The year 2026 is a special one for the National Museum in Kraków, not least because it marks the 50th anniversary of the Karol Szymanowski Museum at the ‘Atma’ villa in Zakopane. The opening of this unique place, where the composer of Stabat Mater and Harnasie found a home, took place half a century ago, on 6 March 1976. This was made possible thanks to the care and commitment of many people who worked tirelessly to establish a memorial dedicated to the father of Polish contemporary music.
6 March marked the 50th anniversary of the branch’s establishment, which was officially opened with a performance of highlander music by instrumentalists from the Podhale region. The ensemble, comprising Szymon Tylka, Anna Gąsienica-Giewont, Paweł Urbaś and Jakub Gąsienica-Giewont, continued the colourful, multi-generational tradition of highlander ‘melodies’, highlighting Karol Szymanowski’s strong ties to the culture of Zakopane and the Podhale region.
The highlight of the programme was a concert featuring outstanding artists of the younger generation – violinist Aleksandra Kuls and pianist Marcin Koziak, winners of prestigious international competitions and highly regarded interpreters of Polish music.
The programme featured, among other works, Karol Szymanowski’s ‘Myths’ Op. 30 – one of the most important works in the 20th-century violin repertoire – and the ‘Highlander’s Dance’ from the ballet ‘Harnasie’, arranged by Paweł Kochański. The concert would not have been complete without the world premiere of “La luce dell’Atma” by composer Anna Zawadzka-Gołosz, written especially for the anniversary on the initiative of Dr Małgorzata Janicka-Słysz, Professor at the Academy of Music in Kraków and Atma’s programme curator. The composition, inspired by the space and atmosphere of ‘Atma’, offers a contemporary interpretation of Karol Szymanowski’s musical and spiritual legacy.
The anniversary was not only an opportunity to celebrate the museum’s history, but also a reflection on the living presence of Karol Szymanowski’s music in contemporary culture. The programme of the event was overseen by Dr Małgorzata Janicka-Słysz, Professor at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków and programme curator at ‘Atma’.
