Wratislavia Cantans Festival
This September, Gabrieli Consort & Players return to the Wratislavia Cantans Festival for a third year as ensemble-in-residence. The festival, which is in its 43rd season, is based in and around the city of Wrocław in the region of Lower Silesia, southwest Poland. This year, Paul McCreesh, Artistic Director of the festival since 2006, and Gabrieli perform a varied and exciting series of concerts, often collaborating with Polish ensembles and exploring new repertoire. Concerts range from a 120-strong orchestra performing Handel's Fireworks and Water Music to more intimate concerts of Haydn symphonies and Purcell anthems alongside favorite Gabrieli programmes such as Three Odes for Saint Cecilia. James MacMillan makes a guest conductor appearance on 8 September directing his work Seven Last Words from the Cross. The festival runs from 4-14 September.
Friday 5 September
Purcell/Britten: Three Odes for Saint Cecilia
St Elizabeth Church, Wrocław | 7pm
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Saturday 6 September
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Water Music (Horn Suite) and Arias
Outdoor concert in front of the Cathedral on the Cathedral island, Wrocław | 9pm
The Gabrieli Players team-up with the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra for a large-scale, open-air performance of Handel's Water and Firework Music along with Handel arias featuring countertenor Daniel Taylor and soprano Olga Pasiecznik.
Paul McCreesh, director
Sunday 7 September
Haydn Symphonies 6, 7, 8 and Scottish songs
Cistercian Abbey, Lubiąż | 12pm
Mhairi Lawson, soprano
Gabrieli Players
Catherine Martin, director
Monday 8 September
Haydn Symphonies 6, 7, 8 and Scottish songs
Assumption Church, Bielawa | 7pm
Mhairi Lawson, soprano
Gabrieli Players
Catherine Martin, director
Monday 8 September
Drop, Drop Slow Tears: Music by Farrant, Parsley, Parsons and Gibbons (directed by Paul McCreesh)
James MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross (directed by James MacMillan)
St Elizabeth Church, Wrocław | 7pm
Gabrieli Consort, W. Lutosławski Wrocław Philharmonic Choir, Sinfonietta Cracovia
Tuesday 9 September
Earthly Sorrows, Heavenly Joys: Purcell Anthems and works by Walton, Britten and James MacMillan
Church of the Peace, Jawor | 7pm
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Wednesday 10 September
Earthly Sorrows, Heavenly Joys: Purcell Anthems and works by Walton, Britten and James MacMillan
University Church, Wrocław | 7pm
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September
Britten: War Requiem
St Mary Magdalane Polish National Cathedral, Wrocław | 7pm
Susan Bullock soprano, Mark Padmore tenor, Neal Davis baritone
Gabrieli Consort, Wrocław Philharmonic Choir, Poznań Boys' Choir, Schola Cantorum Oxford, Festival Chamber Orchestra, Nospr Katowice
Paul McCreesh, director
For more information on all of the concerts at the festival, visit the website:
http://www.wratislavia.art.pl/