Major international classical music competitions evoke strong emotions in both participants and observers. They offer winners cash prizes, concert commissions, and recording contracts; provide commentators ample material for reflection and discussion; and deliver unforgettable aesthetic experiences to audiences. One of the oldest public events of this kind is the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which…
The first underground groups in German-occupied Poland began to be established as early as in the autumn of 1939. The Home Army (Armia Krajowa, AK), an underground army subordinate to the Polish government in exile and the Commander-in-Chief, took its final shape in February 1942. Its Commanders-in-Chief in chronological order were: Stefan Rowecki ‘Grot’ (arrested…
For months, he fought fiercely to restore his homeland to the European map, but his heroic death cut short his efforts. His bravery and death became symbols of the January Uprising. by Piotr Bejrowski On the night of April 10-11, 1864, Romuald Traugutt, the leader of the January Uprising, was arrested by the Russian…
In his actions and writings, Adam Jerzy Czartoryski combined the ethics of the Enlightenment with a romantic vision of the world. From St. Petersburg and Paris he pursued a European policy, and in his book Rozważania o dyplomacji (Reflections on Diplomacy, 1830) he presented and developed the idea of a united continent ‘A Europe of…
In the old times in Poland, the period from New Year’s Eve until the end of the Carnival season was filled with carefree and imaginative fun based on folk beliefs, customs, and rituals. People played, sang, danced, and ate with abandon in the manors, houses, and taverns. A sense of rejoicing was everywhere. In addition,…
He witnessed the country’s turbulent history in the second half of the 18th century. This active politician, great patriot, and distinguished reformer is considered one of the fathers of the Constitution of 3 May 1791. by Piotr Abryszeński Stanisław Małachowski was born in Końskie, an estate that had belonged to the family for generations,…
