A regular presence at the festival, Biondi will also conduct his Europa Galante period-instruments ensemble, a group of Polish and international soloists, and the Podlasie Opera Choir from Białystok, northeastern Poland, in a concert performance of The Haunted Manor by Stanisław Moniuszko, the father of Polish national opera.
This event marks a continuation of Biondi’s long-standing efforts to promote Moniuszko’s operatic works. In previous years, he has introduced Polish audiences to Moniuszko's Halka, The Raftsman, The Countess, Verbum Nobile, Paria and Phantoms.
The programme of the Chopin and His Europe Festival, now in its jubilee 20th edition, features more than 40 piano and vocal recitals, as well as symphonic and chamber concerts.
Notable pianists include Warsaw Chopin Competition winners Garrick Ohlsson, Dang Thai Son, Kevin Kenner, Bruce Liu and Yulianna Avdeeva, alongside Poland's Piotr Anderszewski, Ewa Pobłocka, Janusz Olejniczak, Piotr Paleczny, Szymon Nehring and Tomasz Ritter.
Canadian-Chinese pianist Sophia Liu, who, at 16, is gaining worldwide recognition, will appear twice during the festival: in a solo recital and in Mozart’s Concerto in F Major for Three Pianos, performing with Dang Thai Son and Eric Lu.
Among the featured ensembles are the London Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Collegium Vocale Gent, Kammerorchester Basel, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, the Belcea Quartet and the Apollon Musagète Quartet.
This year's programme also reflects the festival's commitment to promoting lesser-known Polish composers who deserve wider recognition, such as Maurycy Moszkowski, Juliusz Zarębski, Artur Malawski and Mieczysław Wajnberg.
Additionally, the Czech early music ensemble Collegium 1704 will perform a selection of Psalms by Polish Renaissance composer Mikołaj Gomółka.
Launched in 2005, the Chopin and His Europe Festival is regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the international music circuit.
The festival runs until September 8.
The Chopin and His Europe Festival is being broadcast by Polish Radio's Program II (Dwójka), including the inaugural concert on Saturday, August 17, at 8:30 pm CEST.
(mk/ał)
