The National Centre for Culture (NCK), together with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, is inviting the public to the 5th Euphonies International Festival of Central and Eastern European Music in Warsaw from 17 to 25 November.

The event will be inaugurated by the world-renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Olari Elts. The finale will feature Krzysztof Penderecki’s Utrenja – both parts of the monumental work in one concert will be performed in Warsaw for the first time since 1971.

According to Prof. Rafał Wiśniewski, director of the festival, for nine days around seven hundred and fifty artists from twelve countries will perform on the festival stages, including eight orchestras, three choirs, nine conductors and twelve soloists. “We will hear music by composers from fifteen countries, including world premieres. I hope that the festival concerts will be an inspiring experience for audiences and artists alike, and a source of musical discovery”, said Prof Wiśniewski.

Most of the concerts will be available to follow online. Broadcasts and rebroadcasts of selected concerts will be heard on Polish Radio 2.

“The fifth anniversary is a small jubilee and it is time for the first summaries. The Euphonies are filling a gap and consistently building their position and recognition in the musical Poland. It is one of the key areas of Poland’s international activity, as well as a culturally important point of reference for us”, said Dr Jarosław Sellin, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

The leitmotif of the 5th festival of Euphonia is folk traditions reflecting national identity and being an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists. The festival programme includes 14 events, which will include premieres or unique projects combining music and film. The festival will feature live performances of works by composers such as Karol Szymanowski, Bedřich Smetana, Jean Sibelius, Andrzej Panufnik and Franz Liszt.

Adrian Andrzejewski