Status: 21.09.2024 13:23
With Poland as the guest country, the festival is bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to Usedom. The first act on Sunday in Wolgast is countertenor and eccentric Jakub Józef Orliński.
Poland is an exciting musical country, says Jan Brachmann, curator of the 31st edition of the Usedom Music Festival: “A lot has happened in Poland.” There was no specific reason for choosing the guest country. After ten years, it was simply Poland’s turn again. So the festival thought in good time about getting “really good and prominent artists” to come to Usedom for the three weeks.
“Most beautiful voice in the country” comes to the opening
The Italian ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro accompanies the countertenor and breakdancer Jakub Józef Orliński
The festival starts on Sunday with a prominent artist in St. Peter’s Church in Wolgast. Jakub Józef Orliński is celebrated as a superstar in Poland. One of the most beautiful voices of our time, say critics, and Jan Brachmann agrees. In Wolgast, Jakub Józef Orliński will sing early Baroque arias, accompanied by the ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro.
“It will be very sensual, passionate music,” says Brachmann. It is always about love as a matter of life and death. “Jakub Józef Orliński sings as a countertenor, which means he has a high mezzo-soprano, almost soprano voice, and yet it is a voice that does not seem feminine and childlike, it is a very masculine but high voice.”
Of course, Frédéric Chopin cannot be missed
The music and cultural scientist Jan Brachmann curated the program of the Usedom Music Festival.
In Poland, there is a piano tradition that always refers to Frédéric Chopin, who is revered almost as a national saint. Famous pianists have emerged from this country. One of them: Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), pianist and politician.
“He was a superstar, he was put on a par with Albert Einstein, Albert Schweizer and Mahatma Gandhi in his time,” enthuses Jan Brachmann. It is thanks to Paderewski that the victorious powers of the First World War put the re-establishment of an independent Polish state on their agenda. Ignacy Jan Paderewski became the first Prime Minister of the re-established Poland in 1919. And even after that, as a pianist, he remained an important international ambassador for his country. During the Usedom Music Festival, a salon evening on October 4 in Heringsdorf will focus on this personality.
Rafal Blechacz plays with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
With Rafal Blechacz, one of the world’s most sought-after pianists of the present day is coming to Usedom. “He is an incredibly concentrated and focused artist, and also has a doctorate in philosophy,” explains Brachmann.
Rafal Blechaz will perform twice: as a soloist at a concert in the seaside resort of Ahlbeck on October 2nd, where he will be dedicating himself to the two great personalities of Polish music: Frédéric Chopin and Karol Szymanowski, and on October 6th in Peenemünde at a symphony concert with the NDR Elbphiharmonie Orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert. There will be music by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Chopin.
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The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and pianist Rafał Blechacz are guests in Peenemünde. At the podium: chief conductor Alan Gilbert. more
The Usedom Music Festival also wants to use its proximity to Poland to strengthen cooperation with the neighboring country. Festival director Thomas Hummel hopes to attract many visitors from Swinoujscie and Stettin, who have Polish guests who are looking for stars who have short distances to travel, as the concerts can be reached on foot along the promenade.
Folklore in a village church
For three weeks, there will be around 30 concerts on Usedom – in castles, concert halls and in a concert tent on the beach and in small village churches, announces Jan Brachmann. “One of our concerts, traditionally in Liepe, the oldest village church on Usedom, which is over 800 years old, will once again focus on folklore.” The festival was able to get Kapela Ochodzita from the Silesian Beskids to perform for this. “She will really play music from the village. That is also important because that is the music history from which art music emerged at some point,” says Brachmann.
For the final concert, the NDR Big Band and the Polish Atom String Quartet will come to the locomotive hall of the Usedomer Bäderbahn in Ahlbeck.
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This year, the focus of the Usedom Music Festival was on Latvian culture. Around 14,000 visitors were enthusiastic. more
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NDR Kultur | Saturday | 21.09.2024 | 07:20 a.m.
