The Mazowsze Folk and Song Ensemble gave a gala concert in Warsaw, Wednesday night, opening a series of performances to mark its 60th anniversary.

The group was formally established in 1948 but its inaugural concert was on 6 November 1950.

Last night, ninety dancers and singers gave a spectacular show in Warsaw’s Congress Hall.

The troupe begins a five-week North American tour  on 12 November. Its itinerary includes New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Toronto.

Mazowsze is Poland’s internationally best-known folk ensemble. In addition to songs and dances from all Polish regions, its repertoire includes popular folk songs from around the world. Foreign tours have taken it to fifty countries. It has given about 7, 000 concerts, attracting an audience of almost 18 million.

The founder and first director of Mazowsze was the composer and conductor Tadeusz Sygietyński (1896-1955). After his death, the post of Artistic Director was taken over by his widow, Mira Zimińska, a star of Warsaw’s pre-war cabarets. She served in the post for over half-a-century, until her death in 1997, at the age of 96. (mk)