30 June 2004

Warsaw Autumn is the only Polish festival devoted entirely to contemporary music and enjoys a well-established international position. It is also one of the most significant European events which features the latest musical works and projects. It encourages the emergence of new artistic and cultural events for which new compositions are created as well as those which feature premiere works and debuts by composers and musicians. The festival presents a whole range of contemporary music events and tendencies, from Webern's tradition to audio-art, live electronics and sound installations.

For nearly half a century, the top soloists, bands and composers of our times have visited Warsaw every autumn. For Polish audiences, Warsaw Autumn, from its first edition to present day, has been the main source of information on world contemporary music. Until recently, the festival was also the only place for authentic, close and informal meetings between representatives of musical cultures from the East and West. The festival's legacy and its long tradition make it a significant event on the Polish cultural scene.

Twenty concerts, as well as a number of accompanying events, meetings with authors and workshops, will take place as part of Warsaw Autumn 2004.

"I particularly recommend three events," said Tadeusz Wielecki, director of the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music. "The final concert at the National Philharmonic features the first performance of all four Symphonies by Witold Lutosławski in history. The National Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio will be conducted by Gabriel Chmura and Jacek Kaspszyk. Another interesting event will be the first performance of Rafał Augustyn's Hymn Symphony, presented by soloists, Sinfonia Varsovia and the Choir of the National Philharmonic conducted by Renato Rivolta. A particularly remarkable concert in the night series will be the presentation of a new composition by Bernhard Lang. The piece, entitled DW9, was inspired by popular techniques used by DJs."

Most significant themes and projects of Warsaw Autumn 2004:
• Composers: W. Lutosławski, T. Ades, J. Harvey, S. Gubaydulina, T. Dun, H. M. Górecki, L. Nono, L. Berio, B. Schaeffer, K. Stockhausen, R. Augustyn, P. Boulez
• Orchestras: Sinfonia Varsovia, National Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio, Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra
• Groups: Cikada String Quartet, Moscow New Music Ensemble, Nordlys Ensemble, Silesian Quartet, a festival Polish-German youth new music band, Aukso, Kwartludium
• Europe performance featuring W. Blake's lyrics-the third and last part of an opera triptych based on the idea included in Czesław Miłosz's The Land of Ulro; music by Stanisław Krupowicz, directed by Adam Sroka
• Marathon of improvised music (featuring a joint project by Warsaw Autumn and International Courses of New Music in Darmstadt)
• Electroacoustic music and live electronics
• Concerts will be held in the National philharmonic, Fabryka Trzciny club, musical Academy, the Mazovian Culture and Art Center, the Norblin Factory, and at the Polityka weekly's office building among others.

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