All the voice is a stage

The annual Review of Stage Song separates the musical men from the boys - actors who can sing from those who can't hold a tune.

But it's not all about hitting the right note - actors bring altogether another dimension to the songs they interpret. "Actors don't just sing about love. They attach a great deal of importance to words - the meaning and the message of a song," says Michał Juzoń, the event's producer.

At the beginning, in the 1970s, the festival was thought to be just an opportunity for young actors to test their vocals, but over the years various other concerts and comedic performances were brought in. The festival has since become one of the most important events devoted to the art of acting and song interpretation. This year, the festival will also host about 40 various concerts, with sounds varying from rock and underground to popular music and poetry. Some foreign acts will perform as well, such as Antony & The Johnsons, Yann Tiersen (best known for his film score for Amélie), legendary punk rock group The Stranglers, Caecilie Norby and Zhanna Bichevskaya, an artist widely considered "the Russian Joan Baez." There will also be a series of competitions throughout.

The title of the Review suggests an unnecessary restriction on the performers' repertoire, which has inspired the event's expansion to include more diverse acts. "We believe this festival is for all music that brings forth a message - music inspired and interpreted by the individual's personality," says Juzoń.

The Review of Stage Song will run from March 9 - 18. For more information, log on to www.ppa.art.pl