POLAND MUSIC FESTIVALS - TOUR EU501
Chopin Tour, 2020
Concerts of the finalists of the 18th International Frederic Chopin Piano
Competition 2020.
Guaranteed Departure:
October 21 - 25, 2020
The International Chopin Piano
Competition is one of
the oldest music competitions in the world. It was founded by Prof. Jerzy
Żurawlew (1887-1980) an extraordinary Polish pianist, teacher and
composer. In the beginning it was a small contest with only 26 pianists
from 8 countries, but throughout the years the competition gained more
prestige and became one of the most important piano contests in the world.
Winning or being awarded one of many prizes in this special competition
simplifies the future career of the participants. Among the prize winners
there are: Lew Oborin, Stanisław Szpinalski, Aleksander Uniński, Jakov
Zak, Witold Małcużyński, Jan Ekier, Halina Czerny Stefańska, Bella
Davidovich, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Adam Harasiewicz, Wladimir Ashkenazy,
Fou Ts'Oung, Lidia Grychtołówna, Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich,
Garrick Ohlsson, Piotr Paleczny, Eugene Indjic, Krystian Zimerman, Dang
Thai Son, Stanislav Bunin, Kevin Kenner, Alexei Sultanov, Yundi Li, Rafał
Blechacz, Yulianna Avdeeva.
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Monday October 21, 2020 - Warsaw
After arrival, you will be met and transferred to your
hotel in the heart of the city. Orientation walk through the Old Town to get
acquainted with the city of Warsaw, a city of Frederic Chopin. See the
Castle’s Square where between 1826-1831 a building stood belonging to
Sisters Bernadine’s with a music school lead by Joseph Elsner, Chopin’s
music teacher. Walk along the Krakowskie Przedmiescie street with stop by
the building of Res Sacra Miser. It was here where young Chopin was giving
his first public concerts, at Namiestnikowski Palace and the Church of Nuns
of the Visitations, as well. Chopin loved hot chocolate. Therefore we invite
you to visit Old-Fashioned Wedel Shop – a former seat of the famous Polish
chocolatier that started chocolate production in the 1850s and till today
“Wedel” Factory is one of the most famous brands of chocolate in Poland.
Enjoy your time with cup of hot chocolate in the beautiful interiors with
décor to remind you of the splendour of the pre-war Warsaw and place where
famous Polish writers used to meet, such as: Noble Prize Winner for
Literature - Henry Sienkiewicz, the author of “Qvo-Vadis” novel brought on
screen by Mervyn LeRoy in 1951.
Chopin concert in the Museum of
Archdiocese and welcome dinner.
Tuesday October 22 Warsaw See
the Krasinski Palace with the Chopin Drawing
Room where Chopin performed his etudes, some polonaises, and mazurkas for
the first time. There is a commemorative plaque in the front of the
building. Walk to the Kazimierzowski Palace, seat of the Warsaw Lycee which
Chopin enters in 1823 and stop at the Zamoyski Palace, where Chopin’s family
lived and where was the famous Chopin’s grand piano commemorated in the poem
by Norwid “Chopin’s
Piano”, who said about Chopin “Varsavian by birth,
Pole by heart, global citizen by talent”. Visit the Holy Cross Church where
the urn with Chopin’s heart is places, brought by his sister secretly from
France where Chopin died and before that asked for his heart to be taken
back to his homeland. Drive to Ostrogski
Castle, a seat of the Chopin Museum. The cellar presents Chopin as a
composer/pianist along with his followers. The ground floor presents
Żelazowa Wola period, Chopin’s room when he was a child room, Mr. Nicolas
Chopin saloon and exhibit “ Warsaw in the times of Chopin” . First floor
focuses on Parisian life, Nohant and on women in his life. Second and the
last floor is dedicated to Chopin’s European Journeys, his Personality and
finally his death. Museum is fully interactive and most technically
advanced. Each visitor receives a special token/chip which guides individual
tourists through the exhibition. The token placed in one of the many readers
allows to listen to the music, view rare manuscripts and listen to the
information in many languages. The visitors will hear the noise
of 19th
Parisian street, sounds from the kitchen at Nohant mansion, smell the aroma
of Chopin’s favourite violets etc. Beside the rare and precious 800
manuscripts and autographs viewers will be able to see Chopin’s personal
belonging including his clothes, coffee cup, handkerchief, pens and jewelry.
Entire museum sounds with Chopin’s music except with the room commemorating
his death which will be dark silent.
Wednesday October 23, 2020 Warsaw
Morning visit to one of the most splendid residence of Warsaw, the Wilanow
Palace and Royal Gardens. It
was the summer seat of the King Jan III Sobieski, the famous conqueror of
the Turks in the battle of Vienna in 1683. You will see the beautiful royal
interiors with the galley of portraits, as well as impressive collection of
decorative art and sculpture. The palace is surrounded by magnificent park
and gardens in a number of styles: a two-level Baroque garden, a
neo-Renaissance rose garden, an English landscape park and an
English-Chinese landscape park. The Wilanow Palace and Park are a part of
the prestigious Association of European Royal Residences.
Afterwards, optional visit to Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a portal
and place to begin an exploration of the world of Polish Jews presented in
the main exhibition, the splendid example of the synagogue, many documents,
letters and documentary movies.
Evening at the Warsaw Opera House to
attend the opera or ballet performance.
Thursday October 24 - Warsaw - Zelowzower -Wola - Warsaw
Drive to Zelazowa Wola. This is where on
February 22,
1810 Frederic Chopin was born to his French father and Polish mother A
museum devoted to great composer is located in the preserved annex of the
former manor. Museum contains copies of marriage certificate of his parents,
Frederic’s certificate of birth and baptism, manuscripts, drawings and
letters and other memorabilia. Visitors are particularly drawn to the
“mother’s room” where the huge bouquet of fresh flowers indicates place
where Chopin was born. Lunch in Restaurant Przepis na KOMPOT (Recipe for
COMPOTE) Located in the immediate vicinity of the birth of Frederic Chopin
is primarily natural, fragrant, aromatic Polish cuisine, which is based on
the highest quality products including juicy, refreshing fruit orchards and
the Polish firm vegetables. Grilled, boiled or baked meat in the traditional
way, are surrounded by colorful vegetables will satisfy any connoisseur of
the culinary arts.
You cannot omit to taste also home-made
cake served with blackcurrant and raspberry jam. It was this kind of jam
that George Sand prepared for Chopin when he used to live with her in
Nohant.Afterwards, drive to Brochów to see the parish church where young
Chopin was baptized. It is also here where Chopin’s parents got married, as
well as his sister Ludwika. There is an inscription “Baptized in this church
on 23 April
1810 was Frederic Chopin, born on 22 February 1810 at
Zelazowa Wola.
Continue to Nieborow to see the former
residence of the aristocratic family of Radziwill. It houses a splendid
collection of art, paintings and sculptures including the Head of Niobe – a
Roman copy from the 1st or 2nd century A.D., made of the white marble. See
the rich collection of Dutch ceramic tiles produced in Harlingen,
magnificent library and collection of artistic majolica produced in the
called a “sculpture center” established by the Radziwill aristocratic family
in 1881.
Farewell dinner to be served by the local family in their
charming house set by the ruins of the former Lowicz Castle. It was the
Dutchess of Lowicz who invited Frederic Chopin for his first concert in
Warsaw.
Friday October 25, 2020 Warsaw
Departure after breakfast.
Price Per Person in Euro:
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Per Person in double room - Euro
1295
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Single Supplement - Euro 395
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US$ pricing will vary with the
exchange rate
Includes:
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accommodation at Sofitel Victoria
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5* hotel - Warsaw [4 nights
including buffet breakfast]
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transportation by deluxe motor coach
(up to 49pax) or minibus (up to 19 pax) throughout all the tour
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English speaking tour escort
throughout all the tour
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Welcome and farewell dinner (3
meals with water+ coffee/tea)
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Lunch in Restaurant Przepis na
KOMPOT
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Local guide for a visits of Warsaw
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Entrance fees:
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Chopin Museum
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Wilanow Palace
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POLIN Museum
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Żelazowa Wola
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Nieborow
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Chopin concert in the Museum of
Archdiocese
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Chocolate tasting
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Concert of Finalists of Frederic
Chopin Piano Competition
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Ballet performance or opera at
the Warsaw Opera House
To book, please
complete our secure online booking form:
HERE
For further information please do not
hesitate to contact us:
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