Celebrations commemorating Stanislaw Wyspianski’s death in Krakow begin

Stanislaw Wyspianski (1869-1907) would be delighted to see his name on the biggest posters in the city, announcing 2007 is dedicated to his achievements and talent. He would remember the last festival from seven years ago. However, the current ceremonies are more important as they commemorate the centenary of his death. 
Deeply convinced of a special significance of his work, a Polish Parliament gathering in December 2006 passed the resolution: 2007 is ?Stanislaw Wyspianski Year.? This is a man who attracts attention and is alive in the hearts of Poles everywhere, especially in Krakow. 
Wyspianski was born here, in Krakow, the city of art and tradition. He had a versatile talent and education that included painting, writing tragedies, poetry, designing stained-glass windows in Krakow?s churches and furniture making. He inspired the most eminent Polish artists such as Tadeusz Kantor, Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Grzegorzewski, Leon Schiller, Jerzy Grotowski, Konrad Swinarski, Jerzy Jarocki.
An exposition of his works can be seen in the Jednej Ksiazki Gallery, which inaugurated the celebrations of the artist?s year.
?We would like to create the guidebook that would indicate the famous places connected with Wyspianski,? said Jacek Waltos, professor from the Academy of Fine Arts, during the opening ceremony.
The lovely weather on June 6 provided great viewing of an exhibition of reprints of his life works in front of the Franciscan Basilica at Rynek Wszystkich Swietych. Don?t worry if you missed the opening, as the exhibition will be on display until September 15. 
The concert ?Wyspianski According to Konieczny? was performed, on the same day in the St Kathryn Church, by the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio in Katowice and the Krakow Philharmonic Choir with soloists, and conducted by Jerzy Salwarowski. The composer, Zygmunt Konieczny, writes music for many of Wyspianski?s plays. His pieces were heard during the concert were from the plays ?Legenda? (?Legend?), ?Serce moje gram? (?I play my heart?), ?Noc listopadowa? (?Autumn night?), ?Klatwa? (?The Curse?) and ?Akropolis? (?Acropolis?).
?What attracts me to Wyspianski?s tragedies is an image, a word, a scan (rhythm of a poem)- this is an inspiration to me? says the composer, who feels emotionally close to Wyspianski. The artist was against platitudes, routine, and stereotypes, thus the festival should be seen as liberation from etiquette. It aims to show a variety of the realm of art inspirited by Wyspianski. 
A great variety of events are scheduled for the coming weeks of June — an exposition of his stained-glass designs (June 14-July 30 at the Main Station), an exhibition of ?Poetry of Stained-Glass windows? combined with the work?s illumination and a musical staging (June 22-27, 21:30 at the Franciscan Basilica), as well as a screening of films based on Wyspianski?s plays, such as ?Wesele? (?The Wedding?), ?Noc listopadowa? (?Autumn Night?) by A. Wajda or ?Wyzwolenie? (?Liberation?) by K. Swinarski (June 29-30 and July 1 at 22:00, corner of Jagiellonska and ul. Golebia). 
In the coming months, there will also be many opportunities to take part in academic workshops, scientific debates and performances dedicated to Wyspianski?s centenary.