Chopin Festival comes under EU Presidency

Distinguished performers from across the globe will be descending on Warsaw for the event.

Chopin launched his career city in the Polish capital, and it was there that his heart was later interred.

Among those due to arrive in Warsaw are the Orchestre des Champs Elysees, the Russian National Orchestra, as well as individual maestros who have won editions of the International Chopin Competition, including last year's winner Yulianna Avdeeva.

Besides celebrating the legacy of Poland's most cherished composer, the festival will also be making forays into the works of his contemporaries.

This year, a key feature of the programme will be Hungarian Franz Liszt, a friend of the Polish legend. The Romantic composer was born in 1811, just one year after Chopin, thus making 2011 his bicentenary.

Liszt's Hungarian roots strike a complimentary chord with the EU presidency, as the Polish government has just picked up the baton from its counterparts in Budapest.

Japan will also be the focus of tributes during the festival. For many years, Chopin has proved exceptionally popular in Japan, and this year's closing concert on 1 September will be held in solidarity with the island, following the devastating tsunami this March. (nh)