Concert
About the Concert - Experience the Power of Unity
As part of Poland’s presidency of the European Union, on June 19 the World Jewish Philharmonic will perform at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. This extraordinary orchestra brings together musicians and prominent figures from the music world across 30 countries – from Singapore to the United States and Argentina, from Germany to Israel.
They will be joined by exceptional soloists: soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, a star of the world’s greatest opera stages and winner of the International Opera Award (often dubbed the “musical Oscar”); Guy Braunstein, a brilliant violinist and the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Berliner Philharmoniker; Avi Avital, a mandolin virtuoso and recipient of the Echo Klassik Award; and Giora Feidman, a klezmer music legend whose iconic clarinet solos can be heard in films such as Schindler’s List and Love Story. These artists will bring a unique vibrancy and emotional depth to this Wrocław concert.
The concert is inspired by a universal message of friendship and mutual respect. The idea of uniting people through and in music is the driving force behind this initiative, which brings together nearly a hundred individuals connected to Jewish culture. The magic of this project lies in the artistic and personal connections that form a global network.
The repertoire reflects these values – ranging from klezmer and world music to operatic arias and Henryk Wieniawski’s virtuosic violin concerto, all the way to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, his most famous and most frequently performed work. Notably, the symphony’s fourth movement, the Adagietto, has been featured in numerous films, including Luchino Visconti’s Death in Venice.
The project is organized by the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland and co-financed by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage through the Culture Promotion Fund – a national purpose-specific fund. This is a flagship cultural event of Poland’s Presidency of the EU Council.
The concept and artistic direction of the event is led by Marlena Grodzicka-Myślak, violist and cultural manager.
Program - Timeless Masterpieces And Vibrant Voices
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Henryk Wieniawski – Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Don Giovanni: “Crudele… Non mi dir”
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Jacques Fromental Halévy – La Juive: “Il va venir”
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Avi Avital – Avi’s Song
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Gioachino Rossini – Il Barbiere di Siviglia: “Una voce poco fa” (in E-flat major)
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Johann Sebastian Bach – Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 – I. Allegro
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Giacomo Puccini – Tosca: “Vissi d’arte”
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Marc Lavry – Three Jewish Dances:
• Sher
• Yemenite Wedding Dance
• Hora
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Majid Montazer – Friendship and Respect
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Gil Aldena – in Chassidic Mood - Five Movements
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B. Kovacs – Sholem Aleichem Rov Feidman
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Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
National Forum of Music - A Stage for Excellence
Image by Łukasz Rajchert
Image by Łukasz Rajchert
Image by Łukasz Rajchert
Image by Łukasz Rajchert
The final concert of the World Jewish Philharmonic will take place on June 19, 2025 at the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław.
In 2023, National Forum of Music received the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) for special achievements. The ICMA jury recognized that, due to its extensive artistic activities and the excellent architectural and acoustic solutions applied in the building's design, the Wrocław institution serves as a model for similar venues worldwide.
The building, situated in the center of Wrocław, was designed by Kuryłowicz & Associates, with interiors created by Towarzystwo Projektowe. It stands on today's Wolności Square, formerly the Royal Forum, and houses four concert halls, including the Main Hall with 1,804 seats, three chamber halls, rehearsal rooms, conference and office spaces, and an exhibition area. The acoustics, acoustic and theatrical concept, and specialized technological solutions for the concert halls of the National Forum of Music were designed and implemented by the New York-based company Artec Consultants Inc. (now Arup). The acoustic conditions of the Main Hall are individually adjusted to each repertoire – surrounding acoustic chambers and suspended ceilings that can be lowered to the appropriate height allow for the regulation of sound reverberation length. It is also equipped with high-quality sound, lighting, projection, and cinema sound systems, as well as professional recording equipment. The Main Hall features an organ with 4,700 pipes, ranging in length from just a few millimeters to over 10 meters. These pipes can produce sounds from the lowest audible frequencies for humans (16 Hz) to very high frequencies (18,000 Hz). The organ has 80 registers (tones), including high-pressure and percussion stops. It is equipped with two independent consoles – one fixed and one mobile – and allows for sound recording. The organ was built by Orgelbau Klais from Bonn, and the first organ concerts in the Main Hall were held in 2020.