A project like no other! During Poland's presidency of the European Union, the World Jewish Philharmonic will perform on 19 June at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. This unique orchestra brings together musicians and prominent figures from the music world representing thirty countries — from Singapore to the United States and Argentina, from Germany to Israel.
This remarkable orchestra will be led by the distinguished conductor and Artistic Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège – Gergely Madaras. Joining the ensemble will be extraordinary soloists: soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, star of the world’s greatest opera stages and recipient of the International Opera Award; outstanding violinist and the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Guy Braunstein; mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital, winner of the prestigious Echo Klassik award; and klezmer music legend Giora Feidman, whose performances can be heard in the films Schindler’s List and Love Story. These artists will bring a unique vibrancy to the Wrocław concert.
The concert carries a universal message of friendship and respect. The idea behind inviting nearly one hundred individuals connected to Jewish culture was to unite people through music and within music. The magic of this project lies in the numerous artistic and personal connections that form an international network.
These values are also reflected in the choice of repertoire: from klezmer and world music to operatic arias and Henryk Wieniawski’s virtuosic violin concerto, all the way to Gustav Mahler’s great work – his most famous and most frequently performed Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor. It's worth noting that the fourth movement of this piece, the renowned Adagietto, has been used many times in film, including in Luchino Visconti’s Death in Venice.
The project is organized by the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland. It has been co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for the Promotion of Culture – a state earmarked fund. This is an official cultural event of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.