The Rock Loves Chopin show combines Chopin’s music in modern arrangements with a multimedia setting. Outstanding Polish musicians will re-interpret Chopin in classical, rock and jazz styles, thus imparting a new sound to piano mazurkas, nocturnes and polonaises. The line-up will feature one of Poland’s best classical pianists, Karol Radziwonowicz. He will be joined by Anna Serafińska, a jazz vocalist, and Aleksandra Kurzak, a soprano who performs at the world’s most important opera stages. Leszek Możdżer, a jazz pianist, will play Chopin impressions. The rock part will have Polish guitarists: Marek Raduli, Jacek Królik, and Ryszard Sygitowicz.
The history of Frederic Chopin’s life will be enacted by the dancers of the Folies Dance Company. Choreography has been prepared by Marzena Barcik, and costumes have been designed by Maciej Zień, one of the most talented fashion designers in Poland. The show has been directed by Andrzej Matusiak, director of Stołeczna Estrada.
The show will tell about Poland’s path to freedom and about two important figures of Polish and European transformation—John Paul II and Lech Wałęsa. It will be staged at a Roman amphitheatre, Arena di Verona. The performance will be accompanied by other events to promote Poland. Among other attractions, residents of Verona and tourists will have a chance to taste Polish apples.
“It’s an excellent opportunity to promote Poland, especially with a view to next year’s EXPO 2015, which will be in Milan. Rock Loves Chopin ideally responds to the run-up to the World Exhibition. It builds a congenial atmosphere, at the same time showing how many prominent artists we do have in Poland. We’ll see more than 100 of them in Verona!” says Jerzy Adamczyk, Polish Consul General in Milan.
Rock Loves Chopin has been previously presented in different cities around the world. Polish artists drew enthusiastic applause in Chicago, Warsaw, Shanghai, Berlin, Cairo, Bucharest, Beijing, Zagreb, Moscow and Mexico City. The show has been produced by Stołeczna Estrada.
For more information about the project go to: Chopin Area website.
Source: Polish Consulate General in Milan