Duszniki Zdrój International Chopin Festival 80th Anniversary Programme, 1 - 9 August 2025. Detailed reviews of fourteen past festival posts (2010 - 2024)

Duszniki Zdrój formerly Bad Reinerz in Silesia

World-renowned musicians and pianists have been assembled to play at the 

80th Anniversary 

Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival 

1-9 August 2025

The longest-running international piano festival in the world with great traditions

Concerts

Music is the international language of our planet so I am sure you will have no trouble deciphering the Polish titles of pieces !

Detailed Program

The book of the festival in both English and Polish with detailed artists biographies and detailed programmes plus interesting essays on Chopin and quotations from his letters are available to download here. Simply too detailed to post

https://app.box.com/s/8kqacwwufq3zr70ekldbxja8o3jp4s1z

Official Website: http://festival.pl/en/front-english/

Recital Reviews

Profile of the Reviewer Michael Moran : https://en.gravatar.c atom/mjcmoran#pic-0 

Friday August 1st 2025 8.00 pm

Inaugural concert

MIKHAIL PLETNEV

WARSAW NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

PAWEŁ KAPUŁA conductor

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849)

Piano Concerto in E Minor, Op. 11 (1830)

Allegro maestoso

Romance. Larghetto

Rondo. Vivace

INTERMISSION

Piano Concerto in F Minor, Op. 21 (1829–1830)

Maestoso

Larghetto

Allegro vivace

(Orchestration by Mikhail Pletnev)

MIKHAIL PLETNEV (Pianist)

One of the most respected and influential artists of our era, born in 1957, Plet-

nev demonstrated prodigious talent early, entering the Moscow Conservatory

at the age of 13. He earned widespread acclaim when he won the first prize

in the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition at the age of 21.

Pletnev’s recordings have earned numerous prizes, including the Diapason

d’Or, ECHO Klassik Award, and Choc du Monde de la musique. He received

a 2005 Grammy Award for his own arrangement of Prokofiev’s Cinderella

and Grammy nominations for Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes (2004) and

the Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev Piano Concertos No. 3 (2003), all on the

Deutsche Grammophon label. His critically acclaimed album of Scarlatti’s

Sonatas (Virgin/EMI) received a 1996 Gramophone Award, and his record-

ing of the complete Beethoven symphonies and piano concertos (Deutsche

Grammophon) was named ‘Best of 2007’ by The New Yorker.

Representative of the critical acclaim, BBC Music Magazine called his

recording of Scarlatti’s Sonatas ‘piano playing at its greatest... this perfor-

mance alone would be enough to secure Pletnev a place among the greatest

pianists ever known’.

In 1990 Pletnev founded the Russian National Orchestra – the first inde-

pendent orchestra in Russia’s history. Under his leadership, until 2020 when

Pletnev left Russia, the RNO achieved recognition as one of the world’s great

orchestras, annually touring musical capitals of Europe, the U.S. and Asia

and creating a highly praised recorded legacy.

In 2022, after settling in Switzerland, Pletnev renewed his commitment

to artistic freedom with his founding of the Rachmaninoff International Or-

chestra, named after the celebrated pianist, conductor, and composer whose

own career inspired audiences from all corners of the globe.

Pletnev is also celebrated as a composer, with extensive works for or-

chestra, voice, and solo instruments, including widely praised concertos

for viola, violin and trumpet. His arrangements for piano of Tchaikovsky’s

Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty are legendary. For pianists the world over,

these arrangements have become technical exams that demonstrate one is

a master of the instrument.

Pianist, conductor, composer, and cultural leader – all these are significant

facets of Mikhail Pletnev’s remarkable life. Yet with his characteristic humility,

he insists that he is, simply, a musician.

PAWEŁ KAPUŁA (Conductor)

Paweł Kapuła, hailed by Polish Radio as ‘a real hope for Polish conducting’

is one of the most spectacular and finest conductors of the younger genera-

tion, acclaimed for his exciting, fresh, and highly captivating interpretations

coupled with an excellent conducting technique. Never afraid of a challenge,

his programmes and conducting style demonstrate a high level of finesse and

creativity, which has led to an ever-growing presence in Europe and beyond.

The 2024/25 season sees Paweł Kapuła debut with some of the world’s

leading orchestras, amongst them Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Xi’an Sym-

phony Orchestra and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra alongside Hamburger

Symphoniker, Danish Chamber Orchestra and Robert-Schumann-Philhar-

monie Chemnitz. He will also return to Ulster Orchestra where he received

a prompt re-invitation following his highly successful debut last season. Other

guest engagements include the Georgian Chamber Orchestra and Württem-

bergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, which have now grown into loyal partners

cherishing him for his vigorous persona and precise conducting style.

Previously, Paweł Kapuła made his debut with orchestras such as Oslo

Opera Orchestra and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, resulting in immediate

re-invitations, Sibiu Philharmonic and Transylvanian State Philharmonic

orchestras in Romania, Gothenburg Opera Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester

Basel and Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz.

In February 2021, Paweł Kapuła was appointed Principal Guest Conductor

of Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz. Since then, he has been leading

the orchestra in programmes with such refinement and flair that it has

attracted other Polish orchestras’ attention, amongst them Polish National

Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Warsaw Philharmonic and Baltic

Philharmonic Gdańsk.

His latest recording project of all the Beethoven Piano Concertos with

Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and American pianist Reed Tetzloff at Prague’s

Rudolfinum, has just seen its international release. Paweł Kapuła is also an

avid champion of neglected Polish composers which he demonstrates in

numerous recordings for Polish Radio.

Paweł Kapuła received his first piano lessons at the age of seven. He studied

conducting with Tadeusz Strugala and Stanislaw Krawczynski at Krakow’s

Academy of Music. He was a finalist and winner of the Distinction Award at

the first Adam Kopyciński Student Conducting Competition in Wroclaw in

2013 and is a musicology graduate of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

2 SIERPNIA

GODZ. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

ARISTO HAM

Laureat I nagrody XVII Międzynarodowego Konkursu Pianistycznego

im. Vana Cliburna w Fort Worth 2025

Johann Sebastian BACH / Sergei RACHMANINOW

Partita E-dur na skrzypce solo BWV 1006 cz ?

Johann Sebastian BACH /Ferruccio BUSONI

Chaconne z II Partity d-moll BWV 1004

Fryderyk CHOPIN Nokturn c-moll op. 48 nr 1

Ballada f-moll op. 52

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN 

Sonata fortepianowa B-dur op. 106 “Hammerklavier”

2 SIERPNIA

GODZ. 20 00

Recital fortepianowy

MARC LAFORÊT

The Foundation of the International Chopin Festivals informs that due to circumstances beyond its control, and because of the sudden indisposition of Mr. Sergei Babayan, the concert on August 2, 2025, at 8:00 PM will be performed by the outstanding French pianist Marc Laforêt, winner of the Second Prize at the 11th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1985, and recipient of the Polish Radio special award for the best performance of mazurkas.

3 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

KEVIN CHEN

Fryderyk CHOPIN Nokturn c-moll op. 48 nr 1

Polonez-Fantazja As-dur op. 61

Sonata h-moll op. 58

Ferenc LISZT Ballada h-moll nr 2

– Anneés le pèlerinage. Deuxieème année – Italie 5. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca,

-Réminiscences de Don Juan S.418

3 SIERPNIA

godz. 20 00

Recial fortepianowy

GABRIELA MONTERO

Fryderyk CHOPIN Nokturn Des-dur op. 27 nr 2

Nokturn c-moll op. 48 nr 1

Sonata h-moll op. 58

Robert SCHUMANN Karnawał op. 9

4 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

KYOHEI SORITA

Fryderyk CHOPIN Ballada g-moll op. 23

Ballada F-dur op. 38

Ballada As-dur op. 47

Ballada f-moll op. 52

Maurice RAVEL Pavane pour une infante défunte M.19

Modest MUSORGSKI Obrazki z wystawy

4 SIERPNIA

godz. 20 00

Recital fortepianowy

KRZYSZTOF JABŁOŃSKI

Brak programu

5 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

MANAMI SUZUKI

Joseph HAYDN Sonata (Partita) G-dur Hob.XVI:6

Fryderyk CHOPIN 3 Ecossaises op. 72

Karol SZYMANOWSKI Metopy, trzy poematy op. 29

Gabiel FAURE II Valse-Caprice Des-dur op. 38

Franz SCHUBERT Sonata “Fantazja” G-dur op. 78 D 894  

5 SIERPNIA

godz. 21

NOKTURN

Wieczór prowadzi RÓŻA ŚWIATCZYŃSKA

Program podany jest w dniu koncertu

6 SIERPNIA

godz. 16

Recital fortepianowy

AIMI KOBAYASHI

Franz SCHUBERT 4 Impromptus D 935 

Fryderyk CHOPIN Mazurki op. 59

Sonata h-moll op. 58

6 SIERPNIA

godz. 20 00

Recital fortepianowy

BORIS GILTBURG

Fryderyk CHOPIN 24 Preludia op. 28

Sonata b-moll op. 35

Ballada f-moll op. 52

Scherzo E-dur op. 54

7 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

PHILIPP LYNOV

Fryderyk CHOPIN Polonez – Fantazja As-dur op. 61

Nokturn cis-moll op. 27 nr 1

Mazurki op. 30

Andante spianato I Wielki Polonez Es-dur op. 22

Maurice RAVEL „Miroirs” M. 43 ( “Oiseaux tristes“, “Alborada del grazioso” )

Robert SCHUMANN Sonata fis-moll op. 11

7 SIERPNIA

godz. 20 00

Recital fortepianowy

PIOTRANDERSZEWSKI

Johannes BRAHMS 7 Fantazji op. 116

3 Intermezza op. 117

6 Klavierstücke op. 118

4 Klavierstücke op. 119

Béla BARTÓK 14 Bagatellen für Klavier op. 6 Sz. 38

8 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Koncert kameralny

MARCIN ZDUNIK wiolonczela

SZYMON NEHRING fortepian

Fryderyk CHOPIN

Sonata g-moll na fortepian I wiolonczelę op. 65

Grand duo concertant E-dur na tematy z opery “Robert diabeł “ G. Meyerbeera

na fortepian i wiolonczelę

Polonez C-dur na fortepian i wiolonczelę op. 3

Transkrypcje utworów Chopina na wiolonczelę I fortepian

8 SIERPNIA

godz 20 00

Recital wokalny

OLGA PASIECZNIK

NATALIA PASIECZNIK

 Fryderyk CHOPIN / Pauline VIARDOT GARCIA Mazurki (wybór)

Fryderyk CHOPIN Pieśni op. 74 ( wybór)

 Karol SZYMANOWSKI Pieśni Kurpiowskie, op. 58 (wybór)

Mykoła  ŁYSENKO 4 pieśni

Wasyl BARWIŃSKI 2 pieśni

Wiktor KOSENKO 5 pieśni

9 SIERPNIA

godz. 16 00

Recital fortepianowy

KRZYSZTOF WIERCIŃSKI

Fryderyk CHOPIN Preludium cic-moll op. 45

24 Preludia z op. 28 od nr 19 do 24

Rondo c-moll op. 1

Walce op. 64

Polonez fis-moll op. 44

9 SIERPNIA

godz. 17 00

Recital fortepianowy

MATEUSZ DUBIEL

Fryderyk CHOPIN Mazurki op. 41

Scherzo E-dur op. 54 ,

Walc As-dur op. 42

Polonez-Fantazja As-dur op. 61 

9 SIERPNIA

godz. 20

Koncert finałowy Festiwalu

KATE LIU

ERIC LU

Fryderyk CHOPIN – wybrane kompozycje

Masterclass Courses

 Prof. Ronan O'Hora – August 2–5

 Prof. Claudio Martinez-Mehner – August 6–9

Past Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival Reviews 2010 - 2024

The 79th Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival  2-10 August 2024

http://www.michael-moran.com/2024/08/79th-duszniki-international-chopin.html

The 78th Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival 4-12 August 2023 

http://www.michael-moran.com/2023/07/78th-international-chopin-festival-in.html

The 77th Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival 5-13 August 2022

http://www.michael-moran.com/2022/07/77th-duszniki-zdroj-international-piano.html

The 76th Duszniki-Zdrój International Chopin Festival 6-14 August 2021

http://www.michael-moran.com/2021/07/76th-international-chopin-festival-in.html

The 75th Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2020

http://www.michael-moran.com/2020/07/75th-duszniki-zdroj-international.html

The 74th Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2019

http://www.michael-moran.com/2019/07/74th-duszniki-zdroj-international.html

The 73rd Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2018

http://www.michael-moran.com/2018/07/73rd-international-chopin-piano.html

The 72nd Duszniki Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2017

http://www.michael-moran.com/2017/07/72nd-international-chopin-piano.html

The 71st Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2016

http://www.michael-moran.com/2016/07/71stinternational-chopin-piano-festival.html

The 70th Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2015

http://www.michael-moran.com/2015/07/70th-international-chopin-piano.html

The 69th Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2014  

http://www.michael-moran.com/2014/07/69th-duszniki-zdroj-chopin-festival.html

The 68th Duszniki Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2013
http://www.michael-moran.com/2013/07/68th-international-chopin-piano.html

The 67th Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2012

http://www.michael-moran.com/2012/07/67th-duszniki-zdroj-international.html 

The 66th. Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2011
http://www.michael-moran.com/2011/08/66th-duszniki-zdroj-international.html

The 65th. Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival 2010
http://www.michael-moran.com/2010/08/65th-duszniki-zdroj-international.html

A modicum of the 'ancient' history of Duszniki Zdrój

Part of the way through his studies Joseph Elsner recommended that Chopin ‘take the waters’ or 'go into rehab' not far from where Elsner was born in the small Silesian spa of Bad Reinerz (now Duszniki Zdrój). Originally on the Prussian-Bohemian frontier, the village is now in the south-west of Poland on the border with the Czech Republic. 

Frycek’s studies and intense partying into the small hours during his third and final year at the Liceum had begun to affect his health. He was a bit of a 'party animal' was Frycek! In his youth he was not the melancholic consumptive of popular myth at all. The virtuosic youthful exuberance of the concertos, rondos and variations reflect this freedom from care.

Headaches and swollen glands necessitated the application of leeches to his neck. The family doctors (there were a number) agreed his condition might possibly be serious. The idea gained in popularity with the Skarbeks of Żelazowa Wola (Countess Ludwika herself was suffering from tuberculosis) and three family groups set off at intervals on the arduous 450 km journey by carriage from Warsaw to Bad Reinerz over rough roads serviced by indifferent accommodation. The route they took through pine forests and agricultural country now passes through industrialized towns.

Frycek arrived at Duszniki Zdrój on 3 August 1826 spending a day en route at Antonin in the honey-coloured timber hunting lodge of Prince Antoni Radziwiłł, respected scion of one of the wealthiest Polish magnate families. He was a fine cellist, composer and singer. This delightful octagonal lodge is built in a beautiful region of forests and lakes.

The Radziwill Hunting Lodge at Antonin

On a later visit he wrote ‘There were two young Eves in this paradise, the exceptionally courteous and good princesses, both musical and sensitive beings.’ Of Wanda Radziwiłł   ‘She was young, 17 years old, and truly pretty, and it was so nice to put her little fingers on the right notes.’ While a guest Chopin wrote a Polonaise for piano and cello - ‘brilliant passages, for the salon, for the ladies’.

Chopin sketched by Eliza Radziwill at Antonin en route to Duszniki Zdroj 1826.

Duszniki as a treatment centre has not greatly changed. Tuberculosis has however thankfully disappeared. The Spa Park and the town nestle in the peaceful mountain river valley of the tumbling Bystrzyca Dusznicka. Fresh pine woods flourish on the slopes and the moist micro-climate is wonderfully refreshing. Carefully stepping invalids negotiate the shaded walks that radiate across the park between flowering shrubs, fountains and lawns.

                                                 

               

                                                                                     The Spa Park at Duszniki Zdrój

Many famous artists visited Duszniki in the nineteenth century including the composer Felix Mendelssohn. In times past the regimented cures began at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. when people gathered at the well heads. The waters at the Lau-Brunn (now the Pienawa Chopina or Chopin’s Spa) were dispensed by girls with jugs fastened to the ends of poles who also distributed gingerbread to take away the horrible taste (not surprisingly it was considered injurious to lean towards the spring and breathe in the carbon dioxide and methane exhalations).

In a possibly apochryphal story, Chopin was reputed to have developed an affection for a poor ‘girl of the spring’ named Libusza. One tragic day Lisbusza’s father was crushed to death by an iron roller (perhaps in the nearby Mendelssohn iron mill) and she and her brothers were made orphans. Most likely it was a charity concert for the orphaned children after the loss of their father to illness. In his generous way ‘Chopinek’ or 'Frycek' to his family (an affectionate Polish diminutive of his name) wanted to assist the family and his mother suggested giving a benefit recital. Despite the lack of a decent instrument he agreed and in August 1826 gave two of his first public concerts in a small hall in the town. 

Since 1946 this event has been celebrated every August in a week-long International Chopin Piano Festival, the oldest piano music festival in Poland and indeed the world. I have made a point of attending it as often as I can. An original building near where he played has been converted into the charming Dworek Chopina, an intimate concert room. Many of the finest pianists in the world, established artists and even child prodigies including past winners of the always controversial Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition have appeared in these Elysian surroundings.

The Duszniki festival attempts to maintain the intimate nature of the salon and the piano music is not restricted to Chopin. During the day there is time to walk in the peace of the surrounding pine-clad mountains, ‘take the waters’ if you dare or visit splendid castles in the nearby Czech lands. Eccentric characters regularly appear there: the ‘Texan’ Pole who wears cowboy boots, Florida belts and Stetson hats of leopard-skin or enameled in blue, maroon or green. ‘I jus’ love it here but I jus’ hate that goddam music!’ (recitals are broadcast through loudspeakers over the Spa Park); the ethereal girl with the swan neck who seems to have stepped directly from a fête galant by Antoine Watteau; an elderly musician with long grey hair and wearing a voluminous silk cravat materializes and then disappears. 

Sviatoslav Richter (far left) on the steps of the Dworek Chopina 

at the 

1965 Duszniki Zdroj Festival

In the past I have experienced many remarkable musical moments at Duszniki. Grigory Sokolov, arguably the greatest living pianist, gave a magisterial performance of that radical composition the Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie. He profoundly recreated the tragic instability of Chopin’s disintegrating world during his final years. The Ukrainian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk returned to the piano after an horrific car accident that threatened to leave him permanently incapacitated. He has gone on to great things internationally. His theatrical temperament, musical passion and truly astounding virtuosity never fail to astonish.

The soulful young Russian Igor Levit is deeply involved with the music of Schumann. He movingly reminded the audience of the genesis of the Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations) written when the composer was on the brink of suicide in a mental institution. After completing the final variation Schumann fell forever silent. The great Liszt super-virtuoso Janina Fialkowska, a true inheritor of the nineteenth century late Romantic school of pianism, courageously returned to the platform here after her career was brought to a dramatic and terrifying halt by the discovery of a tumour in her left arm. Daniil Trifonov utterly possessed by the spirit of Mephistopheles in the greatest performance of the Liszt Mephisto Waltz No:1 I have ever heard. The moments continue...

One remarkable late evening event of the festival is called Nokturn and takes place by candlelight. The audience in evening dress are seated at candlelit tables with wine. A learned Polish professor and Chopin specialist such as the wonderful Polish musicologist Professor Irena Poniatowska might draw our attention to this or that ‘deep’ musical aspect of the Chopin Preludes or perhaps the influence of Mozart on the composer. Sometimes it is a famous actor, music critic, or journalist. The pianists ‘illustrate’ and perform on Steinways atmospherically lit by flickering candelabra.

In spite of the immense popularity of Chopin, this festival manages to recapture the essentially private and esoteric experience of his music, an experience one might consider had been lost forever.

I will be keeping my detailed blog of the pianists as I normally do for this unique festival. I always keenly anticipate coming to the small Polish spa town. One can walk in the morning in the invigorating pine-forested mountains of the former Silesian spa Bad Reinerz or attend a Master Class followed by a late afternoon and evening recital. Of course each day one approaches in trepidation the Chopin Spring to take the smelly waters with a draught from the traditional spouted ceramic drinking cup.

The festival offers one rare moments of bliss and oblivion to escape the constant news of the unhinged, economically fraught and increasingly brutal violence and political trauma in this world of ours. Now the pandemic...

Detail from the wall decoration of the remarkable 17th century paper mill that survives in Duszniki Zdroj. This building is unique in Europe. It is a fascinating place to visit.

Introduction to the History of the Festival 

by 

The much missed Polish musicologist, academic, music critic, music journalist and essayist who died on 25 March 2019 

Stanisław Dybowski

When, in 1946, Ignacy Potocki, a co-founder of the Lower Silesian Health Resorts, proposed that a music festival named after Frédéric Chopin be held in Duszniki-Zdrój, nobody thought that that annual event would continue for the next seventy-one years. It has, indeed, continued without interruptions until today, rendering famous the name of the Polish genius and his music, as well as the health resort, at the same time enlarging the output of the global musical culture. 

It all started very modestly, amid still strong memories of World War II that had ended only a year before. The two-day Chopin celebration was inaugurated with a solemn ceremony (25 August), during which a plaque commemorating Frédéric Chopin’s stay at the resort was un- veiled, followed by a recital by one of the greatest Polish female piano players, a magnificent Chopin expert, Zofia Rabcewiczowa (1870– 1947). In the interval during her concert Paulina Czernicka familiarised the present with the content of unknown letters sent by Chopin to Delfina Potocka, which twenty years later turned out to be … apocrypha. On the next day (26 August), at the concert hall of the Spa House, the audience listened to a performance by Henryk Sztompka (1901–1964), also one of the foremost Chopin experts. At the time Duszniki-Zdrój witnessed an encounter between two heirs of the great traditions of Ignacy Jan Paderewski (Sztompka) and Antoni Rubinstein (Rabcewiczowa). They performed exclusively compositions by the patron of the 1st festival. Interpretations of both pianists, including those, among other works, Sonata in H minor and selected études (Rabcewiczowa), as well as mazurkas, preludes and nocturnes (Sztompka), are now part of Chopin performance history. Those present at the concerts claim that they have never heard those works performed better… 

Initially, the festival programme included only Chopin’s music performed by Polish artists. With time, however, the repertoire began to be extended with works by other Polish composers of Chopin’s period. Gradually, in subsequent years, pieces by foreign artists were added and the performers began to include laureates, and then participants, of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Thus, the event was becoming a forum of the world piano performance. For many artists, even those renowned, performing Chopin’s music on the Duszniki-Zdrój stage is an important point in their musical career. 

The event has witnessed concerts by the greatest piano masters. The already dead ones include legendary Raul Koczalski, Witold Małcużyński, Stefan Askenazy, Władysław Kędra, Paweł Lewiecki, Stanisław Szpinalski, Zbigniew Drzewiecki, Jan Ekier, Halina Czerny-Stefańska, Regina Smendzianka, Zbigniew Szymonowicz, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Jerzy Lefeld, Klara Langer-Danecka, Tadeusz Żmudziński, Miłosz Magin and others, while the foreign ones  e.g. Louis Kentner, František Rauch, Malcolm Frager and Stanislav Neuhaus. Many have made their debut in Duszniki-Zdrój, where they embarked on their international careers, including Adam Harasiewicz, Piotr Paleczny, Janusz Olejniczak, Krystian Zimerman, Ewa Pobłocka or Wojciech Świtała. It is with great sentiment that we remember, until today, the magnificent recitals by Paul Badura-Skoda, Michael Ponti, Joaquin Achucarro, Philippe Entremont, Dang Thai Son, Fou Ts’ong, Eugen Indjic, Cyprien Katsaris, Christian Zacharias and Kevin Kenner, among others. It was also here that the Festival’s artistic director, Piotr Paleczny, had his great successes. 

Today the International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki-Zdrój is the world’s oldest Chopin festival and oldest piano festival. The originally modest event dedicated to Chopin has, after years of beautiful development, become a unique occasion. It is very often the centre of the world piano art, a place where aesthetical canons in music are built, performance trends are created and artistic careers are launched. 

Since 1993, i.e. the 48th Festival, the artistic supervision over the event is exercised by Professor Piotr Paleczny, who himself comes from a beautiful Chopin tradition. 

As is well known, Chopin’s favourite student was Karol Mikuli (1819–1897), whose outstanding pupils included Aleksander Michałowski (1851–1938). Aleksander Michałowski was, in turn, a professor of Stefania Allina (1895–1988), who taught Piotr Paleczny… 

The Chopin tradition does not end with Paleczny though. It is now continued by his students, who win prizes at international competitions and music reviews, and is further developed by the festival that it shapes. In Duszniki-Zdrój we have the opportunity to meet the most brilliant young pianists from around the world and, at the same time, experience the art of famous performers, whose names give prominence to every festival. It is often here that music lovers are able to listen to a laureate of an international piano competition that was concluded only a few days earlier!

The characteristic feature of Duszniki-Zdrój concerts is their high level and varied programme. Although Chopin’s music remains the core of the repertoire, it is supplemented with works by other composers, creating in various styles and various periods of history. Some pieces may be heard several times, which provides an excellent opportunity to compare their interpretations, ways in which the same text has been read, demonstrations of hitherto undiscovered layers in music… Even though piano music is still the main feature in Duszniki-Zdrój, Chopin’s chamber pieces are not neglected by Piotr Paleczny. Therefore, we are able to listen to his songs, cello works, a piano trio and transcriptions by various authors of the composer’s brilliant works.

A beautiful tradition, initiated by Paleczny, are open lectures and talks on Chopin’s piano art, delivered by outstanding Chopin experts and piano performance researchers, as well as master interpretation classes for selected, talented young musicians, conducted by world-re- nowned professors and famous pianists.

At the beginning of August every year Duszniki-Zdrój becomes the Chopin centre, attracting music lovers from around the world, young musicians, music critics, art critics and all those who care about Chopin. The multilingual noise in Spa Park clearly indicates where Chopin is being celebrated and where his beloved instrument is being played…

Felix Mendelssohn at Duszniki Zdrój 1823

I often walk to to what is now the rehabilitation centre of Stalowy Zdrój on the outskirts of Duszniki and familiarize myself with the Felix Mendelssohn connections with the spa.

The iron ore deposits of what was known as Bad Reinerz (now Duszniki Zdroj) and its surroundings have been exploited since the beginning of the 15th century. Protestant miners emigrated here during the religious turmoil of the Thirty Years War when mining was established at the end of the 17th century. A molten iron and a hammer mill was established in 1822 by Nathan Mendelssohn (an instrument maker). With his brother Joseph Mendelssohn's financial help he revived the mining industry. I have often wondered if it was at this mill that the the tragedy occurred for which Chopin gave his charity concert.

Joseph was a successful banker as well as being another uncle of the composer Felix Mendelssohn. The Mendelssohns were a wealthy and well-established Jewish family. However the iron company had no lasting success because of severe flood damage in 1827 and 1829. Nathan Mendelssohn abandoned the operation at the end of 1829. 

Felix Mendelssohn came to stay with his uncles in Duszniki in 1823 three years prior to Chopin's stay. A concert was held in Duszniki in which the main protagonist was the fourteen-year-old Mendelssohn. The young pianist did without the accompaniment of the semi-amateur ensemble that normally performed and decided to improvise solo on themes from Mozart and Weber to great acclaim.

I will leave you with some photographs of buildings still standing that resulted from my initial explorations.

The house stayed in by Felix Mendelssohn at Duszniki Zdroj in 1823

The commemorative plaque on the house

Link to the revived 

Felix Mendelssohn Festival 

https://mendelssohnfestival.pl/index.php/en/about-festival#contact

Programme

https://mendelssohnfestival.pl/index.php/en/#program

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