Decent renditions of Baroque music, a performance by a charismatic cellist, a recital from an artist who plays the pianoforte or a full-bodied symphonic vision of the Genesis. The inauguration of the 49th edition of the Wratislavia Cantans is to begin in less than two months' time (Opening on 5 September, Finale on 14 September), so it is high time to choose which events are not to be missed during the Festival.
Absolute highlights
Surely, the inauguration (5 September in Mary Magdalene's Church). Not only because the performance will be conducted by the Artistic Director of the Festival, Giovanni Antonini (his ensemble, Il Giardino Armonico, will also take part), but most of all because of the repertoire that includes two Magnificats by two Baroque giants, J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. The event is going to be interesting, that's for sure.
The performance by the cellist Giovanni Sollima is also likely to become one of the greatest hits of the festival. The native of Sicily (born in Palermo) attracts extreme emotions: you either disapprove of him or you fall in love with his style and temperament. Either of the two. We are yet to find out how his performance will be received at the Cistercian Abbey in Lubiąż (6 September), but Cecilia Bartoli's performance from a decade ago may give us some clues as to what may happen. Reportedly, she was not allowed to sing in the church because her voice was too sensual. Will Lubiąż Abbey take a liking to the passionate Sollima? We are yet to find out.
Mr GGG to strut his stuff
The grass is always greener? Wait! Our grass is just as green! Works by the Polish Baroque master Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki are really good and are nothing to be ashamed of. What is more, they attract quite a lot of interest in European audiences that always crave something new. It would be nice if the Polish audience also took a liking to Mr GGG's artistic output. This is where Andrzej Kosendiak comes into play. He has released a fantastic LP with Gorczycki's compositions, and he is going to offer an instrumental and vocal performance of these works on 9 September in St Mary Magdalene's Church.
It's not only the piano. It is worth knowing that the piano has a number of respectable ancestors, such as the pianoforte, which was designed and built by Bartolomeo Christofori at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Kristian Bezuidenhout is now the best ambassador of this remarkable time machine and he will take us on a journey to Haydn's and Mozart's Vienna (12 September in the Stara Giełda [Old Bourse] building). We will travel to the accompaniment of the sounds that were commonly heard in the composers' era.
A mystic, a man immersed in sounds, and at the same time a surprisingly organised and specific person. The man in question is Philippe Herreweghe. The Belgian conductor, who has already visited Wroclaw this winter to give a performance to celebrate the Bach Academy, is coming again with the programme featuring the works by the master of the English Baroque, Henry Purcell. The programme offers a number of highlights, including Ode to St Cecilia (patron saint of music) "Hail, Bright Cecilia". The performance is scheduled for 13 September in St Mary Magdalene's Church.
McMaestro creates the world in just over two hours
Paul McCreesh is an extremely likeable person. Especially when he conducts The Creation, an immense oratorio by Joseph Haydn in its English version (the work is also available in German). McCreesh has released an LP with the work and has once conducted it in Wroclaw, but there is never enough of his renditions. Especially when the English conductor explains how Haydn makes the earth moan under the burden of animals or how the majestic sun appears on the horizon. The performance will feature soloists, the Gabrieli Players Orchestra and the Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir. The performance will serve as the festival's finale and will be held on 14 September in St Mary Magdalene's Church.
Wratislavia without standing tickets
The prices of the tickets for the festival will remain the same for the entire summer holiday, and unfortunately they will be high (tickets for the most popular performances in St Mary Magdalene's Church are available at 110 PLN (regular), 90 PLN (admission), tickets for other performances are available at 70 PLN and 50 PLN, respectively). For the time being, the organisers are not planning to include standing tickets in the offer, but cheaper tickets will surely be available. This is the Festival's tradition, even though fewer and fewer music lovers are planning to buy standing tickets for several performances. A large number of people prefer to attend just two or three performances. Their wallets are often much thinner immediately after the holiday.
More information on the performance hours and the festival's detailed programme is avaialable at www.wratislaviacantans.pl
Magdalena Talik
