© Protected - Selected Classical Music in Poland and the Europe of Chopin - Reviewer's Notebook

And so we come to the concluding gala celebrating the successful conclusion of the 28th Mozart Festival given in Warsaw by Warszawska Opera Kameralna.  It was a shame I was absent from Warsaw during much of this period in Lübeck-Travemunde (Schleswig-Holstein) following the footsteps of Thomas Mann and his masterpiece Buddenbrooks. I was able to only review two operas and the opening and closing concerts. The concluding programme was a similar extensive potpourri to the opening concert of popular Mozart arias and overtures from various operas that were presented during the festival. The evening was intended to 'give pleasure' which it undoubtedly did to the enthusiastic audience - an uncomplicated concert for the enjoyment of familiar Mozart with fine singers from the company. The orchestra Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense (who play permanently on period instruments) was directed by the distinguished Polish conductor Marcin Sompolinski. The choice of the T...

                                                                                                          Photography Jarosław Budzyński  'A work of art is a king, one must wait to be addressed by it. One must take trouble over it, one must take time.'                                                                                                                                    ...

Opening Concert Lutosławski Radio Studio Warsaw, 16 June, 19.00   Perhaps it is a truism to observe that in life everything is in a state of constant flux at the sub-atomic, micro and macro levels. In quantum mechanics the nature of light has proven to be both particle and w ave. Meditation on this mystery indicates one must always move forward in life or it fades away like day into night. Even the artistic nature of the Warszawska Opera Kameralna must obey such laws of physical evolution. Tonight I listened and watched a valiant attempt to maintain in spirit and professionalism, a glorious past operatic tradition in Warsaw. Inevitably for those old enough to remember, the ghost of the founder and former artistic director of the company, Stefan Sutkowski, hovered  over the proceedings,  in the main rather benignly. Mozart and his immortal music is bound to survive in this rejuven...