In for a song

This year's Wratislavia Cantans Festival continues until October 1, with concerts taking place in Wrocław and neighboring towns. Concerts of vocal music from different nations and cultures are performed in the most beautiful religious buildings in Wrocław and the vicinity. Since 1966 the organizers have been faithful to the ideas of the festival's creator, Andrzej Markowski.

"For the first time in Wratislavia's history, the program has been prepared by world-famous musician and specialist in historical repertoire Paul McCreesh," says Elżbieta Szczucka, a spokesperson for the Wratislavia Cantans Festival. McCreesh is founder and artistic director of the Gabrieli Consort and Players and a specialist in Renaissance and Baroque music.

The program includes oratorios such as Haydn's Creation, Honegger's Joan d'Arc, Mozart's Requiem, as well as religious music by Szymanowski, Palestrino, Pergolesi, Bononcini and Rachmaninoff. There is also contemporary music from the likes of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and Joanna MacGregor, a young jazz pianist.

The festival will also host opera singer Emma Kirkby, vocal group the Hilliard Ensemble, Gillian Webster and Robert Murray, two Covent Garden Opera singers, as well as mezzo soprano Clare Wilkinson. Andrzej Seweryn, the well-known Polish actor, will perform with his colleagues from Comédie Franćaise, Laurent d'Olce and Marina Hands. The list of famous composers includes Jerzy Semnkow, Jacek Kaspszyk and Gabriel Chmura.

Further information: www.wratislavia.art.pl