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Polish Foreign Ministry promotes Chopin piano competition

17.10.2021 10:51
The Polish Foreign Ministry has released a special video showing Secretary of State Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk performing the famous Minute Waltz by Polish composer and virtuoso Fryderyk Chopin.
A statue of the great Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) in Warsaws Łazienki Park. Pixabay License
A statue of the great Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) in Warsaw's Łazienki Park. Pixabay LicenseImage by Jacek Dopieralski from Pixabay

In the video, the diplomat encourages viewers to follow the final stage of the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, currently underway in Poland's capital Warsaw.

In the video, Szynkowski vel Sęk speaks about Chopin’s oeuvre and its links with Polish diplomacy.

"The competition’s namesake, Fryderyk Chopin, did not just weave patriotic motifs into his composition, such as the ‘Revolutionary Etude,’ composed in Paris," the Secretary of State said.

According to Szynkowski vel Sęk, "the composer also used his music directly to support the Polish cause, playing in the salons of influential foreign aristocrats."

The Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, commonly known in English as the Minute Waltz, was composed in 1847 and dedicated to the Polish Countess Delfina Potocka. 

Twelve finalists of the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, including two Polish pianists, were announced on Saturday. In the final stage, kicking off on Monday, they will perform one of Chopin’s Piano Concertos.

(ał)

Source: gov.pl