Across the country, classical music fans are finding creative ways to experience the legacy of Fryderyk Chopin - the Polish-born composer whose works continue to inspire pianists around the world.
Seven cities across Poland have opened so-called “meloman zones” - public listening areas named after the Polish word for music lover - where audiences can enjoy live broadcasts of the competition free of charge.
Seven cities across Poland have established so-called "meloman zones," where the public can listen to live broadcasts of the Chopin Competition free of charge. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz
These zones, including one at Plac Defilad in central Warsaw, are designed to make the prestigious event more accessible to those who cannot attend in person.
Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz
In the Polish capital, the atmosphere of the Chopin Competition has spread well beyond the concert hall.
At Warsaw Central Station, travellers can step onto "musical stairs" that play piano notes with every step, turning an ordinary descent into a playful melody.
Video: Monika Piorun/Radio Poland
A special tram featuring live piano performances runs through the city streets, turning veryday commutes into moving recitals.
The Warsaw Metro has also joined in the celebrations, with several trains wrapped in designs inspired by Chopin's music and the competition's visual motifs - a reminder that, for these few weeks, the spirit of the composer seems to travel across the city itself.
In the northern port city of Gdańsk, for example, listeners gather along the Baltic coast to hear performances broadcast from the Warsaw stage.
The Meloman Zone in Gdańsk, a city on the northern coast of Poland along the Baltic Sea, allows the public to listen for free to broadcasts of the Chopin Competition, which is being held in Warsaw, the capital od Poland. Photo: PAP/Marcin Gadomski
The Chopin Competition, held every five years, is one of the most respected events in the world of classical music. This year’s edition began with 84 pianists from around the globe, with 11 finalists now competing for the top prize.
Among them is Piotr Alexewicz from Wrocław in southwestern Poland, the only Polish pianist to reach the final round.
Piotr Alexewicz from Wrocław in southwestern Poland is the only Polish pianist to reach the final round of the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz
The winners will be announced late Monday evening during a ceremony at the Warsaw Philharmonic’s Mirror Hall, traditionally broadcast live on YouTube and on the event’s official website run by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute.
The live stream is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Warsaw time.
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