Mistria Paschalia
6 -13.04.2009
In Krakow, Easter is traditionally the time for Misteria Paschalia. The main theme this year is the elaborations of the Sabat Mater sequence. Next to the commonly recognized Pergolesi and Vivaldi – there will be a chance to listen to the pieces that are not very popular to the general audience –by Benoncini and Salvatore. Invited are all the top representatives of historic performing from all over the world: the highly appreciated Italian groups - Concerto Italiano, Il Giardino Armonico, Europa Galante, Venice Baroque Orchestra, I Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca i Cappella della Pieta de’ Turchini, French Le Poeme Harmonique and the international ensable of musicians Les Trompettes de Jericho, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Hesperion XXI and their guests from Israel, Armenia, Greece, Iraque and Maroko with Jordi Savalle featuring. The performances of the music ensambles will be adorned by the most famous modern voices: Sara Mingardo, Sonia Prina, Roberta Invernizzi, Maria Grazia Schiavo, Claire Lefiliâtre and Montserrat Figueras.
The Festival programe http://www.misteriapaschalia.pl/pl/3/3/33/program
Krakow Philharmony,Krakow Opera, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Old Town and Kazimierz Churches.
7th Easter Festival of Traditions and Rites
Sunday 5th of April 2009, starting from 11:00
On Palm Sunday on Wolnica Square there will be a good chance to get in the mood for the upcoming Easter holiday. The main attraction will be the parade of Easter palms, the best coloured egg (pisanka) competition and the traditional Easter pastries and dishes. Rite groups and ensambles, folk artists and profesional artists and actors will be present at Wolnica Square.
The programe will include: the presentation of traditional Easter pastries and dishes, symbolic sharing of the traditional old Polish cuisine specialties and the presentation of art works of blacksmiths, potmakers, folk woodcarvers, glass painiters, embroiderists and Easter ornaments makers.
Traditional Rękawka Festivities
Tuesday 14th of April, starting from 11:30, Krakus Mount ( Kopiec Krakusa)
The custom of celebrating Easter at the bottom of Mount Krakus is probably older than Krakow itself. Mounted in the VII century was a place of cult of the deceased ones for the Slavics. The legend says that the founder of the city, prince Krak, was burried here. The people, thankful for his goodnes and justice, mounted a hill by bringing sand with bare hands or in the sleeves, thus the name Rekawka (hand-reka, sleeve-rekaw). In the XIX century the celebration for the deceased ones were held here, which with time turned to be a folk festivity event. In 1836 the Austrian authorities with a decret banned the entry on the hill, the festivities were moved to the neighbouring hill, by St. Benedict Church.
On Tuesday after Easter, the race of Slavic warriors fully dressedin the early medieval armour will take place at the foot of the mount and on Lasota Hill. This will be a chance to see how the ancestors of todays Krakow citizens lived, what they ate, how they dressed and how they fought. Besides that this will also be a once-a-year occasion to visit St. Benedict Church.
Shlomo Mintz directing Mendelssohn
5th of February 2009, at 19:00
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony will be performed in Krakow. The creation of this piece was started during his trip to Scotland in 1829, inspired by the echo coming from the Scottish folk musicians in the Fingel cave. The Capella Cracoviensis Concert will be lead by Shlomo Mintz, one of the best violinists of our times, appreciated for his impeccable music skills and versatile style. Mintz performs on a regular basis with internationally recognized orchestras and directors, and is a laureate of many prestigious music awards.
K. Szymanowski Philharmony of Krakow, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1; ticket office, tel. 012-422-94-77
6th International Percussion Festival
18th-22nd of February 2009
6th International Percussion Festival, Sources and Inspirations is traditionally a list of the stars of percussion art. Traditionally, you can listen to the combination of jazz and Hindu music, classical and ethnic music from all around the world. The list of performers in Krakow includes: virtuoso of Hindu music Trilok Gurtu, Solá Akingbolá of Nigerian descent (his project Routes to Roots is based on traditional African music of Yoruba band of drummers and vocalists presenting trans and dynamic African music) and Gamelan Orchestra from Indonesia. The music of Gamelan is performed on the original instrument from Java. Gamelan music is an attempt to combine traditional Indonesian music with the experience of European jazz and club music.
The Symphonic Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Krakow will perform under the direction of Pawel Przytocki in the final concert, presenting the world premiere of Porto Concertino by László Sülego, and Concerto Rustico by Marcin Błażewicz and the Three-horned Hat by Manuel de Falla.
A special club concert has been prepared by a DJ duo: Fractal Beats and Grove Brothers, with the participation of foreign guests.
Concert Hall of the Krakow Academy of Music, Drukarnia Jazz Club, Krakow Philharmony.
Gaetano Donizetti – live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera on the screen of Kijow movie theatre.
7th of February 2009, at 19:00
Kijow Center continues to broadcast the operas in HD-LIVE quality from the famous New York Metropolitan Opera. This time “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti. Casting: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazon, Mariusz Kwiecien, Ildar Abrazakov. Musical director: Marco Armiliato, screenplay: Mary Zimmerman. Thanks to the great video and audio parameters, digital cinema sound and great acoustics from the largest cinema theatre in town, the audience has the impression of seeing the show live.
The role of the delicate Lucia, the main character of Donizetti opera, on the Metropolitan Opera stage is performed by Anna Netrebko. The character of her lover Edgardo is played by Rolando Villazon, and the Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecinski plays her bully brother. The Opera of Dionizetti is made in the style of Victorian conventional ghoststories.
Kijów-Center, Al. Krasinskiego 34, tel. +48 12 433 00 33