Continuing the idea from last year, the 52nd International Festival Wratislavia Cantans will uncover the unjustly forgotten Wroclaw treasures. This time, the treasures are the musical works hidden on the 'special collections' shelves of the Wroclaw University Library.
Valuable pieces of music began to be gathered in the capital of Lower Silesia as early as the nineteenth century. Then, according to the instructions of Frederick William III, hundreds of musical manuscripts, old prints and volumes from Lower Silesian religious collections were brought to libraries in Wroclaw. Later on, an attempt was made to assemble all materials in one spot, the Wroclaw University. Although much of them were lost during the war, the Wroclaw University Library still stands out in Europe as a repository of knowledge about the musical culture of Lower Silesia. In addition to the original local works, the collection features unique editions of Italian compositions popular in Wroclaw, such as the first publications of Monteverdi's works, which were issued in print during the life of the artist. The collections of the university, with the earliest dating back to the 15th century, are extremely valuable not only to musicians but also to performers. Many of these compositions have been waiting to be performed for several hundred years.
One of the highlights of the concert at the Wroclaw City Hall is a guest performance of Tomáš Král, a Czech baritone, focused primarily on the performance of early music. His musical interest are divided between solo activity and vocal ensemble. First and foremost, he is associated with the Prague Collegium Vocale 1704, however he also works with other groups, including the French ensemble Doulce Mémoire. In addition to the canon of early music, the singer's repertoire will feature fewer known pieces, including the works of Josef Antonin Plánický, a Czech Baroque composer. During this unique meeting in the very heart of Wroclaw Tomáš Král will surely prove a great performer of the musical treasures of Lower Silesia. The artist will be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble.