Chopinomania

What can you do in an astronomical observatory? Of course, you can look at the stars. In Kraków, though, you’ll also be able to listen!

Without doubt in the jubilee year celebrating the 200th anniversary of his birth, the greatest star in the classical music scene is Fryderyk Chopin. His oeuvre is being promoted in a variety of ways – organisers are going for bold stylistic connections or planning concerts in unusual locations. This is shown perfectly by the work of the Ludwig van Beethoven Association which, after inviting the fado star Misía to the Easter Festival with a programme inspired by the Polish composer’s works, has prepared a new project called Chopinomania. The concert cycle in three Polish cities is linked by the fact that the events will take place in public spaces rather than concert halls. The Kraków concert on 29 August will be held at the Jagiellonian University’s Astronomical Observatory (ul. Orla 171) ;while the others are taking place in Warsaw and Sopot.

During Chopinomania, pianist Krzysztof Jabłoński will certainly shine. He is a winner and juror at Chopin Competitions, who over the last year has given a recital to accompany the Kraków NATO summit, inaugurated the Chopin Year with a concert for the Polish Senate, was a guest at the Wiener Opernball 2010 and played with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jerzy Maksymiuk and Krzysztof Penderecki. He will be accompanied by the Beethoven Academy Orchestra conducted by Michał Dworzyński. They will perform both Piano concerti and Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante in E flat major – all truly exceptional works which require both technical brilliance and great musical sensitivity from the soloist. Although Jabłoński has stated that he doesn’t feel he is a Chopin specialist, he has shown that he has traits required to perform the Polish composer’s works on many occasions.

The remaining concerts in the cycle also need to be mentioned: in the capital, the stage set will be a housing estate, and – as the name suggests! – the seaside concert will take place on Sopot’s pier. What’s more, the organisers are planning to create a comic or graffiti about Fryderyk Chopin to be presented in all three cities. (bs)