The International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and demanding music competitions in the world. Every five years, the eyes of the artistic community turn to Wielkopolska region to witness the birth of new violin stars. For young virtuosos, this event is a gateway to global careers, recording contracts, and concerts on the most prestigious stages. One of the finalists of the 17th edition of the competition will perform with the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra. The artists will be conducted by Karolina Podorska.
The competition, consisting of several rounds, traditionally obliges participants to present a diverse and challenging repertoire. During the auditions, the audience can admire performances of violin miniatures and canonical violin concertos, the latter presented in the finals with an orchestra – including expressive works by Wieniawski. The young talents are judged by an international jury involving distinguished soloists, experienced teachers, and authorities on the music scene. This year, the jury will be chaired by Bartłomiej Nizioł, winner of the 1991 Poznań competition
The history of the Wieniawski Competition dates back to 1935. Its organisation – intended to commemorate Henryk Wieniawski’s birth centenary – was initiated by his nephew, Adam Wieniawski. The first edition, held in Warsaw, was won by France’s Ginette Neveu, with the legendary David Oistrakh taking second place. World War II forced a hiatus, and the idea was revived in 1952, moving the competition to Poznań, where it has been held regularly every five years since. Over the decades, the competition has become a cradle for dozens of renowned virtuosos and a magnet for the most outstanding talents. The joint performance of a competition finalist with the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra is another beautiful chapter in the rich history of this celebration of violin music.