Wroclaw in 2016 takes over (together with San Sebastian) as the European Capital of Culture, and the only concert by David Gilmour in Poland is a perfect foretaste of what the ECC has in store. With its impressive repertoire and popularity, the musician is bound to be one of the artistic highlights in Wroclaw in 2016.
Gilmour in Wroclaw
According to preliminary information, David Gilmour is going to perform in Wroclaw in collaboration with the great jazz pianist Leszek Możdżer.
David Gilmour in Poland
David Gilmour has visited Poland only once so far. The artist, who came to Poland in 2006 to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Solidarity movement, gave a performance called "The Space of Freedom" right at the very heart of the Gdańsk Shipyard. Gilmour had just released his third solo album at the time ("On An Island"), and while in Gdańsk he performed with the Gdańsk Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zbigniew Preisner. Apart from philharmonic musicians, he was also accompanied Pink Floyd's keyboard player Richard Wright (died two years later) and Leszek Możdżer. The collaboration from the two Polish musicians was no courtesy on Gilmour's part, since both Preisner and Możdżer contributed in the studio recording of his album. The Gdańsk Shipyard performance was recorded and released as CD and DVD
Pink Floyd never made it to Poland
It is worth noting that David Gimour;s mother band, Pink Floyd, one of the absolute rock legends, never made it to Poland, even as they were promoting "The Division Bell" in 1994 and came on a tour to to the nearby Prague. Another former Pink Floyd member and their ex-leader, Roger Waters, came on his first visit to Poland in 2006 and, interestingly, a day after Gilmour Gdańsk Shipyard concert. His performance was quite unusual, though, as he came to Poland with an opera. "Ca Ira" had its world première in Poznań, and the spectacle was directed by Janusz Józefowicz. Waters later followed with two normal gigs which he gave five and seven years later. In April 2011 he gave two performances at the Atlas Arena in Łódź, and in August 2013 at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Nick Mason, Pink Floyd's drummer, also visited Poland. He came in a literary capacity to promote his book "Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd" in October 2005.
David Gilmour and Pink Floyd
Gilmour joined Pink Floyd following their début album "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn". He was taken on as a replacement for Syd Barret, who plunged into drugs and hallucination. The next album "Saucerful of Secrets" was created with Gilmour's full contribution. Gilmour recorded a number of albums with Pink Floyd, including the absolute canon of rock music such as the celebrated "The Dark Side Of The Moon" or "The Wall". He also stood the test of Roger Waters's decision to leave Pink Floyd in 1985 and the ensuing legal battle for the rights to use the band's name. Recently, he has released "The Endless River" under the old brand and in collaboration with Nick Mason.
Gilmour also made his solo debut in 1978 with "David Gilmour", while "On An Island" was preceded by one more record, namely the exquisite "About Face" in 1984. He has also collaborated with The Orb ("Metallic Spheres").
Davida Gilmour is commonly known as one of the best rock guitarists ever. He is now preparing a solo record called "Rattle That Rock".
