International Festival Wratislavia Cantans 2021. Who will perform. Tickets on sale

11.05.2021 06:29 |

Redakcja www.wroclaw.pl,

During this year's 56th edition of the Andrzej Markowski Wratislavia Cantans (3rd–12th September), we will listen to the concerts that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic a year ago. The stars will include the long-awaited mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, but also the pride of Wroclaw – soprano Agata Zubel, Klangforum Wien Ensemble, Huelgas Ensemble, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Il Giardino Armonico under the baton of Giovanni Antonini.

Festival in times of the pandemic

This year’s festival will be held under the motto Crossing Borders – although inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven’s works, it has become particularly valid in a broader context in the last few years. Luckily, artists will confront only musical barricades during concerts.

This year 15 concerts will be held in Wroclaw. One of their stars will be Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, who will present a modern program – works by Witold Lutosławski, Alban Berg and Luciano Berio.

But it may turn out that the biggest star of the festival will be a well-known Wroclaw artist – composer and soprano Agata Zubel, who will perform twice same day: she will present Arnold Schönberg’s legendary composition Pierrot lunaire with the famous instrumental band Klangforum Wien (with which she regularly collaborates) on 4^th September and has planned an evening with improvisations with organist Wolfgang Mitterer.

Lovers of early music can expect many surprises, including Pedro Memeldsorf with the Arlequin Philosophe ensemble and religious music in French Caribbeans in the years 1760–1790, which we will hear on 7^th September. Belgium’s Huelgas Ensemble with Paul van Nevel can enchant the audience again – on 8^th September, they will perform a program consisting of Italian motets and madrigals.

Another star will be Italy's Coro e Orchestra Ghislieri with Giulio Prandi (their program on the evening of 6^th September will include Dixit Dominus by Baldasare Galuppi, and one of the soloists will be the famous soprano Sandrine Piau).

In honour of Beethoven

On 5^th September, Quatuor Mosaïques will perform Beethoven's string quartets, closing the concert with the Grosse Fuge Op. 133. On the evening of the same day, Giovanni Antonini with the Il Giardino Armonico ensemble will perform Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus and Mass in C major.

Festival delicacies

What else is worth waiting for? On 10^th September, the audience of the National Forum of Music will see a concert conducted by Lawrence Foster, who will perform a modern repertoire with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and a soloist in György Ligeti’s Double concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra will be Jan Krzeszowiec, a flautist of the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic.

The performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14 by the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra conducted by the artistic director Joseph Swensen may become a big sensation on 11^th September.

And, on the last evening on 12^th September, the Bayerischen Rundfunks Choir will perform works by Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms.