Wroclaw's NFM more popular than concert halls in Budapest
The NFM Director Andrzej Kosendiak received a lot of positive feedback following the conclusion of the Wratislavia Cantans Festival. "We're now talking about specific shows and not something general like whether it is worth visiting Wroclaw," says Andrzej Kosendiak. The NFM's Main Hall was used in recordings by Paul McCreesh (the "Seasons" oratorio by Haydn) and the Italian Maestro Giovanni Antonini, who is also this year's Wratislavia Cantans Artistic Director (Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 featuring the Kammerorchester Basel). Ivàn Fischer and his Budapest Festival Orchestra are finalising the details of their recording, despite a new concert hall recently opened in Budapest. Fischer and his ensemble are now also negotiating the details of their next performance, their previous show being one of the most sensational events throughout the 2015/2016 season.
Star performers at the NFM in 2016/2017:
- 7 October 2016: Sofya Gulyak, Giancarlo Guerrero, NFM Wroclaw Philhramonic Orchestra - commencement of the season
- 20 October 2016: Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
- 25 October 2016: Winners of 15. Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition
- 18 November 2016: Wayne Shorter - 13. Jazztopad Festival
- 19 November 2016: Piotr Anderszewski, NFM Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra
- 20 November 2016: Piotr Anderszewski, Lutosławski Quartet
- 24 November 2016: Zoltàn Kocsis, Hungarian National Philharmonic- as part of the Hungarian Culture Season in Poland
- 27 November 2016: Hugh Masekela - 13. Jazztopad Festival
- 30 and 31 December 2016: Jan Lisiecki, Daniel Raiskin, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Grażyna Wolszczak - New Year's Eve concerts
- 2 February 2017: Mariss Jansons, Waltraud Meier, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
- 3 February 2017: Kate Liu, George Tchitchinadze, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
- 8 March 2017: Akram Khan Company
- 24 March 2017: Eiji Oue, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
- 7 April 2017: Leszek Możdżer, Marek Moś, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
- 9 April 2017: Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
- 21 April 2017: Gabriel Chmura
- 12 May 2017: Jacek Kaspszyk
- 19 May 2017: John Zorn, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou - commencement of the TAURON|MEN Festival
- 9 June 2017: Stanisław Skrowaczewski
- 10 June 2017: Staatskapelle Dresden
- 13 June 2017: Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
- 30 June 2017: Andrzej Boreyko
New NFM conductor? Coming soon
For Andrzej Kosendiak, the success of the National Forum of Music has come as a result of a diverse cultural and tourism opportunities of Wroclaw and the promotional effect of the European Capital of Culture 2016. "Wroclaw is now perceived as a prestigious cultural location, and the National Forum of Music as a venue that guarantees top artistic quality," says Andrzej Kosendiak, who has just returned from Warsaw with the award Coryphaeus of Polish Music for the Best Event (the opening of the NFM). "We're building a brand, a good reputations and prestige. Both for the ensembles we are working with and the festivals that we organise at the NFM. A good ensemble, mind you, has little chance to become exquisite without superb conductors and perfect performance settings," points out Andrzej Kosendiak. The NFM is now in the process of seeking a new artistic director for the orchestra. The decision requires thorough consideration. The conductor will lend his face to the NFM and should be recognised by the musicians and music enthusiasts alike.
Rock music shows sold out
Apart from the NFM-organised events, the venue is also let to external parties. "We won't let the venue to anybody. The line-up must be really interesting," says Andrzej Kosendiak. Two shows by King Crimson in September attracted a massive audience while Apocalyptica sold out the tickets many months prior to their concert at the NFM.
Read more about massive attendance figures and the artistic achievements in the first season of the NFM's activity NFM: debut season in figures.
