During the pandemic that has been going on for over a year, the Philharmonic in Szczecin refers to the original and basic idea of the Festival of Music, which is making the music in the city space. However, we gave up organizing an event that could attract many people. Instead, we would like to encourage and inspire you to take to the streets and fill them with magical sounds. Look for our musicians in the city space!
Stay up to date. Subscribe to our newsletter.
The Music Festival is a cyclical event taking place all over the world on the first day of summer on June 21. The idea was born in France, but there is a Polish accent in it. Marcel Landowski, a French composer of Polish origin, came up with the idea of celebrating the Festival of Music. His initiative was picked up and popularized by the composer Maurice Fleuret and Jack Lang, the Minister of Culture of France at that time.
The first event dedicated to celebrating music, the Fête de la Musique, took place on the Seine on June 21st, 1982. Lang invited his countrymen to take music into public space. What was the response? Over a thousand musicians give concerts in the French capital, wherever they can: in the streets, in the cafes, on the squares, in the clubs. The Grand Opera Orchestra presents Berlioz's "Fantastic Symphony" at the square in front of the Garnier Palace. A year later, the situation repeats itself, but street concerts are also held in other French cities. Most, however, takes place in Paris, where Maurice Baquet plays the cello on the Seine, on specially constructed float-skis. In 1985 the whole of Europe is playing to the rhythm of the music. An interesting event is the concert of the rock band Telephone in the Fleury Merogis prison. The Music Festival unfolds every year. Today it is an international artistic event involving philharmonics, operas, theaters, music clubs, cultural centers, schools, pubs, restaurants, non-governmental organizations and private individuals around the world.
Make music!
June 21st is the first day of summer and the time of the summer solstice, which is the shortest night of the year. Additionally, the holiday celebrations coincide with Kupala Night. The name in French is "Fête de la Musique" and is a play on words and the main slogan of the event. In free translation it means – "Make music!"
The Music Festival aims to promote music, its richness and diversity. That is why the numerous concerts focus on various genres: from classical music, sung poetry to jazz, rock, electronic music and ethno. This holiday is an opportunity to participate in the concerts, have fun together, but most of all it is to encourage musicians to express themselves spontaneously on the streets of cities and in public places. Everyone can play, everyone can join, although symbolically, to the celebration of this beautiful holiday.
A tram happening
The Philharmonic in Szczecin, from the initiative of the director of Dorota Serwa, has been organizing the Music Festival in Szczecin since 2013. We played at Jasne Błonia, on the roof of the Dialogue Center "Przełomy", we sang and played in numerous parts of the city. A year ago, we went to Szczecin hospitals to thank the medics for taking care of us during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic. This year we are planning a spontaneous action in Szczecin's trams.
At noon on June 21, a singing trio consisting of Mateusz Czarnowski (vocal), Bartłomiej Orłowski (ukulele) and Wojciech Gunia (double bass) will go on a tram tour around Szczecin. You will be able to meet musicians in the various parts of the city and listen to their interpretation of songs from the albums recorded by the Philharmonic Orchestra "I lived long and in Szczecin" and "I lived long and in Szczecin 2".
The song titles can be a hint of places the trio visited on June 21st.
The ride and making music together will end around 2.30 pm at Grunwaldzki Square