About the festival
Wrocław’s Ostrów Tumski is usually associated with silence and the sacred, but for many years, summer Sundays in this historic area have sounded somewhat different. As the sun begins to hide behind the towers of the Gothic churches, the organ comes to life within the walls of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew. “Non Sola Scripta” masterfully combines classical compositions with extraordinary improvisations performed by musical virtuosos.
Three Decades of Tradition
The Latin name of the festival, which loosely translates to “not only what is written,” has become its artistic manifesto. While other festivals focus on the faithful reproduction of the masters’ works, the Wrocław meetings serve as a space for experimentation. Here, the score is merely a starting point – an invitation to a dialogue between what has remained unchanged for centuries and what is born in the present moment.
As the prominent critic Marek Dyżewski aptly noted, the process of authentic improvisation gives birth to something that, through its unforeseen and unexpected elements, surprises the artist himself; it evokes a profound sense of wonder and seems to be only partly the work of human hands, and partly – a gift from someone else (Festival of Creative Transgressions, 2023).
he organ is the heart of every evening, yet its powerful sound meets unexpected partners. Over the years, the audience has witnessed musical conversations between the organ and the lute, saxophone, violin, and cello, while the festival stage has hosted such legendary personalities as Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Adam Makowicz, Tomasz Stańko, Anna Maria Jopek, and Halina Frąckowiak.
Global Stature and Grand Masterpieces
Over the years, the festival has achieved the status of a truly global stage, drawing record-breaking audiences who often eagerly demanded repeat performances from their favorite masters. Across various festival venues, the public has been able to experience monumental oratorio works – ranging from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor and the moving Requiems of Mozart and Verdi, to Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. There has also been no shortage of concerts filled with the power of the Concert Orchestra of the Representative Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Armed Forces.
The festival’s musical map knows no borders. Wrocław has hosted outstanding vocal ensembles from all over the world: from American academic choirs from Los Angeles and Missouri University, to the Melbourne Academic Choir, numerous formations from Germany, and the highly expressive Black Sea Don Cossacks Choir. The list of soloists is equally impressive. Alongside the cream of Polish organists – both established masters and debutants participating in the young talent promotion program – the festival has welcomed artists from most European countries, Canada, the USA, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
The history of these musical encounters includes events that are nothing short of legendary. One that holds a special place in the memories of music lovers is the concert from 2000, sponsored by H.E. the Ambassador of India. The star of the evening was Sharan Rani Backliwal – an outstanding artist and “Cultural Ambassador of India,” whose masterful performance on the traditional sarod instrument revealed a completely new, oriental face of improvisation to the Wrocław audience.
The Architect of Sound
It is hard to imagine the “Non Sola Scripta” festival without Prof. Dr hab. Andrzej Chorosiński. As its founder and artistic director, he has consistently built bridges between tradition and modernity for over 30 years. The Professor is an iconic figure on the Polish music scene – a pedagogue, composer, and virtuoso who brings his vast experience from the world’s greatest concert halls (from Canada to Japan) directly into the walls of the Wrocław collegiate church.
Music within Historic Walls
The Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew is a jewel of Gothic architecture that normally remains closed to visitors. The “Non Sola Scripta” festival offers a rare opportunity to cross its threshold and experience an acoustic environment that adds a unique quality to every performance. It is a place for emotion-seekers who want to feel how the music of early masters – Brahms, Bach – and contemporary composers alike gains new life through improvisation, while the deep silence and rapt attention of the Wrocław audience become co-creators of each of these fleeting masterpieces.