Today marks the 201st anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin.

At noon the American pianist Kevin Kenner gives a recital in the composer’s birthplace of Zelazowa Wola. He will perform on a historic Erard piano dating from 1838, purchased three months ago from a private owner in Canada by the National Chopin Institute in Warsaw.

The recital will be broadcast live on Polish Radio Two.
 
In the evening, a prizewinner of last year’s Chopin Competition, Daniil Trofonov of Russia, will perform Chopin’s E minor Concerto with Sinfonia Varsovia conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki.

In the second part of the concert Penderecki will conduct his latest work - Songs of reflection and nostalgia -  for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, choir and orchestra. The songs are settings of verse by Polish poets, written specially for the Chopin Year.

The concert ends the year-long celebrations of the Chopin Year during which over 3, 500 events have been staged all over the world.

Addressing a press conference in Warsaw, Waldemar Dąbrowski, the Director of the Chopin 2010 programme, listed the new Chopin Museum and the Chopin Centre, as well as the thoroughly refurbished composer’s birthplace of Żelazowa Wola as the major achievements of the Chopin Year.

He also spoke of the interest of the world media, with some 300 TV and radio stations reporting on the highlights of the Chopin Year from Warsaw. (mk)