National Forum of Music announces DE SINGEL residency to showcase Polish musical excellence
17 & 18 October 2024
The National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław, one of Central Europe’s most significant arts institutions, is proud to announce a residency at DE SINGEL, Antwerp this autumn.
Since its opening in 2015, the NFM has been a cornerstone of Europe’s cultural landscape. The institution encompasses fourteen orchestras, choirs, and ensembles, each dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation. The NFM regularly collaborates with leading artists and composers, fostering a vibrant and dynamic musical environment.
Three of NFM’s orchestras and ensembles will perform at DE SINGEL, Antwerp this October as part of a residency designed to showcase Poland’s rich cultural heritage and foster international musical ties.
The NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, NFM Choir, and LutosAir Quintet will bring a diverse and captivating programme to Antwerp, showcasing the depth and talent of Poland’s finest musicians.
Speaking about the residency, NFM Co-Founder and Director Andrzej Kosendiak comments: “We are honoured to bring the exceptional talent of our musicians to Antwerp this autumn. This series of concerts not only showcases Poland’s profound musical traditions, but also fosters a deeper connection between our artists and global audiences. We believe that music has the power to transcend borders and create meaningful cultural dialogues, and we are excited to share these unique performances with the world.”
CONCERT PROGRAMMES:
Promotie van Poolse muziek uit de 20e eeuw in Europa // Promotion of 20th century Polish music in Europe
NFM WROCŁAW PHILHARMONIC / MIRIAN KHUKHUNAISHVILI
LA ZÉNITUDE AVEC JONATHAN FOURNEL
17 October 2024, 20.00 at DE SINGEL (Blauwe Zaal)
The opening concert of this residency features the acclaimed pianist Jonathan Fournel, winner of the 2021 Queen Elisabeth Competition. For his DE SINGEL debut, Fournel dives into the romantic emotional world of the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and the poetic melodies of his famous Piano Concerto No. 2. Rising star conductor Mirian Khukhunaishvili juxtaposes this with John Luther Adams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning piece, Become Ocean, described as “the most beautiful apocalypse in music history” by The New Yorker.
NFM CHOIR / KURPIAN FOREST IN SONG
18 October 2024, 20.00 at DE SINGEL (Blauwe Zaal)
Poland’s beautiful Kurpie region was separated from the rest of the country by a large forest, which over the centuries resulted in its own unique music. In 1928, the Polish priest Władysław Skierkowski gathered numerous Kurpian songs in the collection Kurpian Forest in Song. The collection became a source of inspiration for composers such as Henryk Gorécki and Karol Szymanowski, who made their own choral arrangements of these songs. With their arrangements and those of other Polish composers, the NFM Choir showcases these Kurpian songs’ powerful identity under the direction of Lionel Sow.
LUTOSAIR QUINTET / THE OAK CROWN
18 October 2024, 21.00 at DE SINGEL (Muziekstudio)
Another leading ensemble under the auspices of the NFM is the LutosAir Quintet. This ensemble comprises five wind players from the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic and is widely acclaimed in both Poland and internationally. At DE SINGEL they offer a diverse programme featuring works by contemporary Polish composers Grażyna Bacewicz and Nikolet Burzyńska, an arrangement of Irène Wieniawska’s Suite Miniature de Chansons à Danser for Wind Quintet by Georges Barrère, and Ravel’s beloved Le Tombeau de Couperin.
For concert tickets and full programme details, visit www.desingel.be
For further information about the NFM and its activities, please visit www.nfm.wroclaw.pl
Subventionné par le ministère de la culture et du patrimoine national dans le cadre du programme, Inspiring Culture // Medegefinancierd door de minister van Cultuur en Nationaal Erfgoed in het kader van het programma Inspirerende Cultuur
#inspiringculturePoland #inspiringculture