Report from the 4th Michal Spisak International Festival The Young and the Talented
(14 September-13 October 2024) Dabrowa Gornicza-Sosnowiec-Katowice
ICING ON THE CAKE
The final concert on 10 October 2024 at the Zaglebie Palace of Culture theatre hall rang out the final musical chords of the festival. It was a real ‘icing on the cake’ – an exquisite demonstration of skills of the invited artists: flutist Ildiko Juhasz, harpist Juliusz Wesolowski and the musicians of the Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia under the baton of Maestra Katarzyna Tomala-Jedynak. Thoughtful reading of the scores, precision and finesse in the performance of works by Spisak, Wajnberg, Mozart and Kilar showed the fullness of drama, different characters and uncommon beauty of the compositions. Bravo!
The concert was preceded by a gala presenting the achievements of this year’s special guests of the festival: adepts of music schools from all over the country, who won laurels in the First Michal Spisak Youth Music Competition ‘The Young and the Talented’, co-organised with the Music School Complex in Sosnowiec. We offer our congratulations and are proud to accompany you on your way to achieving professionalism as future soloists and orchestral musicians on music stages.
TOGETHER AS A TEAM
The festival provided an opportunity for extensive regional cooperation: with the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music, the Polish National Radio Orchestra in Katowice, Katowice – City of Gardens – Krystyna Bochenek Cultural Institution, the Music School Complex in Sosnowiec, the State Music School Complex in Zory, the ‘Sztygarka’ Municipal Museum in Dabrowa Gornicza and the Euterpe Publishing House, as well as the family of the late Professor Leon Markiewicz – a devoted friend of Michal Spisak and co-creator of our festival. Together we were able to prepare both the competition and a series of concerts featuring Polish and foreign artists. The classical and contemporary repertoire featured winners of the Michal Spisak International Music Competition, chamber formations and the combined forces of school orchestras and choirs, which were applauded by audiences of all age groups. The exhibition and accompanying catalogue took a closer look at Michal Spisak’s extraordinary youth, and festival participants had the opportunity to visit the delightful and music-filled interiors of the Academy in Katowice.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our patrons, sponsors and donors for their trust and support for the promotion of high culture.
The 5th International Festival together with the 15th Michal Spisak International Music Competition in the specialities of violin, viola and cello are ahead of us. The power of great music lies ahead.
