Schola Cantorum Early Music International

28/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝟑𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐅 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚
▪️ 𝟏𝟗-𝟑𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

🔹 The festival is taking place right now – 19-31 May 2026 – in Lower Silesia, in Wrocław, Strzelin and Żórawina. This is the 35th edition of an event which, since 1992, has been continuously co-created by the Academic Cultural Association "Wagant" and the Centre for Culture and Art in Wrocław (OKiS). But behind these names stand real people – for over three decades consistently pursuing the same idea: without big media, without gloss, with persistence and faith that early music matters here and now. It is this human consistency that makes the festival not a one-off flash in the pan nor a commercial product, but a living, maturing tradition of Lower Silesian culture.

🔹 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁?
This is not a mere review of concerts with early music in the background. "May with Early Music" is a considered artistic concept which over the years has developed its own language and its own audience. And although the programme also includes contemporary arrangements or artistic interpretations, the core of the festival remains unchanged: reaching back to sources, respect for the original, and the awareness that early music is not a relic but still a living material.

Concerts are performed according to authentic tablatures and scores, on original period instruments or their faithful copies. It is not about dry reconstruction – it is about conveying the spirituality, aesthetics and technique of bygone centuries in a way that still moves us today, in the 21st century.

🔹 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
From the very beginning, the festival has attached enormous importance to the venues where concerts take place. They are not chosen at random. Cathedrals, churches, the Leopoldina Auditorium, the Oratorium Marianum, the halls of the Ossolineum, historic spa theatres, the Church of Peace in Świdnica – these are all spaces that harmonise historically and acoustically with the music being presented. Thanks to this, the listener does not just hear sounds but is, in a sense, transported to another time. The architecture, the light, the acoustics and the history of these places become a second performer.

🔹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
What sets this festival apart from many others is its social dimension. For years, the rule has been that admission to most events is free for students. The festival consciously builds bridges between the academic, artistic and local communities. Alongside renowned professionals from Poland and abroad, children's, youth and student ensembles take to the stage. The programme includes musicology lectures, meetings with performers, and activities aimed at people aged 60+, who are actively included in the reception and participation of high culture.

The festival is not a closed event for connoisseurs – it is open, though demanding. It does not simplify or "package" early music into easy slogans. Instead, it provides the tools to understand and experience it.

🔹 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮?
Thanks to over three decades of consistent work, Wrocław and the entire region have become recognisable on the map of Polish early music festivals. This is not an exaggeration or local patriotism – the festival was nominated in the prestigious "Lower Silesian Key to Success" competition in the category of best cultural initiative (2012), and its organiser was recognised as the best non-governmental organisation in Lower Silesia in 2013.

Over the years, the festival has visited several dozen towns and villages across the region, and each year the circle of knowledgeable early music lovers grows. This is the result of painstaking, systematic work – it is not about the number of spectators, but about the quality of their contact with the music.

🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝘀.
Although the main events in Wrocław – including the final performance of Handel's Messiah by the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Andrzej Kosendiak – have already taken place, this year's edition has not yet ended.

◾️ Ahead of us:
▪️ 30 May (Saturday), 4:00 p.m., Roman Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, ul. Świętego Floriana 2, Strzelin
▪️ 31 May (Sunday), 7:00 p.m., Church of St Joseph the Betrothed of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Żórawina
These will be intimate concerts, crowning this year's festival with their own quiet intensity.

Performers:
▪️ Duo des Rêveurs
Justyna Wróblewska – harpsichord
Stanisław Stanicki – Baroque cello, piccolo cello (five-string)

▪️ Programme:
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 "𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗵'𝗶𝗼 [𝘀𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶]"
The programme Lascia ch’io [suoni per voi] transports the listener into the world of Baroque affects – music born from the need to express the deepest emotions: longing, love, sorrow and rapture. This is a story of the Baroque era, in which every note was a confession and every musical gesture an act of stirring the soul.

At the heart of the programme lies the work of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) – a composer who, like few others, could combine theatrical drama with pure lyricism. His arias Pena tiranna, Ombra mai fu and Lascia ch’io pianga are like open letters to the human heart – full of light, melancholy and tenderness. Alongside Handel, the music of his rivals will be heard: Giovanni Bononcini (1670-1747), Niccolò Porpora (1686-1768), Filippo Amadei (died c. 1730), Nicola Francesco Haym (1678-1729) and Pietro Gaetano Boni (died c. 1750). Their sonatas and arias are examples of the Italian style, in which songfulness, elegance and dance-like pulse intertwine with depth of expression.

In this intimate rendition, the cello and harpsichord become the voices of human emotion. Lascia ch’io [suoni per voi] – Let me [play for you] – is not only a title, but an invitation to share in an experience of music that for over three centuries has moved and enchanted with its depth of expression.
__________
Organisers:
▪️ Centre for Culture and Art in Wrocław – Cultural Institution of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Self-Government
▪️ Academic Cultural Association "Wagant"

Honorary patronage of the festival has been granted by:
▪️ Marta Cienkowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage
▪️ Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship
▪️ Jerzy Pokój, Chairman of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Sejmik
__________
Text based on own sources and informational materials provided by the Organiser – Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI
Graphics published with the permission of the Organiser, based on the informational materials provided.

27/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 / 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬
🔹 We invite all voices – from pupils and students of vocal departments to professional musicians – regardless of previous experience with historically informed performance practices. The repertoire spans from the early Baroque to the 19th century.

🔹 A special highlight of this year's edition is the opportunity to work with Mirosław Feldgebel – pianist, harpsichordist, and harpist – who will have a 19th-century piano at his disposal.

🔹 Participants of the vocal class will also have the chance to take part in additional projects:
▪️ Romantic Salon – 19th-century song repertoire
▪️ Venus and Adonis by John Blow – a concert performance of the opera

🔹 For selected participants, there is also the opportunity to join Varmia Musica on Tour – they will form the vocal ensemble of soloists performing the choral parts in Venus and Adonis during the tour concerts.

🔹 Individual lessons, ensemble classes, work with an accompanist, lectures, seminars, and free admission to all festival concerts – all this awaits active participants.

🔹 Languages of instruction: Polish, English | Level: from beginner to professional | Maximum number of participants: 10

🔗 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – https://varmiamusica.pl/en/classes/
🔗 Information about Varmia Musica Academia – https://varmiamusica.pl/en/academia-2/

🔸 𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬

🔹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗼ł𝗮𝗷𝗰𝘇𝘆𝗸-𝗡𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗲𝗱𝘇𝗶𝗮ł
For many years a soloist at the Warsaw Chamber Opera, the Baltic Opera, and the Wrocław Opera, where she has performed leading roles in works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, and Stravinsky. She is frequently entrusted with premieres of works by contemporary composers such as Zygmunt Krauze, Paweł Łukaszewski, Piotr Moss, and Elżbieta Sikora. A major success was creating the title role in Elżbieta Sikora's Madame Curie, premiered in Paris in November 2011 under the baton of Wojciech Michniewski and met with great enthusiasm by audiences and critics alike. For this role she received the Theatre Award of the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk, and the DVD Madame Curie (DUX) was honoured with the Orphée du Prestige Lyrique de l'Europe award.
She is particularly valued in the early music world, where her artistic career began. In 2001 she received the Zofia Rayzacher Award for the greatest artistic individuality at the 11th Early Music Festival at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. She performs on international stages alongside distinguished musicians and conductors, proudly championing the works of Polish composers from all eras.
She has recorded over 50 albums, with 12 receiving the FRYDERYK Award – the most prestigious prize of the Polish recording industry. Among them, her solo album of Karol Szymanowski's songs won two FRYDERYK awards, the album Stabat Mater – Pergolesi / Luctus Mariae – Łukaszewski received the 2019 FRYDERYK for Chamber Music Album of the Year, and her recording of Ignacy Jan Paderewski's complete songs was honoured with the 2022 FRYDERYK in the Chamber Music – Duets category.
In 2023 she was awarded the title of Professor of Arts. She leads a solo singing class at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.

🔹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗸𝗮-𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘆 – assistant
A graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where she studied singing under Prof. Małgorzata Marczewska and choral conducting under Prof. Bogdan Gola. She also read German and cultural studies at Warsaw University.
She works professionally as an artist with the National Philharmonic Choir and is active as a soloist and chamber musician. As a conductor, she has won numerous accolades, including the Grand Prix of the Wacław of Szamotuły Festival and first prize at the International Religious Music Festival in Rumia. She has received a FRYDERYK Award and has been nominated for the Coryphaeus of Polish Music Award.
Since 2018 she has been a member of the ProMODERN vocal sextet and, since 2014, of the Tempus vocal quartet, with which she promotes Polish Renaissance and Baroque music, performing at early music festivals across Europe, including in Rome, Palermo, and Kraków.
She has collaborated with ensembles such as Sinfonia Varsovia, Bornus Consort, La Tempesta, Ars Nova, Il Giardino d'Amore, and Ca****la Viridimontana, and has appeared at numerous festivals, including Forum Musicum, Varmia Musica, Musica Sacromontana, and the Szczawno-Zdrój Baroque Festival.

🔹 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗼𝘀ł𝗮𝘄 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹 – accompanist
A graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, where he studied piano and also attended the Faculty of Theory, Composition, and Conducting. A laureate of several international piano competitions, including first prize at the Torneo Internazionale di Musica in Turin.
For many years he has devoted himself to the performance of early music on historical instruments – harpsichord, medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque harps, as well as early Classical and Romantic pianos. He has appeared in many prestigious concert halls across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, including the Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Wiener Musikverein, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
He has taken part in numerous international festivals, such as Wratislavia Cantans, the Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdrój, Warsaw Autumn, and the Holland Festival. He is also a co-founder of the Gang Tango quintet, which draws inspiration from the original ensemble of Astor Piazzolla and collaborates with world-renowned violin virtuoso Roby Lakatos.
An outstanding pedagogue and piano teacher.

🔸 𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 – 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒂!
___________
Copy prepared by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI based on informational materials provided by the Organiser.
Graphic design of the post by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI, based on a graphic design by Maciej Łapko and a photos from the organiser's archive.
The bottom right-hand corner features a thumbnail of the official Varmia Musica poster designed by Maciej Łapko.

25/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒐 / 3|7 ⤵️ pl./eng.

ENG ⤵️
Królową symboli barokowych była lutnia. Pojawia się szalenie często w malarstwie, np. u Caravaggia czy Vermeera.
Jej symbolika jest wielowarstwowa:
👉Ulotność chwili (Vanitas): Dźwięk lutni jest piękny, ale wybrzmiewa i natychmiast znika. To idealna metafora ludzkiego życia – intensywnego, lecz krótkiego.
👉Harmonia i zgoda: Dobrze nastrojona lutnia symbolizowała zgodę w świecie, rodzinie lub państwie.
👉Zerwana struna: Jeśli na obrazie widzimy lutnię z pękniętą struną, jest to jasny symbol rozpaczy, kłótni, śmierci lub utraconej harmonii.
👉Miłość i erotyka: Ze względu na swój kształt (przypominający łono lub gruszkę) i subtelny dźwięk, lutnia często towarzyszyła scenom miłosnym, symbolizując uwodzenie i zmysłowość.

ENG

The lute was the queen of Baroque symbols. It appears extremely frequently in painting, for example in the works of Caravaggio or Vermeer.

Its symbolism is multi-layered:

👉 The transience of the moment (Vanitas): The sound of the lute is beautiful, but it fades and disappears immediately. It is the perfect metaphor for human life – intense, yet short.
👉 Harmony: A well-tuned lute symbolised harmony in the world, the family or the state.
👉 A broken string: If we see a lute with a broken string in a painting, it is a clear symbol of despair, quarrels, death or lost harmony.
👉 Love and eroticism: Due to its shape (resembling a womb or a pear) and its subtle sound, the lute often accompanied love scenes, symbolising seduction and sensuality.

Painting: Caravaggio: Lute player

24/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 / 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫

🔹 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 – 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. Its aim is to bring the fruits of a week of intensive work to welcoming concert stages across Poland. A selected group of young musicians, together with their tutors, sets off on a short concert tour, gaining invaluable stage experience and making contacts with directors of cultural institutions and leaders of musical ensembles.

🔹 The culmination of this year's edition will be two semi-staged performances of John Blow's (1649-1708) opera 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀:
▪️ 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 – Feliks Nowowiejski Warmia-Masuria Philharmonic in Olsztyn
▪️ 𝟭𝟮 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 – Creative Work Centre in Radziejowice

🔹 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿?
The project is aimed at selected Course participants – both singers and instrumentalists. We are looking for:
▪️ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – Venus, Adonis, Cupid, Shepherd, Shepherdess, Huntsman
▪️ 𝗩𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 – soprano, alto, tenor, bass
▪️ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – traverso, oboe, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, viola da gamba, lute, harpsichord

🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱!

🔹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲!
To take part in the project, please:
▪️ Complete the application form for the Varmia Musica Academia Course.
▪️ Include a link to an unedited video recording (audio + video), no older than 12 months.

🔹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
▪️ 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 – excerpts from a chosen role in 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀, approx. 2 minutes (materials available on the website).
▪️ 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – selected excerpts from the basso continuo part (materials available on the website).
▪️ 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – two contrasting movements of a solo piece or a piece with basso continuo, 5–8 minutes in total.

The recording should be shared as a private link (e.g. YouTube, WeTransfer, Google Drive). Professional equipment is not required, but the quality should be sufficient for assessment.

🔹 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀.
Participants will be selected by the tutors and organisers of the Course on the basis of the submitted recordings. The results will be announced no later than 𝟱 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Selected participants are expected to take an active part in rehearsals and to work together with commitment to achieve the best possible artistic results.

🔹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀:
🔗 Information about Varmia Musica Academia – https://varmiamusica.pl/en/academia-2/
🔗 Registration and fees – https://varmiamusica.pl/en/applications-and-fees/
🔗 Documents to download (regulations, sheet music) – https://varmiamusica.pl/en/documents/

🔸 𝙒𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚!
___________
Copy prepared by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI based on informational materials provided by the Organiser.
Graphic design of the post by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI, based on a graphic design by Maciej Łapko and a photograph by Radek Niemczynowicz.
The bottom right-hand corner features a thumbnail of the official Varmia Musica poster designed by Maciej Łapko.

23/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒐 / 2|7 ⤵️ pl./eng.

ENG ⤵️
Drugim ciekawym symbolem, pojawiającym się często w naszych pieśniach są pasterki i pasterze.

W baroku postać pasterza lub pasterki była symbolem życia arkadyjskiego, czyli wyidealizowanej wizji egzystencji z dala od zgiełku miasta i dworskich intryg.

Postaci te symbolizują Miłość idealną – przeżywają czyste, subtelne i często nieszczęśliwe uczucia, lub są obiektem erotycznych marzeń bądź beztroskich uciech miłosnych na łonie przyrody.

Ich czystość i niewinność to przeciwieństwo do „zepsutego” świata dworu, a brak ambicji sprawia, że nie uczestniczą w pogoni za bogactwem i władzą.

Nade wszystko symbolizują także związek z naturą – harmonii człowieka z kosmosem, co w baroku było tęsknotą za utraconym rajem.

ENG
Another interesting symbol that frequently appears in our songs is that of shepherdesses and shepherds.

In the Baroque period, the figure of the shepherd or shepherdess symbolised Arcadian life – that is, an idealised vision of existence far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city and court intrigues.

These figures symbolise ideal Love – they experience pure, subtle and often unhappy feelings, or are the objects of erotic dreams or carefree amorous pleasures in the bosom of nature.

Their purity and innocence stand in contrast to the ‘corrupt’ world of the court, and their lack of ambition means they do not participate in the pursuit of wealth and power.

Above all, they also symbolise a connection with nature – the harmony of man with the cosmos, which in the Baroque era represented a longing for a lost paradise.

Painting: Francois Boucher: Shepherd and shepherdess resting

21/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝟑𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 - 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 ▪️ 𝟏𝟗-𝟑𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

🔹 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔,
The 35th Festival "May with Early Music" is the jubilee edition of one of the most important events dedicated to historically informed performance in Lower Silesia, taking place from 19-24 May in Wrocław and from 30-31 May in the Lower Silesian region. The festival combines the highest artistic standards with an educational mission, creating a space where tradition, history and contemporary musical sensitivity meet.
This year's edition of "May with Early Music" will be inaugurated with a unique concert entitled "Spanish Night", featuring the outstanding guitarist Krzysztof Meisinger and the Prima Vista string quartet. The following days will bring an organ recital by Bartosz Rzyman on the historic Engler organ, a premiere programme by Jacek Kowalski dedicated to Bolesław the Brave on the 1000th anniversary of the Kingdom of Poland, a musicological lecture by Marek Dyżewski entitled "The Spirituality of Bach's Era in Paintings and Songs", and a concert "At the Crossroads of Cultures" performed by the ROCAL FUZA Ensemble and the HAERI Vocal Ensemble, presenting early and traditional music from Europe and Georgia.
The festival will culminate in a performance of George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" performed by the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Andrzej Kosendiak. In Strzelin and Żórawina, as part of the festival programme, we will hear the Duo Des Rêveurs performing a piece entitled "Lascia ch'io [suoni per voi]". [Organiser]

🔸 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞:

🔹 19 May (Tuesday), 6:00 p.m., Cathedral of St Vincent and St James, Plac Nankiera 15, Wrocław
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 "𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁"

Performers:
▪️ Krzysztof Meisinger – guitar
▪️ Patrycja Betley – percussion
▪️ Michał Sobuś – double bass

▪️ Prima Vista String Quartet:
Krzysztof Bzówka – first violin
Jakub Grott – second violin
Marek Czech – viola
Tomasz Błaszczak – cello

🔹 21 May (Thursday), 7:00 p.m., Garrison Church, Minor Basilica of St Elizabeth in Wrocław, Świętej Elżbiety 1/2, Wrocław
𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝘀𝘇 𝗥𝘇𝘆𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 "𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻"

Recital on the restored Engler organ from 1761, celebrating the 20th anniversary of B. Rzyman's artistic career.

The programme covers a broad spectrum of Baroque variations – hence the title "Variationen". From variations on a popular early Baroque song, through ostinato variations, to chorale variations as interpreted by composers of the North German and South German Baroque schools, culminating in Bach's famous composition.

Performer:
▪️ Bartosz Patryk Rzyman – organ
▪️ Izabella Starzec – spoken commentary on the music

🔹 22 May (Friday), 6:00 p.m., Great Hall of the Town Hall, Wrocław
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 "𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀ł𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲" 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.

Performers:
▪️ Klub Świętego Ludwika on period instruments:
Jacek Kowalski – original text, translation of the songs of Gallus Anonymus, vocals, guitar, medieval lyre
Agnieszka Obst-Chwała – fiddle, rebec
Tomasz Dobrzański – musical arrangement, bagpipes, flutes, shawms, mandora
Henryk Kasperczak – lute
Jacek Muzioł – percussion instruments

"Hymn of the Polish Crown" – premiere of a new original programme by Jacek Kowalski and a new CD album. An epic and at the same time lyrical story about Bolesław the Brave, freely drawing on ancient chronicles and saints' lives ("Polish Chronicle" by Gallus Anonymus, "Vita Sancti Adalberti" by Bruno of Querfurt, "Chronicle" by Ademar of Chabannes) and Polish historical tradition. In part, it pays homage to the style of the medieval epic song, without shunning contemporary updates and accents akin to Polish poetic song.

🔹 23 May (Saturday), 3:00 p.m., Club of Music and Literature, pl. Kościuszki 10, Wrocław
"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵'𝘀 𝗘𝗿𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀"
▪️ Musicology lecture by Marek Dyżewski

🔹 23 May (Saturday), 6:30 p.m., Oratorium Marianum Hall, University of Wrocław, Pl. Uniwersytecki 1, Wrocław
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 "𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀" – 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆

Performers:
▪️ ROCAL FUZA Early Music Ensemble:
Radosław Dembiński,
Ryszard Dominik Dembiński
(instruments: medieval fiddle, shawm, recorders, gittern, mandora, viola da gamba, scheitholt, tambourine, and percussion instruments)

▪️ HAERI Ensemble:
Veronika Bratrychová,
Anna A. Kopecká,
Kristina Mezereková,
Anička Raimbaultová,
Šárka Seifertová,
Keti Sepherteladze

Programme
Bringing together music from the extreme regions of our continent seems both an extremely interesting and challenging concept. Music from the western reaches – French, Spanish and Irish – combined with songs from mountainous Georgia presents the full cultural breadth of Europe. This in turn raises the fundamental question: can such a fusion of Eastern and Western traditions produce an interesting result?
It is no coincidence that the programme includes medieval compositions and traditional regional melodies. The aim of this "crossroads of cultures" is also to juxtapose music that has been subject to very little cultural migration. As a result, the effect achieved is certainly original and unprecedented. The programme's sonic diversity is complemented by period instruments made in R.D. Dembiński's Early Instruments Workshop, such as the medieval fiddle, mandora, gittern and shawm.

🔹 24 May (Sunday), 5:00 p.m., St Maurice's Church, Wrocław
"Unwavering Songs of the Commonwealth – A Concert for Community Singing"
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗸 𝗞𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗰ł𝗮𝘄
‼️𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩'𝙨 𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙯𝙚!‼️

Performers:
▪️ Jacek Kowalski – traveller's guitar, vocals, spoken word
▪️ Karolina Kaiser-Cichocka – violin, fiddle, flute
▪️ Wojciech Winiarski – guitar, guitar-lute

🔹 24 May (Sunday), 7:00 p.m., Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Plac Katedralny 18, Wrocław
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁: "𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗵" 𝗯𝘆 𝗚.𝗙. 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹 (𝗛𝗪𝗩 𝟱𝟲), 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗙𝗠 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗰ł𝗮𝘄 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲

Performers:
▪️ Andrzej Kosendiak – conductor
▪️ Wrocław Baroque Ensemble:
Aleksandra Turalska, Stanislava Mihalcová, Natalia Kiczyńska – soprano I
Aldona Bartnik, Anna Zawisza, Małgorzata Kątnik – soprano II
Daniel Elgersma, Piotr Olech, Bartosz Wasiluk, Ewelina Wojewoda – alto
Maciej Gocman, Florian Cramer, Jacek Wisłocki, Marek Belko – tenor
Jaromír Nosek, Volodymyr Andrushchak, Jussi Lehtipuu, Andrzej Zawisza – bass
Geoffrey Coates, Fiona Last – oboe
Beniamin Lewi – bassoon
Fruzsina Hara, Karol Valentina Cortes Cusba – trumpet
Jarosław Kopeć – timpani
Zbigniew Pilch, Małgorzata Kosendiak, Dominika Małecka, Kamila Guz, Bartłomiej Fraś, Katarzyna Cendlak – violin I, II
Dymitr Olszewski, Agnieszka Papierska, Elżbieta Stonoga – viola
Julia Karpeta – viola da gamba
Krzysztof Karpeta, Jakub Kościukiewicz – cello
Łukasz Macioszek – violone
Premysl Vacek – lute
Marta Niedźwiecka – positive organ

🔹 30 May (Saturday), 4:00 p.m., Roman Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, ul. Świętego Floriana 2, Strzelin
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 "𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗵'𝗶𝗼 [𝘀𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶]"

Performers:
▪️ Duo des Rêveurs
Justyna Wróblewska – harpsichord
Stanisław Stanicki – Baroque cello, piccolo cello (five-string)

🔹 31 May (Sunday), 7:00 p.m., Church of St Joseph the Betrothed of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Żórawina
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 "𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗵'𝗶𝗼 [𝘀𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶]"

Performers:
▪️ Duo des Rêveurs
Justyna Wróblewska – harpsichord
Stanisław Stanicki – Baroque cello, piccolo cello (five-string)

_________
Organisers:
▪️ The Centre for Culture and Art in Wrocław – Cultural Institution of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Self-Government
▪️ The Academic Cultural Association "Wagant"

Honorary patronage of the festival has been granted by:
▪️ Marta Cienkowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage
▪️ Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship
▪️ Jerzy Pokój, Chairman of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Sejmik
_________
Compiled by – KP SCEMI
Text and graphics published with the permission of the Organiser, based on provided informational materials.

19/05/2026

🇵🇱 Poland
🔸 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 / 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮 – 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 held since 2005, dedicated to historically informed interpretations of works by early masters.
▪️ The courses are intended for students, pupils, and professional musicians who wish to broaden their knowledge in the field of rhetorical performance.
▪️ In addition to core activities such as individual lessons, chamber music, and orchestra, the organisers strongly encourage participation in optional additional classes, such as a Renaissance viol da gamba consort, a Baroque oboe–bassoon consort, or classes in harpsichord tuning and maintenance.
▪️ Practical activities will be accompanied by seminars and lectures.
▪️ Active participants of VMA receive a festival pass granting access to all events of the Varmia Musica festival.
▪️ It is worth noting that some VMA projects, such as the final concert or selected musical afternoon gatherings, are carried out in a “side by side” format, that is, through close and creative collaboration between faculty and participants.
▪️ The culmination of the week-long workshops will be a performance of Venus and Adonis by John Blow, in a special version prepared exclusively for the Varmia Musica festival.
▪️ All workshop participants are invited to take part in the final concert. [Organiser]

🔹 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 / 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬

▪️ 𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹
Anna Mikołajczyk – lecturer
Marta Czarkowska-Lawaty – assistant

▪️ 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲
Karolina Zych – lecturer

▪️ 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗲
Marek Niewiedział – lecturer

▪️ 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻
Tomasz Wesołowski – lecturer

▪️ 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮
Veronika Skuplik – lecturer
Radosław Kamieniarz – assistant in the violin class
Piotr Chrupek – assistant in the viola class

▪️ 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼
Jakub Kościukiewicz – lecturer

▪️ 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗱𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮
Krzysztof Firlus – lecturer

▪️ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼
Ewa Mrowca – lecturer, harpsichord and basso continuo realization
Zuzanna Budziarek – tuning and instrument maintenance training

▪️ 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼
Marcin Szelest – lecturer

▪️ 𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗼, 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿
Anna Swoboda – lecturer

🔹 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

▪️ All details concerning the organisation of the Academy and the Varmia Musica Festival – including the documents required to submit an application, tutor profiles, detailed class descriptions, the scope of participation, and full terms and conditions (such as the language of instruction, required proficiency level, group sizes, application deadlines, and fees) – can be found on the organiser’s official website:
https://varmiamusica.pl/en/academia-2/ .

▪️ We kindly ask you to read all the information carefully before submitting your application. Due to the intimate, small-group nature of the classes, the number of places is limited.

▪️ Should you have any further questions, we encourage you to contact the Organiser directly – the relevant contact details can be found on the website.

▪️ We also warmly invite you to follow our social media profiles, where you will find the latest news and concert announcements.

▪️ In parallel, as Schola Cantorum Early Music International (SCEMI), supporting this remarkably engaging and worthwhile project, we are and will continue to be involved in promoting the Festival, providing ongoing information about all the academic and concert events of the Varmia Musica – Musica Amoris.

▪️ The event is organised by the MEDIUS Music Society

🔹 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 – 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 – 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄-𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒂. 𝑺𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆!
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Copy prepared by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI based on informational materials provided by the Organiser.
Graphic design of the post by Krzysztof Pabiś SCEMI, based on a graphic design by Maciej Łapko and a photograph by Łukasz Czerniewski.
The bottom right-hand corner features a thumbnail of the official Varmia Musica poster designed by Maciej Łapko.