More than just a score
The Latin name of the Non Sola Scripta Festival means "more than just a score" and it also serves as its motto. "The mystery behind it is that each and every concert of ours offers room for improvisation," explains Andrzej Chorosiński, an eminent organist and Artistic Director of the Wroclaw Summer Organ Days. "It's not only the score that counts but also what the organist can do with it," adds Professor Chorosiński.
Star performers
This year's edition of the festival offers a wealth of organ, vocal (tenor Rev Zdzisław Madej) or piano (famous jazzman Adam Makowicz) improvisations. The are several purely organ recitals (26 July and 2 August) while the remaining events (all of them held at the Holy Cross Collegiate in Ostrów Tumski) combine the organ with other instruments and vocals.
The star performers of this year;s festival include: Andrzej Chorosiński (the grand opening on 28 June), Piotr Rojek (12 July), Jean-Christophe Geiser (26 July), Andreas Liebig (2 August) and jazz pianist Adam Makowicz (the grand finale on 23 August).
The city of the organ
There is one simple reason why Wroclaw is an ideal place for the organ music to resound. This is where Frederic Chopin made a stop with a sole purpose to listen to the master organist of the Wroclaw Cathedral (it is quite likely that the composer also played the instrument himself). Interestingly, the Centennial Hall's opening was postponed by a year to complete the installation of a monumental organ in its interior (after the war, selected elements of the instrument were transferred to the cathedral). Sadly, the number of other beautiful organ pieces in Wroclaw has thinned out. Some of them were saved while other are waiting for the funding necessary for their restorations (e.g. the organ at the University Church).
Line-up
- 28 June, 7 p.m. Andrzej Chorosiński (organ), Wratislavia Trumpet Consort (trumpet quartet). The programme includes works by Benjamin Britten (20th century), Samuel Scheidt (16th century) and Galina Gorelova (21st century).
- 5 July, 7 p.m. Zdzisław Madej (tenor), Henryk Botor (organ), Michał Chorosiński (recitation). The programme includes works by J.S. Bach.
- 12 July, 7 p.m. Piotr Rojek (organ), Ryszard Żołędziewski (saxophone). The programme includes works by Maurice Ravel and Jules Massenet (19th century).
- 19 July, 7 p.m. Bernhard Gfrerer (organ), Domkantorei Schleswig (choir). The programme includes works by Arvo Pärt (20th/21st century) and J.S. Bach.
- 26 July, 7 p.m. Jean-Christophe Geiser (organ). The programme includes works by J.S. Bacha and Louis Vierne (19th century).
- 2 August, 7 p.m. Andreas Liebig (organ). The programme includes works by J.S. Bach and César Franck (19th century).
- 9 August, 7 p.m. Franz Loerch (organ), Romuald Erenc (Spanish guitar). The programme includes works by J.S. Bach.
- 16 August, 7 p.m. Roman Perucki (organ), Maria Perucka (violin). The programme includes works by Feliks Nowowiejski (the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries) and Josef Rheinsberger (19th century).
- 23 August, 7 p.m. Adam Makowicz (piano), Marek Stefański (organ). The programme includes works by J.S. Bach.
Tickets to all events are available at 15 PLN (concessions) and 20 PLN (adults). Access to the grand finale performance is August costs 30 PLN.
They are available for sale before the event. Concerts are held every Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Holy Cross Collegiate in Ostrów Tumski.
