A History Written with Voices

Two decades of work, thousands of young voices, hundreds of events, and countless musical encounters – to mark the 20th anniversary of the Singing Poland programme, join us at the NFM for a truly special concert! Choirs from across Poland will gather on one stage to recount the history of this initiative through the repertoire developed over the years, from pieces performed at the very beginning to brand-new world premieres. This anniversary evening will showcase the remarkable diversity of choral music. It will serve as a “best of” collection, taking you on a journey through compositions and arrangements by Polish composers, commissioned specially for Singing Poland. Alongside songs well-known to young singers, the programme will feature two world premieres, fittingly so, as one of the programme’s core goals is the creation of new repertoire. Jan Krutul’s Bębenek (Little Drum) , a part of the Zagrajmy w muzykę (Let’s Play Music) cycle, first presented during the 10th-anniversary celebrations, serves as a reminder that sometimes all you need to make music together is your voice, your hands, and a sense of rhythm. A similar energy can be found in Taniec z deszczem (Dance with the Rain) by Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk, set to lyrics by Marta Jundziłł, which will receive its premiere at this event. With shifting metres, rhythmic gestures, and playful wordplay, the piece paints a picture of rain full of motion and unexpected turns. There will also be plenty of humour and theatrical imagination. Okulary (Spectacles) by Łukasz Bzowski, set to lyrics by Julian Tuwim and presented here as another world premiere, transforms the story of the absent-minded Hilary into a tale full of frantic haste and comical situations. The Dwarfs, composed by Adam Lepka with lyrics by Justyna Skoczek and taken from the musical Snow White 2.0 , transports listeners into a modern-day fairy-tale world, where the dwarfs use mobile phones and email. A special place in the repertoire is reserved for two works by Stanisław Moniuszko: Kozak and Kum i kuma in arrangements by Roman I. Drozd. The former captivates with its lyricism and drama, while the latter surprises with its humour and swinging rhythm. Both pieces come from the collection Moniuszko inaczej śpiewany (Moniuszko Sung Differently) , featured on an album nominated for a 2021 Fryderyk Award in the “Album of the Year – Choral Music” category. We will also hear Rzeka marzeń (River of Dreams) by Krzesimir Dębski, known from the film In Desert and Wilderness in a choral arrangement by Paweł Stuczyński, as well as the energetic and playfully titled Hip-hip Chórrra!!! by Marcin Wawruk (with lyrics by Marek Markiewicz), which draws on gospel and funk styles. The Melodia (Melody) by Krzysztof Domański, from the Muzykopedia cycle, demonstrates that one can learn about music through music itself, singing about notes that rise, fall, leap, and wander. A touching message is conveyed by Moje miejsce na ziemi (My Place on Earth) by Iz