Crossing Borders

In our times, the term crossing borders has acquired a special meaning. The issue is raised all over the world. The experience of living during the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined the concept of boundaries. For a virus, they just do not exist. Therefore, in a way we are all in a fairly similar situation. Of course, there are countries where the developments much more dramatic than anywhere else. This was the case in northern Italy, which was one of the first European countries to detect infections.

However, pushing boundaries also has a positive aspect when it comes to music. Composers’ journeys enabled them to grow by creating unique stylistic connections. The question of these mutual influences is fascinating. There were also times when the borders were closed. This was the case in Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union and countries under their control, where the performance of works by some composers was prohibited. Their inhabitants had very limited opportunities to learn about the latest trends in music. Fortunately, today, at least in our societies, we can learn about everything that the human brain is able to produce. Music crosses borders, in a way that is its essence. For this reason, it is a great treasure of humanity, something we must care for. The concept of border crossing in the context of Wratislavia Cantans will be looked at from various perspectives.

During the opening concert featuring the outstanding mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena and NFM Wrocław Philharmonic conducted by Duncan Ward, we will look at the relationship between music described as ‘classical’ and folk music. Another aspect of crossing borders will be taken up during the following two concerts, featuring Gaetano Pugnani’s Werther and Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire. The keynote of both works is the relationship between the spoken word and music. Agata Zubel and Wolfgang Mitterer will perform during the festival. It will be a late-night concert, during which the artists will improvise. We never know what will happen when improvisation comes into play, so it will be definitely a very exciting event.  

Quatuor Mosaïques, one of the best string quartets playing historical instruments, will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s pieces from the middle and late periods of his work. In the first decades of the 19th century, they were extremely progressive. Beethoven’s works will also sound during a concert under my direction, and I will conduct Il Giardino Armonico and the NFM Choir. Giulio Prandi and the Coro e Orchestra Ghislieri from Pavia will perform works of the late Baroque era. The concert conducted by Pedro Memelsdorff, a specialist in early music, will be very special. It is the result of the artist’s research into music performed in the then French colony of Haiti in the 18th century.

Paul Van Nevel and the Huelgas Ensemble, returning to Wrocław, will present works that crossed the boundaries of chromatics. The programme includes, among others works by Ciprian de Rore, Orlando di Lasso, Luca Marenzio, Giovanni de Macque and Michelangelo Rossi. They were very progressive composers. The excellent Zefiro Ensemble, conducted by Alfredo Bernardini, will perform one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masterpieces, the Serenade in B flat major ‘Gran Partita’. The programme of the concert also includes a composition totally different from the serenade, written about one hundred and fifty years later, i.e. the Ionisation by Edgar Varèse. It was the first work ever written solely for percussion.

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lawrence Foster will perform a programme entitled The Birth of Contemporary Music. It begins with the Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy, a piece from 1894. This is one of the most famous works of musical impressionism. This trend, along with expressionism, was one of the most important currents at the beginning of the 20th century. Expressionism is represented in the concert programme by Schoenberg’s Five Pieces for Orchestra. The Seven Early Songs by Alban Berg is a work full of poetic mood. Of all the composers representing the Second Viennese School, his work was the most lyrical. I also wanted to include in the programme the Double Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Orchestra by György Ligeti, who was one of the most important composers active in the second half of the 20th century. The programme of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra’s performance, conducted by Joseph Swensen, includes Symphony No. 14 by Dmitri Shostakovich. This concert will be dedicated to the memory of the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, which took place on 11 September 2001. Wrocław Baroque Ensemble and Andrzej Kosendiak will present works by Giacomo Carissimi and Kaspar Förster the Younger. By performing his works, Andrzej Kosendiak continues research in the field of early music.

Participants of the 45th Oratorio and Cantata Music Interpretation Course conducted by Benjamin Bayl will perform Alessandro Scarlatti’s opera La Giuditta. He was a very interesting Italian early Baroque composer, and I think his music deserves to be performed more frequently. The festival will close with a concert of the great Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks. The pandemic situation is very difficult for all of us, including musicians. The closing of concert halls was a sad necessity. Let us keep our fingers crossed for them to remain open.

Giovanni Antonini
Artistic Director of International Festival Wratislavia Cantans


 

Edition 2021
Wratislavia Cantans 1966 in the Eyes of its Protagonists
Meet the Artists of the Festival's 1st Edition
03.09.2021
Fri.
5:30 PM
NFM, foyer -3
Let All the World Sing
Kožená / Ward
03.09.2021
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Werther – Nowogrodziec
Wrocław Baroque Orchestra
03.09.2021
Fri.
7:30 PM
Nowogrodziec, Muza Arts Centre
Werther
Wrocław Baroque Orchestra
04.09.2021
Sat.
5:00 PM
Museum of Architecture
Beyond Silence – Legnica
Quatuor Mosaïques
04.09.2021
Sat.
7:00 PM
Legnica, Knights Academy, Royal Hall , Royal Hall
Pierrot lunaire
Zubel / Klangforum Wien
04.09.2021
Sat.
8:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Explosions
Zubel / Mitterer
04.09.2021
Sat.
11:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Beyond Silence
Quatuor Mosaïques
05.09.2021
Sun.
5:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
Giovanni Antonini – unvelling of a plaque
 
05.09.2021
Sun.
7:00 PM
plac Wolności
In the Light of Haydn
Antonini / Il Giardino Armonico
05.09.2021
Sun.
8:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
La Serenissima
Coro e Orchestra Ghislieri
06.09.2021
Mon.
7:00 PM
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Polish National Catholic Cathedral
Caribbean Concert Spirituel – Bolesławiec
Memelsdorff / Arlequin Philosophe
06.09.2021
Mon.
7:00 PM
Bolesławiec, Minor Basilica of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St Nicholas
The Roots of Singing – Syców
A cappella Leopolis
06.09.2021
Mon.
7:00 PM
Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Caribbean Concert Spirituel
Memelsdorff / Arlequin Philosophe
07.09.2021
Tue.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
The Roots of Singing – Bardo
A cappella Leopolis
07.09.2021
Tue.
7:30 PM
Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gran Partita – Szczawno-Zdrój
Zefiro Ensemble
08.09.2021
Wed.
7:00 PM
Szczawno-Zdrój, Henryk Wieniawski Theatre
Extreme Harmonies
Paul Van Nevel / Huelgas Ensemble
08.09.2021
Wed.
7:00 PM
Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St Bartholomew
The Roots of Singing – Krotoszyn
A cappella Leopolis
08.09.2021
Wed.
7:30 PM
Krotoszyn, Church of St John the Baptist
Energies Combined
Zefiro Ensemble
09.09.2021
Thu.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
Perseverance – Nysa
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
09.09.2021
Thu.
7:00 PM
Nysa, Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
The Roots of Singing – Głogów
A cappella Leopolis
09.09.2021
Thu.
7:00 PM
Głogów, Collegiate Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary
Extreme Harmonies – Strzegom
Paul Van Nevel / Huelgas Ensemble
09.09.2021
Thu.
7:00 PM
Strzegom, Basilica Minor of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
The Birth of Modern Music
Foster / NOSPR
10.09.2021
Fri.
7:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall
The Roots of Singing – Środa Śląska
A cappella Leopolis
10.09.2021
Fri.
7:00 PM
Środa Śląska, Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
La Giuditta – Bielawa
Aleksandra Rupocinska
10.09.2021
Fri.
7:30 PM
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Perseverance – Kłodzko
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
10.09.2021
Fri.
7:30 PM
Kłodzko, Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary
9/11: In Memoriam
NFM Orchestra Leopoldinum
11.09.2021
Sat.
5:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
La Giuditta – Oleśnica
Aleksandra Rupocinska
11.09.2021
Sat.
7:30 PM
Oleśnica, Minor Basilica of St John the Apostle and Evangelist
Perseverance
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
11.09.2021
Sat.
8:00 PM
Church of St Stanislaus, St Dorothy and St Venceslaus
La Giuditta
Aleksandra Rupocinska
12.09.2021
Sun.
12:00 PM
NFM, Red Hall
The Romantic Era
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
12.09.2021
Sun.
6:00 PM
NFM, Main Hall

NOTE! This site uses cookies and similar technologies.

Like most websites, we use cookies to facilitate online booking and to ensure we give you the best possible experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume you're happy to receive cookies. You can learn more about changing your settings in our Privacy Policy. Learn more

Accept & close
Newsletter Melomana
We announce new concerts, we remind you about the start of ticket sales, we let you know about the last vacancies
Register