The 30th "Nova Music and Architecture" International Festival

The Toruń Symphony Orchestra announced the 30th anniversary edition of the "Nova Music and Architecture" International Festival, which will take place between June 20 and September 5, 2026. Outstanding musicians, including Krzysztof Jakowicz, Paweł Wakarecy, Iwona Hossa, Łukasz Długosz, Carlos Peña-Montoya, Edyta Krzemień, and Katarzyna Dondalska, will perform as soloists in Toruń's finest concert halls and historic churches. This year's program, featuring artists from all over the world, will be packed with timeless hits and anniversary concerts. Following the tradition, admission to a significant number of the festival events will be free of charge.

"This year marks three decades of merging the beauty of music with the historic and modern interiors of Toruń", says Sara Watrak, spokesperson for the institution.

The festival will open with a gala concert "Marek Wakarecy in memoriam" at CKK Jordanki, dedicated to the memory of the festival's founder and long-standing managing director of the Toruń Symphony Orchestra, who would have turned 75 this year. The concert will feature two orchestras – the Toruń Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas Symphony Orchestra (Lithuania) – under the baton of Dainius Pavilionis, alongside pianist Paweł Wakarecy and soprano Iwona Hossa. The repertoire will include Witold Lutosławski's Paganini Variations and The Vistula by Toruń-based composer Magdalena Cynk.

The program of the concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mieczysław Karłowicz's birth and the centenary of Andrzej Wajda's birth will feature piano pieces by the Young Poland movement composer, alongside works by Polish creators featured in the prominent director's films (June 26).

A key element of the festival will be the "Musical Dialogues" series. It will feature performances by Slovak chamber musicians, a piano sextet (an anniversary concert on July 5 celebrating Steve Reich's 90th birthday), and a cello octet – the Violoncello Vibrez ensemble (July 25).

Another treat for film music lovers will be a concert by the Jerzy Semkow Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra, conducted by Wojciech Rodek. On July 4, the orchestra will perform suites from Harry Potter and Pan Tadeusz. The "Magic of Hollywood" will also fill the air during a TOS symphonic concert at CKK Jordanki on August 30. The very same venue will host the "Musical Melodies" concert on August 22, featuring Edyty Krzemień, Damian Aleksander, and the Toruń Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Krzysztof Herdzin.

On August 1, a Chopin recital by Andrzej Wierciński will be held to commemorate the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Works by Fryderyk Chopin will also be interpreted by an ensemble of Chinese pianists during a concert on August 11 titled "Pianos from the Far East".

Polish ethnic music will be presented as well: on August 14, the Lassak "Helios" family from Zakopane will showcase their original pieces alongside the Toruń Symphony Orchestra. The program will also include Jan Maklakiewicz's Violin Concerto No. 2 "Highland" (Góralski).

The grand finale is scheduled for September 5: Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 5 will be performed by the Toruń Symphony Orchestra and the Bydgoszcz Pomeranian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dainius Pavilionis.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

Detailed program available at: https://www.tos.art.pl/page/30-miedzynarodowy-festiwal-nova-muzyka-i-architektura