World Orchestra. Grzech Piotrowski. „WE” | concert

Festival opening concert

World Orchestra is an international music project conceived and led by Grzech Piotrowski. It is a fusion of world music roots with symphony orchestra, jazz, folk and film music. The orchestra is made up of several dozen people of different nationalities, who are often virtuosos on unusual instruments. This multicultural cast produced spectacular musical shows.

The 2024 Łódź of Many Cultures Festival marks the reactivation of the World Orchestra in a new format under the evocative title “WE.” The “WE” project, created especially for the festival, will be a powerful voice for female artists from around the world, spreading the message of peace across divides. The festival’s opening concert is a manifesto for intercultural dialogue, expressed through music that flows straight from the heart and touches the soul.

The matter that Grzesiek Piotrowski will tackle oscillates around the escalating issues of the modern world. That is why the ‘WE’ project aligns with the Festival’s missions of building a community of reflective and empathetic people who share responsibility for the future of our planet.

In 2024, as part of ‘WE’, the artists plan to organize one hundred concerts on five continents under the musical ‘umbrella’ of the World Orchestra. The opening concert of the Festival of Many Cultures will be the culmination of the project and a true musical spectacle. The project is accompanied by a studio recording of the album, which is being made around the globe.

The soloist will be, among others, the world-famous singer Urszula Dudziak, who is also the ambassador of the Concert for Peace, a Polish jazz singer, composer and songwriter. She has recorded more than 50 studio albums and collaborated with some of the biggest stars of the Polish stage.

On the stage of Wytwórnia in Łódź we will see dozens of world-famous musicians representing many cultures (including those from regions of conflict and war).

• Ruth Wilhelmine (voc) – Norway
• Grażyna Auguścik (voc) – Poland
• Liz Rosa (voc) – Brazil
• Bendik Hofseth (sax and voc) – Norway
• Terje Isungset (drums/percussion) – Norway
• Adel Naderi (voc) – Kurdistan
• Foad Pishva (voc) – Kurdistan
• Joachim Mencel (lyre) – Poland
• Misha Piatigorsky (piano) – US
• Anna Makhoul (oud) – Palestine
• Lukas Oraviec Tp – Slovakia
• Dariush Rasuli (ney) – Persia
• Aniel Someillan (bas and voc) – Brazil
• Arad Emamgholi (daf) – Kurdistan
• Peter Somos (drums) – Hungary
• Shachar Elnatan (git) – Israel
• Wassim Ibrahim (arabian lute) – Siria
• Mateusz Smoczyński (violin) – Poland
• Sara Malinowska (violin) – Poland
• Stanisław Słowiński (violin) – Poland
• Michał Zaborski (viola) – Poland
• Krzysztof Lenczowski (cello) – Poand
• Piotr Matusik (piano) – Poland
• Krzysztof Gradziuk (drums) – Poland
• Jan Wierzbicki (bas) – Poland
• Ignacy Wendt Tr – Poland
• Tamara Behler – Poland

Bio

GRZECH PIOTROWSKI is an explorer. He travels the world in search of, artists, music, the roots of improvisation, sunshine, healthy food, adventure and the essence of being. His musical projects escape completely from frameworks, standards and all stereotypes.

He is a composer, saxophonist, music producer and arranger. The artist balancing on the edge of film music, classical music, jazz, ethno, roots, open improvisation. Creator of the bands Alchemik, Oxen, Deconstruction of Jazz, Freedom Nation, Head Up, Alechemik Big Band. In 2009 he founded his dream project, the World Orchestra, although the work on its creation goes back as far as 1998. It brings together outstanding soloists from the worlds of jazz, classical, ethno, folk and open improvisation. It includes artists from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

GRZECH PIOTROWSKI, was nominated three times for the Fryderyk Awards, in 2012 and 2013, and the Mateusz Award 2012 (Polish Radio). He was awarded the Grand Prix at the Hoeilaart Jazz Festival in Belgium in 1998, the Grand Prix at the Two Theatres Festival in Sopot for his music to Skvorecki’s performance ‘Bass Saxophone’, and first places at the festivals ‘Jazz Nad Odrą’, ‘Pomeranian Jazz Autumn’ and ‘Jazz Juniors’. During his career, he founded the following bands: World Orchestra (active since 2010), Alchemik, Oxen, Deconstruction of Jazz, Freedom Nation, Head Up.

Read more about WORLD ORCHESTRA. Grzech Piotrowski at www.worldorchestra.com.