Chopin and his Europe 2020
Chopin and his Europe 2020
A classic event (in every sense of the word), organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, the International Music Festival 'Chopin and his Europe' (now in its 16th edition) focuses on the work of Chopin through the masterpieces of both historial and contemporary artists, especially those from which he drew inspiration during his life.
Historically, the works of his friends, Polish composers, who although not as famous Chopin, undeniably created works of great value: Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński, Józef Nowakowski, Franciszek Lessel, Józef Krogulski, as well as those with whom Chopin co-created the musical world of Europe in the first half of the 19th century. As for contemporary performers, it is through them that every year, at the invitation of the Institute, perform at the festival - stars on the world stage, eminent chamber musicians, virtuososos of various instruments, conductors, excellent ensembles. Among those to have been invited to Warsaw many times are Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, Nelson Goerner, Garrick Ohlsson, Orchestra of the 18th century, Europa Galante, Collegium 1704, Sinfonia Varsovia... we think you get the point.
About the Chopin and his Europe
The Chopin and His Europe Festival is one of the most important international music projects to familiarize audiences with the Polish composer’s œuvre. It takes place every August in Warsaw.
In accordance with its title, the Festival showcases Fryderyk Chopin’s œuvre in the context of ‘his’ Europe, understood in four perspectives: Europe contemporary to him, pre-Chopin Europe, Europe after the great master’s death and, finally, the Europe of our time. For this reason, aside from works by Chopin himself, the repertoire played at the Festival also includes the music that inspired him, works by composers younger than he, and the reception of Chopin’s œuvre in music contemporary to us. An essential aesthetic premise of the program is to present and confront two performance movements: performance on historical and modern instruments. At the same time, of extraordinary significance is the presence of the most distinguished pianists, orchestras and ensembles – representing both the international and the Polish music world – at the Festival. Supported by the interpretations of the masters, the Festival also creates an opportunity for young artists now debuting on the concert stage to perform in such prestigious company.
Each successive edition of the Festival has a separate, unique program idea, not infrequently associated with celebrations of anniversaries important to music history, or with a desire to showcase some contemporary artist. The Festival, whose program is constructed based on three main concert offers – symphonic concerts, recitals and chamber concerts – is not averse to presenting freer Chopin-related inspirations. Various forms of far-from-classical perspectives on Chopin’s music are presented by including performances of such artists as jazz stars, songwriters and actors in the program. Beyond this, what remains key to the concept of Chopin and His Europe are top-class performances of Polish music, for instance works by Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński, Mieczysław Wajnberg, Józef Władysław Krogulski, Karol Kurpiński, Władysław Żeleński, Józef Nowakowski and Zygmunt Stojowski.
The Festival regularly hosts such soloists as Martha Argerich, Jan Lisiecki, Nelson Freire, Garrick Ohlsson, Yundi, Seong-Jin Cho, Yulianna Avdeeva, Nelson Goerner, Andreas Staier and Tobias Koch.