The International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój was held for the 60th time this year. It is the world's oldest piano festival, inspired by Frederic Chopin's visit to the town in August 1826. The composer, who was 16 at that time, came to Duszniki spa because of poor health. He took part in a charity concert organized by the spa patients for orphans. In August 1946, on the 120th anniversary of that event, the first Chopin Festival was held in Duszniki. Ever since then the spa resounds with Chopin's music in early August each year.

"The festival's status has achieved global proportions thanks to the talented artists who come to the Chopin Manor from around the world," says Piotr Paleczny, the festival's artistic director. "Worldwide, Chopin is recognized as a genius on par with Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. This is Polish music's unique contribution to world culture."

This year the festival's anniversary edition's participants included several world-renowned piano music stars as well as a range of young virtuosos from around the world, recent winners of prestigious piano competitions. As every year, they included many pianists from the Far East who are studying in Germany, Russia and the United States. Apart from Dang Thai Son, the performers also included Siheng Song from China, Coleen Lee Ka-Ling from Hong Kong, Yoyce Yang and Dong-Hyek Lim from South Korea and Ayako Uehara from Japan. There was also a group of young Polish players, candidates in the Chopin Competition in September. Although the biggest star, this year's winner Rafał Blechacz, was missing, the audiences enjoyed all the interpretations presented.

Grigory Sokolov, one of the world's best virtuosos, who inaugurated the event, was an unquestioned star. Each of his concerts presents interpretations that are very suggestive, sophisticated and rich in sound. The young Alexander Gavriluk's rare mastery also delighted listeners. His rendition of the traditional Nocturne surprised even the most demanding critics.

Next year, the 61st festival will start as always on the first Friday of August and last until the following Saturday.