Poland celebrates two historical milestones in 2018 and 2019. Last year marked a hundred years since Poland restored its independence after over a century under foreign oppression. This year the country contunues to celebrate, focusing on the bicentenary of Stanisław Moniuszko, the father of Polish opera.

Mass festivities across the country are planned for the composer's birthday, 5 May. Beginning on 14 August, the 15th Chopin and his Europe Festival will focus on the composer's operatic works. To provide a wider context for his music, the event will also feature other Polish as well as international composers.

Highlights include Grzegorz Nowak conducting the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir and Polish soloists in a performance of one of Moniuszko's most important pieces, The Haunted Manor. Following up on their concert rendition of_Halka_ in Italian, Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante will come back to Warsaw with Flis. The Czech Republic's Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 under Václav Luks will perform The Miracle, or Cracovians and Highlanders by Jan Stefani, while Fabio Biondi and his Europa Galante will add international context to the programme with Verdi's Il corsaro.

Playing Moniuszko's music will also be Christoph Prégardien, Tobias Koch, Janusz Olejniczak and Cyprien Katsaris.

Visit the festival's website to find out more.