Spring will come early to Perth this year when pianist Alexandre Tharaud plays the first in a series of four lunchtime concerts celebrating the music of Chopin in the 160th anniversary year of his death. The recital on Monday 23 February is an appetiser for Scottish Tides-Polish Spring a three month long cultural feast celebrating centuries of close connections between Scotland and Poland.
This special relationship began with the relocation of tens of thousands of Scots to Poland in the late 16th century and the creation of trade links with the Baltic, and has carried on to through the tragic events of World War II to the dramatic immigration of Polish people to Scotland which has taken place in recent years - more than 22,000 Polish people now make their home in Scotland, two million in the UK as a whole.
Organised by Horsecross, with support from VisitScotland and Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Tides-Polish Spring forms part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme of events in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.
Concentrated over several weekends from February to May, Scottish Tides-Polish Spring features a range of unique collaborations, performances, exhibitions and events at Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre.
Jane Spiers, Horsecross chief executive said:
"Polish Spring is a great way of getting together with the many Polish people who live in this area, and throughout Scotland, to celebrate our shared experiences and to learn a little bit more about our two nations. Above all we want Scottish and Polish people, two vibrant party loving communities, to come together and enjoy, side by side, what promises to be an exciting mix of events."
Highlights include the biggest ever UK gig by Poland's top rock band, Kult, ‘Home and Away' performances where leading Polish and Scottish acts share the stage, comedy acts, orchestral exchanges, new media art exhibitions and a host of talks and artistic alliances.
Launching the main series of events on Friday 6 March, Scotland's pioneering folk fusion band Peatbog Faeries, ‘Live Band of the Year' at the 2008 Scottish Traditional Music Awards will make their first appearance at Perth Concert Hall since it was named ‘Venue of the Year' at the same Awards. Joined by the legendary Warsaw Village Band, this is shaping up to be an unforgettable evening of great tunes and thumping grooves.
On 7 March, Kult will bring its anarchic anthems to Perth in its biggest ever UK gig. The nine-piece band, Poland's top rock act, has its roots in punk and, in the 26 years since it formed, has made 13 albums, had countless hit singles and performed more than 2500 concerts.
The Chopin piano recital series will continue with performances by Aleksandar Madzar, Katia Skanavi and Nikolai Demidenko, all recorded for national transmission by BBC Radio 3.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra will be joined by brilliant Polish pianist, Piotr Andreszewski for a night of Bach and Mozart and the Hebrides Ensemble will play two quirky pieces by Gorecki. Violinist Tasmin Little will solo with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a rare performance of Karlowicz's warmly passionate violin concerto.
An entire symphony orchestra, Filharmonia Pomorska, will travel from Perth's twin town of Bydgoszcz to bring their own full-blooded and dramatic sound to a programme of works by Szymanowski and Gorecki.
The sumptuous and intimate Perth Theatre Redrooms will host a performance by creative jazz group Sing Sing Penelope from Bydgoszcz and stage some scintillating slapstick from highly visual comedy act Dno & Lowcy B.
No strangers to the UK comedy circuit, Poland's most popular cabaret act, Ani Mru Mru will engage the audience with the universal language of laughter when they perform at Perth Concert Hall.
Well-known author and historian Billy Kay will draw on a lifetime of exploring, writing and broadcasting about Scots across the globe with tales, tunes and songs in The Eastland Diaspora and the illustrated talk A Forgotten Diaspora.
Blazin' Fiddles play Scozzese will check out the curious similarities between the Scottish Polka and the Baltic Scozzese in an evening of fun, fiddling and finesse from the energetic line-up and their guests.
To close the event, Horsecross will be displaying specially created artwork by three prominent Polish artists on the 22-screen Threshold artspace that dominates the Perth Concert Hall foyer.
For more information about individual Scottish Tides-Polish Spring events and tickets, call Horsecross Box Office on 01738 621 031 or visit www.horsecross.co.uk