European Krzysztof Penderecki Music Centre

The European Music Centre was recently put into operation. “The idea evolved for many years,” writes Mateusz Borkowski (Gazeta Wyborcza, 12 January 2012). First, the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy Association – the International Centre of Music, Ballet and Sport was established in 2001, and the first design of the centre was developed a year later. The late 2005 saw the establishment of the European Krzysztof Penderecki Music Centre, a national cultural institution registered with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. At that time, the composer thus talked about the idea of the cetre: “I would like to tell all young musicians that no artistic work can survive without roots. Look at a tree, it teaches us that a work of art must be doubly rooted: in the earth and in the air, and that it’s always about the highest and most fundamental values. So may this place in Lusławice help young and talented musicians launch their artistic careers.”
This modern facility, designed by the DDJM architectural design studio from Kraków, was built in just 16 months. It has an area of almost 10,000 square metres and at the heart of the building is a 650-seat, acoustically superior concert venue. The complex also features a 150-seat rehearsal hall (which can also serve as a chamber hall), a library, a reading room, a multimedia room, practice rooms, storehouses for musical instruments, dressing rooms, a kitchen, a dining room and accommodation places for 120 people. The facility has full utilities.
The Centre will be inaugurated on 21 May with a performance by Anne-Sophie Mutter and her foundation scholarship holders. Together they will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s “Octet”.
Borkowski announces that “The Centre also plans many educational and musical projects. Due to the celebrations of the Year of Lutosławski, children and youth from all over Małopolska will have an opportunity not only to visit the centre and get to know the music of Polish 20th-century composers, but also to see how music is created. July sees the beginning of the EMANATIONS Festival, as part of which concerts will be held all over Małopolska, and at the heart of the events will be Lusławice, from which arts will emanate. Regardless of these plans, the main sphere of activity will be regularly organizing master classes in interpretation of solo, chamber and orchestral music.”
“Lusławice, if well run, also has a chance to become an important international centre radiating far beyond Poland”, emphasizes Krzysztof Penderecki.