The festival began with a concert in the southern city of Katowice featuring string quartets by early-19th-century Polish composers Stanisław Moniuszko, Józef Elsner, Franciszek Lessel and Karol Kurpiński, along with songs by Fryderyk Chopin performed by Ukrainian-born Polish soprano Olga Pasiecznik.
This year's theme, "Afterimages and Afterglows," is described by organisers as "a metaphor for subtle illusions and lasting impressions that linger long after the lights go out and the last sound fades away."
According to the festival's website, the programme offers "a journey to the turn of the century, the birth of modernity and the end of grand musical narratives"—taking audiences "from classical masterpieces to modern reinterpretations, from sacred and meditative music to the grotesque and dance, from traditional to experimental."
More than a dozen concerts are planned in nine Polish cities and in Bucharest, Romania.
This year’s festival includes tributes to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who turned 90 this year; Romanian composer George Enescu, marking the 70th anniversary of his death; and two Lithuanian composers — Vytautas Bacevičius, born 120 years ago, and Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, born 150 years ago.
Other highlights include performances of Krzysztof Penderecki's St. Luke’s Passion in Warsaw, Lusławice—where the Polish composer lived—and his hometown of Dębica.
The lineup features works by Croatian composer Berislav Šipuš and Serbia’s Vladan Parać, and performances by Lithuanian-born violinist Julian Rachlin and symphony orchestras from Poland, Croatia and Romania.
The festival runs until December 7.
(mk/gs)