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Festivals in PolandWhen in Poland, you might see a goodly part of the rest of the world: the numerous festivals, often with long traditions and high renown, offer contacts with different cultures. Artists from diverse disciplines, from classical music virtuosi through jazzmen, street performers, experimental theatre artists, to representatives of exotic folklore, are very keen on coming to Poland, and are in complete agreement when it comes to the exceptionally warm welcome and the spontaneity of audience response. Every June, the streets, squares and buildings of Krakow's Kazimierz are filled with tens of thousands of visitors, who've come to take part in the Jewish Cultural Festival. It's been going on for 12 years, and in this relatively short time it's become one of the most fascinating festivals of its type in the world. There's music, dance, film, theatre, the visual arts, literature, and workshops - from singing through paper-cutting and Jewish cuisine to calligraphy. This unusually intense week, packed with appearances by world-famous artists, is a celebration of life, and at the same time, like Caddish, an expression of remembrance. The final evening's concert on Ulica Szeroka Street has become a symbol of the co-existence of preserved tradition and avant-garde currents in contemporary art. Also in Krakow, since 1988 the International Street Theatre Festival has been taking place in the Market Square during the first two weeks of July. It's a gathering of the world's leading companies, ensembles, and troupes who bring a touch of poetry into everyday life, or give impressive displays of acrobatics. These shows, free of linguistic barriers, overcome the obstacles of cultural differences. Next, in late
August, you should definitely go to Zakopane to see the International
Highland Folklore Festival (so far, it has taken place 33 times). Folk
dance and music ensembles from all over the world come to the capital of
the Polish Tatras. Highlanders from the Caucasus to the Balkans, from
Africa and all the Americas are united in their love of tradition,
spontaneity, individuality and ancient tradition. In Frédéric Chopin's homeland, you can't fail to miss an opportunity to listen to his works. From May to September, there are concerts in Warsaw's Łazienki Park every Sunday, and in July and August famous pianists may be heard during the Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój, a spa town in the Sudetan Mountains. Festivals of organ
music also enjoy a great following. The quality of the performance
depends, to a great extent, on the quality of the instrument and the
acoustic properties of its setting. There are many churches in Poland
equipped with historic organs which give a beautiful sound. The most
popular recitals are those in the Oliwa Cathedral (Gdańsk), performed
on a late18th-century Rococo instrument, one of the most valuable in the
world. Virtuosi worthy of the instrument have been taking part in the
summer International Organ Festival here for over 30 years. Only slightly
less famous is the organ in the enormous Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of
St. John the Baptist in Kamień Pomorski. The sound of this
18th-century instrument may be admired during the International Organ
Music Festival that lasts all summer and has been held since 1965. You can
listen not only pieces from the classical repertoire, but also
contemporary works. JJazz Jamboree - Warsaw, October - Europe's oldest jazz festival has been held since
1958. It's difficult to name a star or a figure instrumental in the
development of jazz that hasn't appeared at JJ.
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