supports as the ambassador of the project. That night, we also heard Kuba Badach with his band and the now famous “Got Talent” contenders, Sound & Grace choir which warmed up the crowd gathered on the Castle Square with their energy and spirit.
The unquestioned star of the concert was Andrzej Piaseczny who, with his warm and magnetising voice, brought the spirit and the atmosphere of the coming holidays to Warsaw on December 1.
During the concert, the artists performed their greatest hits and enchanted us with some well-known Christmas tunes.
THE 68TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WARSAW UPRISING
July 31, at 20.00 hrs., Krasinski Square
On the evening of July 31, on Krasinski Square, the 68th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising was commemorated by an extraordinary multimedia show, “1944 – THE CITY – 2012,” prepared by Stołeczna Estrada.
“Every year, we meet on Krasinski Square with the people of Warsaw to, once again, use the artistic means to tell the dramatic story of our city,” said Andrzej Matusiak, Director at Stołeczna Estrada.
The show was directed by theatre actor, Jacek Bończyk. The screenplay was based on the works of Jacek Kaczmarski, Czesław Miłosz, Zygmunt Konieczny and of the authors who wrote during the Warsaw Uprising (Zbigniew Jasiński “Rudy” and Mieczysław Ubysz “Vik” – announcer at the insurgent radiostation “Błyskawica” [Lightning]). The title of the show is at the same time the title of Czesław Miłosz's poem, “Miasto” (The City).
“1944 – THE CITY – 2012” is a story about Warsaw, both that from the time of the Uprising and the contemporary one. Using the multimedia technology, props and choreography, we will travel in time, between j1944 and 2012. This will allow us to feel the atmosphere of those days, as well as see our capital as a reborn, living city, a European metropolis.
An important element of the show are the multimedia effects. In the background, we will see contemporary photos of a lively city, full of movement and life, which will smoothly change into the black and white world. Photographs will be processed like drawings in a film notebook: comic- or drawing-turned photos.
Written and Directed by:
Jacek Bończyk.
Cast: Piotr Machalica, Tomasz Stańko, Piotr „Glaca” Mohamed, Jacek Bończyk, Anna Sroka, Klementyna Umer, Agnieszka Fajlhauer, Marta Kuszakiewicz, Marta Walesiak, Beatrycze Łukaszewska, Jacek Zawada, Przemysław Glapiński, Arkadiusz Brykalski
Dancers: Mirosław Woźniak, Mariusz Bocianowski, Michał Zawadka.
Choreography by: Inga Piechowska.
Production Design by: Grzegorz Policiński.
Make-up by: Hubert Grabowski.
Costume Design by: Katarzyna Adamczyk.
Films produced by: Newmotion Studios.
12TH MUSIC GARDENS
This year's festival's guest of honour was the Republic of Cyprus which, starting July 1, 2012, took over the Presidency of the European Union. The “Cypriot” Music Gardens in Warsaw took off a day later – on July 2. During the festival, we were not only able to listen to music from Cyprus but also from the Mediterranean countries. Hence the festival's title: “In the Shade of Cypress.”
The main idea of the festival is presenting original phenomena, little known in Poland. Festival guests, eminent Polish writers, artists and travellers, will talk about the links between Polish and Mediterranean culture. However, Music Gardens festival is, first and foremost, as usual, about film, opera, ballet, concerts and encounters, in other words... good music: live and on screen.
Opera and film
The film-opera repertoire of the 12th Music Gardens included works from Verdi and Dionizetti with stories taking place in the Mediterranean countries. They will be: Rigoletto, taking place in Mantua, Italia, awarded last year at the Golden Prague Festival, and Otello with the story taking place in Cyprus. Mediterranean culture mostly means Greece and... mythology which, with the passing of years and with the development of culture, kept changing constantly. So, in Warsaw's Grand Theatre, director Mariusz Treliński staged “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Christofer Willibald Glück, moving the plot to our times, to a modern apartment building. An excellent production, magnificent cast: Olga Pasiecznik and Wojciech Gierlach and an innovative film-like transfer of the plot, prepared by the National Audiovisual Institute – the show premieres at the Music Gardens on July 15. Another mythical theme is presented in Jakub Offenbach's “Orpheus in the Underworld”, directed by Marc Minkowski, one of the most interesting stagings of this work, deserving particular attention, directed by Laurent Pelly, with outstanding performances by Natalie Dessay and Laurent Naouri (1997). The festival programme also includes documentaries produced by Cypriot TV which will show the culture of Cyprus, its landmarks from different periods, styles and religions. What promises to be especially interesting is the presentation of the portrait of Mikis Theodorakis that includes his works, tightly linked to the roots of Greek music.
Film and Ballet
12th Music Gardens also presents exceptional ballet shows. The repertoire includes French productions, such as the “Octopus” ballet – a revelation of this year's Golden Prague festival when it comes to dance/movement. It's the artwork of Philipp Decouffle – choreographer and director who uses the human body in an innovative way, creating remarkably beautiful scenes and images in dance. 12th Music Gardens also bring two extraordinary events, two ballets by John Neumeier: “Saint Joseph” and his latest work, “Little Mermaid,” based on the tale by Andersen, prepared by the cast of the San Francisco Ballet and presented for the 70th birthday of the great choreographer.
Concerts
Concert programme of the “Music Gardens 2012 Festival” is all about the music culture of the Mediterranean. We will hear the masterpieces of the XX century music from France, Spain, Italy, as well as the traditional music form Cyprus and Lebanon. The star ensemble of this year's festival includes Elżbieta Chojnacka, a prominent, globally famous Polish harpsichord player, Agata Zubel, Maciej Grzybowski and the Italian Duo Alterno. The culmination and the crowning of the festival will undoubtedly be the concert from of the Cappella Mediterranea that will perform in the finale of the 12th Music Gardens in the programme Monteverdi – Piazzola.
The organiser of the festival is Music Gardens Foundation and the host – the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The principal co-organiser is Stołeczna Estrada. The patrons of the festival are Dalkia Group and its company in Warsaw - SPEC. It is also supported by: National Audiovisual Institute NInA, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Louis Hotels chain and language agency ATJ Lingwista. Main media patron is Agora group: Gazeta Wyborcza.pl, Gazeta.pl, Metro daily newspaper, Radio TOK.fm and AMS, as well as The Visitor. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and by the City of Warsaw.
Tickets and passes can be bought at the box offices in the Royal Castle, starting June 18, 2012.
12 DZIEKANKA FESTIVAL
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
The Capital City of Warsaw Municipal Office
Stołeczna Estrada
July - August
Wednesdays, 6 p.m.
Artistic Director – Ryszard Zimak
Master of Ceremonies – Andrzej Krusiewicz
4 VII RAVEL PIANO DUO
Agnieszka Kozło piano
Katarzyna Ewa Sokołowska piano
Programme: Chopin, Debussy, Mozart, Ravel
11 VII OUR LAUREATES
Magdalena Bojanowicz cello
Mischa Kozłowski piano
Aleksandra Mańkowska saxophone
Łukasz Chrzęszczyk piano
Programme: Beethoven, Martinů, Lutosławski, Swerts, Decruck, Piazzolla
18 VII ATOM STRING QUARTET
Dawid Lubowicz violin
Mateusz Smoczyński violin
Michał Zaborski viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski cello
Programme: pieces from the album „Places”
25 VII KLAUDIUSZ BARAN INVITES
Przemysław Wojciechowski
Tomasz Ostaszewski
Iwo Jedynecki
Andrzej Grzybowski
Jędrzej Jarocki
- accordions
Programme: Bach, Mozart, Khachaturian, Mendelssohn, Moniuszko, Mussorgsky, Piazzolla, Zolotarev
1 VIII LE PASSIONI DELL’ANIMA
Ludmiła Piestrak violin
Radosław Kamieniarz violin
Maciej Łukaszuk cello
Marcin Zalewski lute, viola da gamba
Jakub Dmeński harpsichord, artistic management
Programme: Leclair, Boismortier
8 VIII A VIOLIN WITH A POLISH SOUL
Master interpretations:
Krzysztof Jakowicz violin
Robert Morawski piano
Programme: Wieniawski, Paderewski, Kreisler, Szymanowski, Saint-Saëns
22 VIII PAWEŁ GUSNAR INVITES
Morpheus Saxophone Quartet:
Wojciech Psiuk
Alicja Szlempo
Szymon Nidzworski
Mateusz Majchrzak
- saxophones
Programme: Villa_lobos, Kowalski, Gershwin, Mancini, Iturralde, Gillespie, Wiberny
29 VIII CUP OF TIME
Agnieszka Cypryk violin
Ryszard Borowski flute, saxophones
Krzysztof Lenczowski cello, guitar
Rafał Grząka bandoneon, accordion
Programme: Namysłowski, Gardel, Lutosławski, Borowski, Barber, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Woods, Falla, Bacewicz, Monk, Bartók
DEEP FOREST
It's the fourth time that Museums at Night will include a special concert – the legendary group Deep Forest will play by the monument of Frédéric Chopin in the Royal Baths Park. It's the greatest musical event to make part of our capital's cultural night. On May 19, the artists will present their greatest hits and several new compositions from the album Deep Africa, which is to find its way to music stores this year. This event is organised by Stołeczna Estrada.
In the previous years, the evening concert during Museums at Night was at the same time a herald of the Chopin Concerts season beginning the following day. Although it is a separate event, also this year we can expect a reference to Chopin.
We asked the group to take into consideration the special place they'll be playing at and include in their programme a piece inspired by the music of Frédéric Chopin. I was very happy to see the artists undertake that task with great openness and genuine commitment, says Andrzej Matusiak, Director at Stołeczna Estrada.
The programme of the previous editions of the concerts was based on performances by eminent artists both from Poland and abroad, from the world of classical music, jazz, world music, sometimes including very interesting and unique fusions between them. In the previous years, Museums at Night hosted performances by: Steve Hackett and Randy Brecker with Włodek Pawlik, Michael Nyman, Motion Trio, Leszek Możdżer, Anna Serafińska and Joanna Ławrynowicz. Each year, the concert gathers a 5,000 - 6,000 strong public.
Deep Forest was founded in the mid '90s by Eric Mouquet, an outstanding Grammy Award-winning composer and musician. “This project is like a laboratory where I can experiment with different kinds of music,” says Mouquet. The formation is among the top world music artists. The musicians create a new kind of world music, sometimes called ethnic electronic, combining ethnic inspirations with electronic sounds and dance or chill-out rhythms. The group performed all over the world, including Europe, Japan, the U.S., Shanghai and Dakar. It gave one concert in Poland in 1996. They have released 6 albums that sold in millions of copies. The upcoming premiere of the album Deep Africa is a promise of discovery of new directions, combinations and influences in the ambient world music.
DEEP FOREST concert line-up: Eric Mouquet (keyboards), David Fall (drums), Alioune Wade (bass), Olyza (vocals), Aziz Sahmaoui (vocals), Inor Sotolongo (percussion)
WARSAW BOOK FAIR
In May, Warsaw becomes the reading capital of Poland. Not just due to the Book Fair, but also because of the 3rd edition of the Warsaw Book Fair which will take place on May 26 and 27 in Mariensztat Square. The programme of the Fair includes, among others, meetings with writers, theme zones, book promotions, workshops and educational for children. Admittance is free to all events. The Fair is organised by the City of Warsaw and Stołeczna Estrada, in collaboration with Murator EXPO and Targi Książki Ltd.
The nature of the Fair allows for everyone to be around books in public space and to meet different people who consider reading their passion and pleasure. The two-day event will be a true book feast any reading lover will be able to participate in.
“In the recent years, we've noticed how important it is to promote reading in an innovative way. We know that today, both the residents of Warsaw and the tourists not only seek interesting cultural events to spend their time but most of all, they want to participate in them. Hence the idea of creating special theme zones for children, comic-book fans, lovers of belles-lettres and poetry, that will have their animators,” says Andrzej Matusiak, Director at Stołeczna Estrada.
During the 3rd edition of the Fair, around 60 exhibitors will present their offers, among them the most important Polish publishers and Warsaw's bookshops and second-hand bookshops. Additionally, this year's edition of the Fair will be accompanied by workshops, lectures, meetings with authors and stage & music shows. There will be special guests at the event: winners of the Warsaw Literary Award.
It is no coincidence that the Fair takes place in the Mariensztat Square. It is the place where in the past such events used to take place.
“We want to bring back the tradition of this place on one hand, and give it contemporary character on the other. We also want to bring the authors and the exhibitors closer to the readers,” adds Andrzej Matusiak.
