The 32nd edition of the “Non Sola Scripta” festival – the opening concert is coming this Sunday!

For the 32nd time, Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island) will resonate with magical sounds during the Johannes Brahms Organ and Chamber Music Festival ‘Non Sola Scripta’. Concerts will be held every Sunday in July and August at the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew on Ostrów Tumski. During the opening evening on July 6th, the artistic director of the festival, Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński, the “Einbecker Kantorei” Choir under the direction of Ulrike Hastedt, and Ellen Wolpert will perform.

Organized for over thirty years in Wrocław, the ‘Non Sola Scripta’ Festival is distinguished by its unique program formula. During the concerts, the audience has the opportunity to get acquainted with both classical and contemporary compositions presented in original arrangements. A characteristic element of the event is the combination of improvisations by talented organists from around the world with performances by outstanding instrumentalists and vocalists. Each concert is an event that offers a completely new, unique experience every time. With its rich achievements and long tradition, “Non Sola Scripta” is today one of the most important and interesting organ music events in Poland.

The function of artistic director of the festival has been held for over three decades by Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński, who is an outstanding musician and composer. Also this time, he will present his organ playing during the opening concert. The artist has performed so far in almost all European countries, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, as well as in Israel, USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Japan. He has performed in renowned venues such as: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and Paul VI Hall in Rome. He has made numerous radio and television recordings in Poland and abroad. He has over 20 albums to his credit. He served as the rector of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He has been a juror in international organ competitions many times. He received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa at Keimyung University in South Korea. He is also the author of numerous organ projects in Poland, as well as in Germany, Canada and Japan. Since the first concert as part of the Jeunesse Musical world festival and the performance in Geneva (1979), he has performed over 1500 recitals. During the inaugural concert, alongside Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński, the Einbecker Kantorei Choir under the direction of Ulrike Hastedt and Ellen Wolpert (accompaniment) will perform.

The Einbecker Kantorei Choir has been associated with the Cathedral of St. Alexander in Einbeck, Germany for years. Since 1992, it has been led by cantor Ulrike Hastedt, who gives the ensemble an artistic direction and constantly expands its repertoire. Einbecker Kantorei specializes in liturgical music, performing cantatas, masses, oratorios, passions and traditional church songs. The group performs monumental works by J.S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn-Barthold both during concerts in Einbeck and abroad — in the Netherlands, the USA and Poland. The choir’s performances are recognized for the high quality of performance and the passion they put into music, gaining the sympathy of listeners and critics.

For musical meetings with “Non Sola Scripta”, the organizers invariably invite you to the Gothic Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew on Ostrów Tumski, which is usually inaccessible to visitors. Tickets are available at nonsolascripta.pl, strefakultury.pl and on site before concerts.