Names include Alexander Kantorov, First Prize winner of this year’s Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow; Charles Richard-Hamelin, Second Prize winner of the 2015 Chopin Competition in Warsaw; Ian Fountain, winner of the 1989 Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv; and Poland’s Janusz Olejniczak, a prizewinner of the 1970 Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
The International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki is the oldest music festival in Poland. Launched in 1946, it is now in its 74th edition.
It commemorates Chopin’s stay in the spa in 1826. The composer was 16 years old when he came to Duszniki, then Bad Reinerz, for treatment and gave two benefit concerts.
The event runs until August 10.
The long list of famous pianists who have performed in Duszniki over the years includes Vladimir Ashkenazy, Bella Davidovich, Garrick Ohlsson and Krystian Zimerman.
(mk/gs)