This year Poland celebrates the 100th anniversary since it regained independence. This occasion requires a proper celebration. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage along with most cities in Poland invite everybody to celebrate this exceptional occasion. Warsaw has a broad range of enticing offer for those who wish to participate in honoring this historic event.
Concert for Independent Poland will take place at the PGE National Stadium, “Independent” Festival will take place on Krakowskie Przedmieście street, gala concert 100 for 100: Musical Decades of Freedom, in the Teatr Wielki – The Polish National Opera in Warsaw as well a movie premier “Independence” also taking place in the Teatr Wielki. These are main events co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The celebration will rely on Poles and those of Polish heritage to rekindle the spirit of the past to make the celebration of the nations well earn independence a memorable occasion. This important anniversary takes place on November 11th and is likely to be one of the biggest state celebrations in contemporary Polish history.
CONCERT FOR INDEPENDENT POLAND
On November 10th, the day before the official Independence Day Holiday, The Concert for Independent Poland will take place at the PGE National Stadium. It will be an extraordinary vocal and musical spectacle. Artists will take the audience on a journey through the last hundred years of Polish history. There will be songs that accompanied the Polish Legions, soldiers fighting at Monte Cassino, as well as the defenders of the capital during the Warsaw Uprising. Songs that in difficult times gave hope when fighting the totalitarian regime, as well as tunes that accompanied joyous moments from parties past and present. The show will be broadcasted on public television, TVP and Polish Radio.
Entry to the concert will be free of charge.
„INDEPENDENT” FESTIVAL ON THE KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDMIEŚCIE IN WARSAW
On November 11th after the official state ceremonies at Piłsudski Square, the festivities continue at Krakowskie Przedmieście street. The organizers came up with two routes – White and Red – passersby will be able to stop at historical places and encouraged to join the further celebrations.
The White route has six stops, including workshops, concerts and performances. There will be a musical stage, with songs from Poland’s musical history of the last century. There will be a stop dedicated to Polish dances and a stop devoted to Masterpieces of Polish Art Cinema. There will also be attractions for children and specialties of Polish cuisine. Thanks to the support of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, a special stop will be created called Exhibition of the White Eagle, and the National Center for Culture has planned the Exhibition of One Monument.
The Red route is dedicated to the achievements of the six fathers of Polish Independence: Paderewski, Piłsudski, Dmowski, Witos, Daszyński and Korfanty. Each location will be dedicated to the aforementioned men. The Bristol hotel will be Paderewski’s stop. Paderewski was a frequent guest at the hotel, so one of the hotel halls will resound with the composer’s music transmitted outside for the public to listen to..
Apart from the White and Red Routes, every hour there will be a guided tour along the Royal Route (Krakowskie Przedmieście), during which attendees will be able to learn the secrets of the architecture of Krakowskie Przedmiescie, find out who walked along the Royal Route, anecdotes and history from Warsaw salons.
The festival will begin at 1:00 PM and end at 10:00PM
GALA CONCERT “100 FOR 100. MUSICAL DECADES OF FREEDOM”
On November 11th at the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera a gala concert will take place as part of the project 100 for 100: Musical Decades of Freedom.
The program includes: Krzysztof Penderecki’s Fanfara and Te Deum, Beatus Vir op. 38 by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki and Piano Concerto in a minor composed by Ignacy Jan Paderewski. There will be performances from Mariusz Godlewski (baritone), Ewa Vesin (soprano), Karolina Sikora (mezzo-soprano), Arnold Rutkowski (tenor), Tomasz Konieczny (bass-baritone) as well as the Choir and Orchestra of the Grand Theater – National Opera under the baton of Jacek Kaspszyk.
MOVIE PREMIER „INDEPENDENCE”
On November 12th in the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, the premier of the film “Independence” will be screened. It is co-produced by MKIDN and directed by Krzysztof Talczewski. The documentary is about Poland regaining its independence in 1918, fighting for Polish borders during the First World War, the Polish-Soviet war during the uprisings and plebiscites, also during the diplomatic struggle in Versailles.
The film was made from archival materials from 1914-1923, which until now have not been shown to the Polish audience. All materials have been restored and colored. The music was composed by Krzesimir Dębski. After the official premiere, the film will be available to the public for free on the Ipla platform offer.