Chopin Festival unites competition winners with top global orchestras

Warsaw is set to host the 22nd "Chopin and His Europe" festival, an event distinguished by its ambitious strategy of uniting laureates of the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition with orchestras of global renown. This year's festival boasts an impressive lineup, featuring ensembles such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal – orchestras rarely seen performing together in Poland.

Festival director Stanisław Leszczyński explained the new approach, emphasizing that while Chopin remains central, promoting him internationally through the competition is paramount. He noted that competition winners often struggle to find agents who can secure them performances with top-tier orchestras. "I dreamed of a marriage between the musical summit and our laureates, who need to take a big step to achieve it," Leszczyński stated. The festival aims to provide this crucial platform in Warsaw, fostering an environment where leading orchestras collaborate with emerging talents.

This year, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal will perform Chopin's works with Eric Lu and Kevin Chen, winners of the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition's top prizes. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will feature Bruce Liu, a five-year competition veteran and a celebrated Chopin specialist, who will perform Rachmaninoff's virtuosic "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini." The festival also includes performances by other competition laureates, such as Tianayo Liu, who will perform with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and solo recitals by Zitong Wang and Vincent Ong.

Beyond the competition's stars, the festival will delve into the Polish musical heritage, presenting both well-known and forgotten compositions. The Royal Concertgebouw will perform works by Grażyna Bacewicz, the Montreal orchestra will feature Krzysztof Penderecki, and the Pittsburgh Symphony will present pieces by Karol Szymanowski. The program also includes works by Karol Mikuli, a student of Chopin, highlighting the festival's commitment to a broad spectrum of Polish music.

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I dreamed of a marriage between the musical summit and our laureates, who need to take a big step to achieve it. I would like top orchestras in Warsaw to agree to play with the laureates of our competition in a unique festival atmosphere.