The Krakow Post

NO. 18 WWW.KRAKOWPOST.COM SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 WEEKLY From writer to president to writer: Vaclav Havel visits Krakow School year starts with new fashion With the new academic year comes a new rule. Primary and lower secondary school students must wear school uniforms 2

Volunteers wanted for Afghan mission Polish leaders in Afghanistan have launched a friendly of- fensive expanding their mission from fighting the drug cartel to concerns of medical care 4 IS-2 tank renovated Repairs of the tank that has been standing in Nowa Huta for over 40 years are finished at last 7

Former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel at the “Havel at Wawel” press conference promoting his new book, “Briefly, please” (“Tylko krotko, prosze”). Havel likes to speak of himself as living in a fairy-tale, and indeed, it is hard to resist the romance of his biography. PHOTO/LUK Agency

Soren A. Gauger unnerved and uncomfortable in his suit – a distaste for the phrase “national interests,” nization for human rights, which continued STAFF JOURNALIST far cry from the grinning, cigarette-smok- in that it implied differences of interests be- to be a major concern for Havel during his ing face on the posters. As he sits down tween nations, which should all be thinking time as president. In 1989, he was impris- In his speech “A Farewell to Politics” on with Jerzy Illg from Znak and his Polish in the same direction. He had his passport oned, released, and then elected president of October 19, 2002, during his last official translator Andrzej Jagodzinski, the cameras revoked in 1969, the same year the literary the then-Czechoslovakia. visit to the U.S. as president of the Czech keep clicking and flashing, despite repeated magazine he worked for “Tvar” was shut During his subsequent 15-year reign, he Republic, dissident, poet, playwright and requests for the photographers to return to down. Havel began participating in more remained a remarkably popular politician, Flea market as an politician Vaclav Havel remarked: their seats. Every time Havel switches posi- and more dissident activities and in his book both at home and abroad. “I’ve discovered an astonishing thing: tions, the cameras go off again. He fiddles even describes himself as a homo politicus. The mood at the press conference, for the after-church ritual although it might be expected that this nervously with his glasses-case for much of Havel largely spent the late 70s and early most part, was decidedly kept light. [presidential] wealth of experience would the interview. 80s in and out of prison – a total of over five See HAVEL on Page 10 For many Poles, checking out the have given me more and more self-assur- Havel likes to speak of himself as living years. He co-founded the Charter 77 orga- flea market after attending church ance, confidence and polish, the exact op- in a fairy-tale, and indeed, it is hard to resist has grown into a tradition that posite is true. In that time, I have become a the romance of his biography. they look forward to all week 10 good deal less sure of myself, a good deal Born into a wealthy family, young Va- more humble. You might not believe this, clav became interested in poetry by about but every day I suffer more and more from the age of 15. He befriended film director stagefright; every day I am more afraid that Milos Forman, visited the poet Jaroslav I won’t be up to the job, or that I’ll make Seifert, and fell quickly under the spell of Night Club 37 a hash of it. It’s harder and harder for me the work of Franz Kafka, whose writing 37 Mogilska St. to write my speeches, and when I do write was heavily suppressed by the authorities. Tel.: (0) 12 411-4711 them, I am more and more fearful than Havel began working in the theater in the Cell: (0) 506-698-745 ever that I will repeat myself over and over 1960s, writing plays that had much in com- again.” mon with the Theater of the Absurd (e.g. house of entertainment Krakow’s top It’s a telling quote, as it reflects Havel’s Beckett, Ionesco, Pinter). The breakdown night club offers the most the best entertainment in Krakow beautiful escorts in town. trademark self-effacing irony, and also be- or artificial construction of language was a In-house and outcall. cause it was eminently visible at the Sep- major preoccupation. And it continues to be piano bar Professionalism and tember 3rd “Havel at Wawel” press confer- so for Havel, as he made evident at the press live-music sessions safety guaranteed. ence at 13:00. Journalists are a vicious sort conference. Open: of people at the best of times, but on this Havel spoke of the dangers of catch bring card – get prize Mon-Sat: 11:00-06:00 occasion they were positively bestial. phrases in politics. Once people stop put- HOTEL NOVOTEL, ul. Armii Krajowej 11 Sun: 20:00-06:00 When Havel stands on the Wawel bal- ting together sentences for themselves, they Tel.: +48 (0) 12 636-0807 Discounts on drinks with this ad. ustrade and 30 flashing cameras lunge in stop thinking as well, he claimed. Later, at Credit cards accepted. his face, the 71-year-old man looks visibly the 17:00 meeting, Havel mentioned his 2 The Krakow Post POLAND SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

R E G I O N A L N E W S

Power groups CEZ, MOL to form partnership Czech electricity giant CEZ and the Hun- School starts with new fashion garian oil and gas group MOL are to form a major energy partnership aimed at boosting their businesses in Central and Eastern Eu- With the start of the school year on September 3, students in primary rope, Czech media reported late last week. The companies are poised to sign a coop- eration deal, the first fruits of which would and lower secondary public schools will be required to wear uniforms be the construction of two gas-fired power plants, one in Hungary and the other Slo- Anna Biernat This procedure has caused many prob- vakia, with a total capacity of 800 MW, ac- STAFF JOURNALIST lems. The best-looking uniforms are cording to the online version of the Czech costly. That’s why most schools selected business magazine, “euro.” A new school rule was recently intro- blazers or T-shirts with a school’s logo Agency LUK CEZ has refused to comment on the re- duced by former Education Minister Ro- printed or embroidered on them instead of ports but spokeswoman Eva Novakova told man Giertych. Education officials said a classical uniforms consisting of a blazer AFP that a statement could be expected from key reason for mandating uniforms is to and a skirt or trousers. the company shortly. prevent students from being distracted by Poor families – those whose income CEZ, the biggest company in Central fashion to the detri- doesn’t exceed 351 zloty Europe by market capitalization, has been ment of their studies. per person – could ap- seeking ways of producing more power af- The fear is that expen- Education officials said ply for a special uniform ter it was blocked from building new nuclear sive clothes that chil- one reason for the subsidy of up to 50 zl. plants in the Czech Republic by the govern- dren from wealthier That’s enough to buy ment’s junior coalition partner, the Greens. families wear make uniforms is safety. only one blazer. The CEZ’s domestic ambitions to build coal- children from poorer Drug dealers would be ministry didn’t say what fired plants have also run into opposition. families feel inferior, unlikely to wear uniforms poor families can do to More than two-thirds of CEZ shares are robbing them of self- cope with such limits. state-owned. (AFP) confidence. and thus would be easily However, despite the One killed, eight injured in Education officials spotted at a school, new rule, students of said another reason only a few schools will Slovak bus crash is safety. Drug deal- officials said. start the school year One person was killed and eight were ers would be unlikely wearing new uniforms. injured when a bus crashed near the central to wear uniforms and And it’s not just because Slovak town of Ruzomberok, police said thus would be easily spotted at a school, many students are against wearing the late last week. officials said. same outfits as their classmates. The bus, which was carrying 25 passen- Still another need for a uniform policy, The most common reason for the de- gers between Slovakia and the Czech Re- education officials said, is that it promotes lay in introducing uniforms is that tailors public, apparently skidded down a slope and students’ sense of identification with their didn’t get them sewn on time. overturned. school. Despite earlier statements, Education On Sunday night, four people were killed The Education Ministry, however, Minister Ryszard Legutko announced and around 30 injured when their bus skid- didn’t impose a policy for one consistent that he was not going to punish those ded into a deep ravine near Hrinova in design for the new uniforms. Every school principals who didn’t introduce uniforms mountainous central Slovakia. principal was responsible to choose the on time. He said he would give students The bus was carrying around 40 members school’s own uniform design after discus- some more time to accustom themselves of a local folk music group home after at- sions with the pupils’ parents. to the new rule. New school uniforms for Polish children. tending a nearby festival. Initial reports suggested that brake failure could have caused the accident. (AFP) Lithuanian website to Poland accuses publish KGB documents A Lithuanian research establishment Germany will soon open Germany launched early this week a web site that aims to reveal the role of the former Russian security service KGB during the Soviet oc- of playing cupation of the three Baltic states. “Our aim is to make KGB documents available to the public in Latvia, Lithuania doors to Polish engineers isolation politics and Estonia,” Ricardas Cekutis, a spokes- man for the Genocide and Resistance Re- the krakow post agence france-presse search Center, told AFP. The site www.kdbdocuments.eu is to The German government is opening its Germany is seeking to isolate Poland include documents from different KGB de- labor market to Polish engineers and special- within the EU, while paying lip service to partments in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, ists in automation, robotics and electronics. bilateral cooperation, a senior Polish diplo- including reports by informers. Poland’s western neighbor will welcome the mat said in a newspaper early this week. The documents have been scanned from engineers beginning November 1, the daily “Look at the Germans’ Poland policy of their Russian-language originals. newspaper Dziennik reported. recent months: the laborious, stubborn ef- Most of the former KGB archives on the Thousands of Poles are excited as Ger- forts to isolate Poland within the EU on the Baltic states are not available as the secu- many is the richest and the most industrial- one hand and on the other political rhetoric rity service took them to Moscow after the ized country in the EU. about real cooperation on bilateral matters,” three countries regained their independence Specialists from Poland can earn up to Mariusz Muszynski, Poland’s top foreign in 1991. 10,000 euro a month in Germany, depend- policy aide for relations with Germany, Those visiting the website will also be ing on experience. Germany’s decision to wrote in the German business daily Han- able to read articles on KGB activities writ- lift employment barriers is a great chance delsblatt. ten by researchers from the three Baltic for graduates of Polish institutes of technol- He said Germany’s attitude towards its states. ogy (engineering colleges). They can work eastern neighbor had taken a turn for the Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were oc- in German auto and heavy machinery facto- worse since the departure of former con- cupied by the Soviet Union from the end of ries, as well as for electronics and household servative chancellor Helmut Kohl and criti- World War II until 1991. (AFP) appliance companies. Unfortunately, this cized his two successors, Gerhard Schroeder opportunity may damage the Polish labor and Angela Merkel. Czech gov’t backs more market. If engineers follow physicians and “The most recent governments have undercover police for drive building sector workers who left the country lacked Helmut Kohl’s moderation,” he earlier, Poland will suffer. If there is a short- wrote. “It is clear that under Schroeder, Ger- The Czech government late last week age of engineers here, potential investors many failed to cement integration and find paved the way for the greater use of under- will not want to build factories. A shortage fields of joint cooperation.” cover police to combat the country’s serious of engineers also may increase labor costs He accused Merkel, the current chancel- corruption problem. Until now they have in Poland and discourage industrial invest- lor and one-time protege of Kohl, of being only been cleared to operate in the most ment.. Poland’s loss will be Germany’s gain. dismissive when Warsaw seeks closer ties. serious corruption cases covered by inter- The booming country reports that a lack of “After two years one cannot say that national conventions. The changes cleared specialists is costing it about 20 bln euro a Merkel has taken the same road as her men- by the center-right wing government will al- year. Computer, automation and robotics tor.” He said Berlin displayed “coldness low undercover operations in a much wider specialists are being sought to replace hu- and distance” last year when Polish Prime range of cases, provided the courts approve man control systems for industrial machin- Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski proposed the the operation. Government ministers insist- ery. In the scope of industrialization, it is a formation of a joint EU army. ed that the new proposals would not mean step beyond mechanization. Muszynski had levelled similar criticisms the creation of “agents provocateurs.” Their Engineers strive to combine automated six months ago as Merkel was about to visit use is permitted in neighboring Slovakia in devices with mathematical and organiza- Warsaw, when he said the German govern- the corruption investigations. tional tools to create complex systems for ment was “essentially nationalistic and Worldwide anti-corruption organization, a rapidly expanding range of applications egotistical and right now it is not friendly Transparency International, last year put the and human activities. The purpose of au- towards Poland.” Czech Republic in joint 46th place on its tomation for manufacturing companies Six decades after World War II, resent- corruption perception index, ranking worse has shifted from increasing productivity ment over Nazi Germany’s invasion of Po- than Botswana, Bahrain and Bhutan. The and reducing costs, to broader issues, such land still lingers and the Kaczynski brothers Czech branch pointed out that the Czech as increasing quality and flexibility in the exploited these historic grievances in the Republic was still one of the EU’s most cor- manufacturing process. run-up to 2005 elections to win support. rupt countries. (AFP) Germany opens gates to Polish engineers. SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 POLAND The Krakow Post 3 Minister Lepper tries to domesticate buffalo Danuta Filipowicz ders. STAFF JOURNALIST The plan to give the American buffalo a domesticated-animal designation was

A former minister of agriculture tried simple: Add “buffalo” to the list and give Agency LUK to change ministry regulations to desig- it a code. nate the American buffalo a domesticated Two vice ministers of Agriculture, Se- animal instead of a wild animal. Less than bastian Filipek-Kazmierczak and Marek coincidently, the former minister’s son was Chrapak, were tasked with getting the buf- unable to breed or slaughter any of his 20 falo designation through. buffalo because of the wild-animal desig- An official in the Ministry of Environ- nation. ment noticed the American buffalo on the The son skirted the law to get the herd proposed domesticated-animal list that the inside Poland, according to the daily news- Ministry of Agriculture had drawn up. paper Dziennik. Wait a minute, he said. The Ameri- By changing the law, former Minister can buffalo could threaten the auroch if it of Agriculture Andrzej Lepper would have spread across Poland. He refused to allow been able to legalize his son Tomasz’s buf- the re-designation of the American animal falo herd. from wild to domesticated. The Ministry of Environment refused to But the vice ministers did not give up agree to designating the American buffalo easily. They exchanged many letters with a domesticated animal, the Ministry of Environ- however. It feared the ment on the topic over the newcomer would com- The Ministry of Environ- course of several months. pete with a threatened ment refused to agree to Dziennik got a copy of Polish buffalo known as designate the American one in which the vice min- the auroch. isters argued that if the Poland’s Nature buffalo a domesticated American buffalo did not Protection Act lists the animal. It feared the fall under the domesticat- American buffalo as a newcomer would ed-animal identification wild animal. and registration process, Lepper tried to get the compete with a threatened it would be impossible designation changed al- Polish buffalo known as to control its movement Former Minister of Agriculture Andrzej Lepper. most immediately after the auroch. within Poland. becoming minister in But the Ministry of a Ministry of Environment official. “We his farm,” said Ministry of Environment May 2006. Environment wouldn’t asked customs officials how it was possible spokesman Slawomir Mazurek. The minis- Getting the designation changed would budge. that six wagonloads of buffalo got into the try told Lepper the animals could neither have enabled his son to breed buffalo and Tomasz Lepper brought his 20 American country. They are able to find small turtles be bred nor sold. “This is all we could do,” sell their meat. buffalo to Poland on April 20, the newspa- and they did not notice buffalo?” Mazurek said. Lepper’s explanation for his attempt to per said. A Polish customs official issued The customs people wouldn’t answer the The American buffalo was once protect- change the designation was that a “buffalo the 28-year-old a special certificate for question directly, the Environment official ed in the U.S. as a species near extinction. is a kind of … cow,” Dziennik reported. their entry. said. Its numbers have bounced back to the point The Agriculture Ministry began work on Polish law says, however, that only the For now the case is in limbo. On the one that there are hundreds of thousands now. changing the designations of a number of Ministry of Environment can authorize the hand, the animals are in Poland illegally. That has led to buffalo being domesti- domesticated animals in June of 2006, only admission of wild animals into Poland. However, it is not possible to send them cated in the U.S. and sold for their meat a month after Lepper became minister. Tomasz did not have such permission, back to Germany, from where they were and hides. The regulations cover cattle, pigs, sheep Dziennik said – so the buffalo are in the brought in, or to kill them. Ted Turner, the legendary founder of Ca- and goats, among other animals. country illegally. But the law does not pro- Poland’s Nature Preservation Act for- ble News Network, owns several ranches The changes the ministry planned in- vide for deporting these “illegals.” bids the importing of buffalo but does not with huge herds of buffalo in the American cluded placing special codes on various “It is possible to deport illegal people say what to do if they are already here. West. He sells buffalo meat at restaurants kinds of cattle, in line with a EU mandate – turn them back at the border – but with “We could only inform Tomasz Lep- in the CNN Tower in Atlanta and at other on the transfer of livestock across EU bor- illegal buffalo we can do nothing,” said per that these animals must be isolated on places. Election campaign commences Michal Wojtas ber of the Polish Parliament. STAFF JOURNALIST To organize a government they de- cided to form coalitions with the populist As developments unfold in Poland’s in- Self-Defense party (Samoobrona), led by ternal politics, citizens should start think- Andrzej Lepper, and Roman Giertych’s cc:sa:Network.nt ing about who to vote for in the upcoming League of Polish Families (LPR). parliamentary elections. The most likely Civic Platform (PO), which after the voting date is October 21. elections was even reportedly negotiating Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s government, af- a common government with PiS, became ter several personnel changes and loss of the strongest opposition party together with coalition partners, seems unable to stick Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). around less than just two years after the Since then the situation has completely 2005 elections when Kaczynski’s Law and changed. Samoobrona and the LPR have Justice party (PiS) claimed a major success left the coalition and the leader of the for- with 151 of 460 seats in Sejm, lower cham- mer now faces serious charges of corrup- tion after an action of the Central Anticor- The election campaign has already start- ruption Bureau (CBA) formed by his own ed. On billboards on the streets of every big government. Lepper was already sentenced city and on TV, people can see Jaroslaw in several trials before becoming an MP. Kaczynski and his party slogan “the rules Since the coalition splintered, both Kacz- oblige.” In their campaign PiS politicians ynski and Donald Tusk, leader of the PO, will try to underline achievements of their have said their parties will support the ear- government as well as point to the PO as a lier elections. So will the SLD while the for- “party of the rich.” mer members of the coalition want to form How the PO will try to present itself gallery of smiles, cosmetic dentistry a parliamentary commission to investigate remains unclear. Probably they will try to the influence of the secret service on poli- point to PiS as a threat to democracy and tics. Voting on the self-dissolution of the stick to their image as a responsible party Impress with a smile! Sejm is planned for Thursday. And if none that to a large extent concentrates on the - Go home with a new smile! of the parties change their minds, the elec- Polish economy and ways to get politicians - No waiting list tions will probably take place October 21. out of it. A positive effect of this election - Top quality and great prices The latest polls clearly point to PiS as may be stability in Sejm – if the same par- - English-speaking staff the favorite in the forthcoming elections. ties manage to secure their places in it. - Top international-level training According to an article in Gazeta Wyborcza Since the collapse of communisim in newspaper on September 4, Kaczynski’s 1989 the Police political scene has faced - Hygienic, contemporary equipment party is expected to take 174 seats in the numerous changes. Maybe this model – - Caring patient-oriented atmosphere Sejm with PO, 149; LiD – an alliance of with one conservative, state-oriented right the SLD and the Liberal Democratic Party wing (PiS), one liberal, centrist (PO) and (PD), 75, and LiS – a coalition of Samo- one socio-democratic (SLD) party – will (0) 12 429-1470 obrona and LPR, 36. But all PO members best suit political divisions between Poles. www.galeriausmiechu.pl recall that two years ago they also led the On the other hand it is hard to be opti- Opening Hours: polls and then unexpectedly lost in the vot- mistic about voter participation. Previous Monday to Friday: 09:00-21:00 ing. They are also aware that the campaign- elections have seen only 40 percent turn- Saturday: 09:00-15:00 ing this autumn may be full of negative PR. out. The number could slip even further this Tel.: +48 12 429-1470 The opposition is also concerned about the time. Probably the most important task for [email protected] six-week period when the PiS will excer- the politicians will be to mount efforts to cise authority in the absence of the Sejm. turn out their base. 4 The Krakow Post POLAND SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

R E G I O N A L N E W S Detained U.S.-Iranian jour- Doctors wanted for mission in Afghanistan Poland nalist cleared to leave Iran shedding An Iranian-American journalist held in Iran for the past seven months has been given permission to leave the country, her borders to Prague-based employer said this week. “Parnaz Azima collected her passport Europe from authorities today and told Radio Farda that she would leave the country in the near future,” U.S.-funded Radio Free European/ Radio Liberty said, referring to its Persian- language service. Azima, a citizen of both the U.S. and Iran, has been detained since January facing charges of spreading anti- state propaganda by working for “counter revolutionary” radio. She denied the charg- es. The move by Iranian authorities comes a day after another Iranian-American, the academic Haleh Esfandiari, left Tehran af- ter being released from jail last month, the broadcaster pointed out. Peace activist Ali Shakeri and a consul- tant with the Open Society Institute, Kian Polish border. Tajbakhsh, who both hold dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, are still imprisoned, it added. Alicja Natkaniec Azima posted bail of around $550,000 STAFF JOURNALIST (400,000 euro) to avoid jail. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is funded by the U.S. On January 1, 2008, Poland will Congress. (AFP) join 30 European countries that have removed systematic border controls. Russian-run schools in Estonia Parliament voted last week to remove the controls when it accepted the start language switch Schengen Agreement. Russian-run high schools in Estonia start- The vote found 401 deputies in ed the new school year early this week with favor of and 29 against the Schengen an educational reform program aimed at re- Agreement. Eight abstained from the placing Russian with Estonian as the main vote. The Schengen Agreement al- language of instruction by 2011. lows for the abolition of border con- “The aim of the reform is to increase the trols between participating European competitiveness of Russian youth at (the) states. Estonian labor market as well as to strength- It also provides for a common en the chances of Russian youth to continue policy regarding temporary entry of their studies at Estonian universities,” Edu- Polish military leaders in Afghanistan have organized medical care for locals. persons (with a “Schengen visa“), cation Minister Tonis Lukas told AFP. uniformity of external border controls “During the new school year, the reform Joanna Zabierek “We’ve already collected some applica- sions is seen in the so-called called “white and cross-border police cooperation. will first tackle all the first grade students STAFF JOURNALIST tions and now wait until all (legal) compli- Tuesdays.” They have been organized for Thirty mostly EU and three non- – around 2,500 Russian students at all the cations are solved,” Rybak said. He said it some time in Iraq. People stood in line at EU nations – Switzerland, Iceland and 63 Russian high schools in Estonia,” Lukas Nations can be triumphant in war by would be “a few months” before the first Polish medical tents to receive care and Norway – have signed the agreement. said. defeating the enemy on the battlefield – or group goes to Afghanistan. medicines.. Fifteen have already implemented it. “In years to come, at the start of every by winning the battle for “heart and minds” Polish troops in Afghanistan want to Alim Al Hariri, an Iraqi volunteer in the Border checks and posts have been school year, one more subject in Estonian with kindness and good will. repeat a similar program started in Bosnia Polish army, told Dziennik Zachodni about removed between Schengen states, will be added to the program of the Russian This is why Polish military leaders in Herzegovina and continued in Iraq. They making friends with Al Kud inhabitants. Al and a common “Schengen visa” al- high schools.” Afghanistan decided to launch a friendly want to win the local people’s hearts and Kud is a large logistical base where impor- lows tourists or visitors to enter the re- “By 2011, in addition to Estonian lit- offensive expanding the mission there from minds, they say. tant patrol forces are stationed. gions. Poland’s joining the Schengen erature also history, geography, music and fighting terrorism and the drug cartel to “We can do it,” one doctor said, pointing People from throughout the province zone means that a European visa will social studies will be taught in Estonian,” medical concern and care. out that Polish troops proved it in Bosnia attend white Tuesdays. The hospital is cost 60 euro anywhere in the EU. he added. The program was approved by A group of medical volunteers is being and Herzegovina. equipped with the best medical tools. And the Estonian Parliament in 1997, but its put together to provide care for Afghan ci- The number of attacks at Polish bases the staff consists only of the best special- launched has been delayed for political rea- vilians. A special program to send groups in Iraq continues to fall. It was 10 times ists. There are also Iraqi hospitals n Al Kud sons. Since Estonia gained independence of a few doctors at a time to Afghanistan is lower in August than July. This decline is but they are in poor condition. Former President from Russia in 1991, more and more Rus- being prepared in the Ministry of National attributed to the positive consequences of “The medical care is open to anyone sian parents have put their children in Esto- Defense, Minister Jaroslaw Rybak told the the Polish contingent’s change of tactics on needing help,” said one volunteer. “We nian schools. newspaper Dziennik Zachodni. the one hand and of the way Polish soldiers also have ER service. We have gained such Lech Walesa to This and the sharp decline in the birth rate The volunteers – doctors, nurses and treat the local population on the other. a good reputation that long lines often form has seen the number of Russian pupils in others with medical expertise – will assist An example of winning local inhabit- at the gate of our base. People travel hun- Russian-run schools fall by about half since local Afghans with medical problems. ants’ hearts and minds on military mis- dreds of kilometers to reach our doctors.” the 1999-2000 level to slightly over 33,000. have pacemaker Ethnic Russians comprise 26 percent of Estonia’s 1.3 mln population but only a third have Estonian nationality. (AFP) Religion course to be included at school fitted the krakow post from the grade-point average is “discriminating against agence france-presse believers of different religions.” A controversy over whether the grade for a reli- The Kaczynski regime supported the Church. “The Lech Walesa, Poland’s first president after gion course should be included in the grade average grade on religion will be included in the grade average the fall of communism, said early this week of all school subjects continues to bubble. of all school subjects,” the Government Information he would be having a cardiac pacemaker fit- The previous education minister – an ultra-conser- Center confirmed. ted in the coming months. vative Catholic – had ordered the grade for Catholi- Giertych said in an interview with Warsaw-based “A few weeks ago I underwent medical cism to be included in the average. The current min- Radio Zet on Monday that the law prohibits Legutko tests and the doctors detected variations in ister signaled that he would reverse that decision and from changing the policy without consulting the church. my heart rhythm. They want to fit me with a now the prime minister has overruled the new min- Irked by a policy that seems to intrude on students’ re- cardiac pacemaker,” the 64-year-old Nobel ister. Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s reversal ligious choice, the Democratic Left Alliance Party, or Peace Prize winner told AFP. of Minister of Education Ryszard Legutko’s decision SLD, said it would ask the Polish Constitutional Court “I will have a very small pacemaker came after Catholic Church officials protested. The to decide whether the policy is constitutional. which will monitor my heart and stimulate FOR PERMANENT, TEMPORARY course, in which students learn about the Bible and “Religion is one of a whole number of subjects it if necessary.” Catholic tradition, is not mandatory. in Polish schools that are not mandatory, and only “I am nearly 65 years old and I have to be AND CONTRACT STAFF IN In keeping with the Constitution’s freedom of reli- mandatory subjects should be included in the grade careful,” he added. IRELAND & UK gious choice, students, who are non-religious or who average,” said Wojciech Olejniczak, the SLD’s chief “The only thing that remains of my viril- belong to a religion other than Catholicism, don’t party representative. ity is my need to shave, even if I do look at have to take the course. “The choice between a religion and ethics course is girls now and then. At this age I must obey l Ireland However, all students must take either the Catholi- mostly an illusion,” Olejniczak said. “In 90 percent of my doctors.” cism course or an ethics course that many schools Polish schools, the subject Ethics doesn’t exist.” Walesa noted many of his generation tel: (00353) 45 883420 don’t offer. So in practice 95 percent of students take Church officials say the priests who grade the re- were already dead, but said he was not yet the religion course. ligion course take into account both students’ knowl- ready to follow them. e-mail: [email protected] Former Education Minister Roman Giertych, of edge of the subject matter and their worship habits. “I have already said goodbye to [Russia’s the Catholic Church-affiliated League of Polish Fam- That kind of grading policy discriminates against former president] Boris Yeltsin and more ilies Party, issued the religion grade policy as part of students who don’t want to participate in religious cer- recently to [former archbishop of Paris Car- l Manchester, UK the grade average on July 13 of this year. emonies, Olejniczak said. dinal Jean-Marie] Lustiger, but I have no tel: (0044) 0 161 9090050 Legutko, who succeeded Giertych, said in an inter- Defending the grading practice, church spokes- intention of dying,” he said. view with the Warsaw-based Fakt daily last week that woman Halina Bortnowska said “religion is not only Walesa rose to international prominence e-mail: [email protected] he was likely to reverse the policy. He said: “We have knowledge; it is also feelings.” in August 1980 when he led a strike by to assess whether it is constitutional.” Olejniczak also objected that not every priest is edu- 17,000 Gdansk shipyard workers. Archibishop Leszek Slawoj Glodz, head of the cated enough to work as a teacher. They forced the authorities to negotiate www.issrecruitment.com Polish Catholic Church’s Media Council, immedi- “These are the main reasons a religion course and in doing so led to the creation of the ately labeled Legutko’s remarks “detrimental” and shouldn’t be included in the school curriculum grading Communist bloc’s first free trade union, “imprudent.” He said excluding a course on religion system,” he said. Solidarity. SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 POLAND The Krakow Post 5

rich. Ilona really cared about people,” said one of the doctor’s friends who also worked in the health care center in Nowa Huta. Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna had a particular Two Polish Physician’s good deeds weakness for the homeless. She gave them blankets, food, clothing, even apartments. She opened her house to them too, so they stunt pilots would have a place to go and have a meal. Sometimes they all stayed at the same time. may lead to arrest The doctor believed that one day they would killed in be able to lead normal lives again. She took a loan and bought a bus for them. The busi- ness plan was simple. They were supposed to drive around Krakow and sell cold drinks mid-air in the summer and coffee and tea during the winter. But the homeless sold everything, in- cluding the bus, to buy alcohol. She has yet collision to finish repaying the loan. One winter was particularly difficult for her. It was a brutal Agence france-presse winter, and her apartment windows leaked. Patients asked why her hands were so red, Two Polish stunt pilots died in a but they did not ask why she seemed so sad. mid-air collision late last week dur- “In the end, God heard me,” she said. He ing an air show, the show’s organiz- sent Jurek, a former policeman, who had just ers said. quit drinking. Jurek taught her to say “no.” The two Czech-made Zlin-50 The illegal prescriptions stopped. The doc- tor and Jurek were happy together. propeller planes flying as part of Today Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna says Jurek a stunt squadron crashed into each opened her eyes. other in front of thousands of peo- “I wanted to be like a God and I thought ple attending the Radom Air Show that I would help everybody.” Today she in central Poland. helps just 34 people, those who live at the The crash occurred hundreds of hostel for homeless at ul. Zamkowa 15 (next meters away from the spectators. to the Wawel Castle). During the last six There were no other casualties. years several people she helped have started An investigation was to be their own families. launched to determine the cause of Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna lives with Jurek the accident. on the eighth floor in a small 38-square-me- ter apartment. All her belongings date to the 1970s, including her furniture. The prescriptions she wrote are under in- vestigation by the police and prosecutors’ of- fices. All of them must be checked and veri- fied. Police have to find the pharmacists and patients from the 1990s. Hundreds of people have to be questioned. Graphologists con- firmed Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna’s handwriting on the prescriptions. Evidence indicates that the medicines did not hurt anybody and that Many think of Dr. Ilona Rosiek-Konieczna as a modern-day Robin Hood. She has illegally prescribed hundreds of thousands of she did not even earn 1 zloty from the pre- zloty worth of medicine to the sick and homeless without charging – on the state’s tab. scriptions, police said. She broke the law, but she helped many Alicja Natkaniec mation about war-related health problems and the name of this antibiotic. The second people, too STAFF JOURNALIST for the prescriptions. In Poland, people with prescription she wrote was for her father. “I don’t know I wouldn’t do the same, such health problems do not pay for medi- If her father had taken all of the medicine if I was in her place,” said one of the po- Dr. Ilona Rosiek-Konieczna, 58, is sus- cines. Now she could be sent to prison for that she would later prescribe in his name, licemen and complimented the doctor for pected of wangling 300,000 zloty (around eight years. Police officers who questioned he would have been taking 110 tablets a day, her cooperation. Similar doubts have been 80,000 euro) from the regional Health Fund her could not believe a person who wangled reported the National Health Fund (NFZ). raised in the prosecutors’ office. So far no in Malopolska province in 1999, reported 300,000 zloty in a year, does not have her Her mother was in a similar situation. indictments have been returned, but it seems the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza. own apartment or car, never went on foreign “Did you want to kill them?” police of- unavoidable. She provided 6,000 prescriptions free of vacations and in her bathroom was soap that ficers asked. “If it will be necessary, we will go to charge for people who were not entitled to cost 0.57 zloty. During questioning, Dr. Ros- “No,” she replied. “I wrote these pre- court,” said one of the doctor’s patients. such service – because they did not have iek-Konieczna told the following story: scriptions to help the poor.” She said she When asked by Gazeta Wyborcza what they money. Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna used infor- When communism fell, poor people from does not remember to whom she has given would say in her defense, former patients Krakow and neighboring villages came to the medicines she prescribed “for her fa- answered: her seeking help. And she helped. One of her ther.” All she remembers is that her father “I was homeless, dirty, smelling, I lived patients was Malgosia, who was homeless protested vigorously when he learned about in channels, ditches. I had nothing except an and suffered from hypertension. The doctor it. He is a lawyer and an honest man who identity card pinned to my blouse. When I also helped 8-year-old Agnieszka with ane- expected the same from his children. would get ill, people treated me like a dog. mia, and deadly ill Zbyszek, whose lungs Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna decided not to say Mrs. Ilona accepted me as a person. She were damaged. Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna had anything more to her parents about the pre- gave medicines and asked me to come back time for everybody. She did not take money scriptions. Many veterans are treated in the (for checkups). The doctor did not take even for visits – she even distributed medicine for health care center where she worked, in the 1 zloty for my treatment. I stopped drinking AGENCJA NIERUCHOMOŚCI free. But at the end of the 1990s, the medi- Nowa Huta district. She began prescribing because of her and I have the first house in www.property-krakow.com cines were drying up as the number of poor drugs in their names. my life. I live!” said Malgorzata Kopacz, 45, increased. Many could not afford vitamins, “I could not just give vitamins to the one of the doctor’s patients. even when what they really needed was an- people whose organisms were destroyed by “About this kind of people you say ‘suck- tibiotics. Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna decided to misery and alcohol,” she explained. “It was er,’ because she cured those, who were use- start writing prescriptions with “IWB” (For necessary to cure the whole body: heart, kid- less for the rest of society. The doctor was War Invalids). The first prescription was in neys, liver and nervous system. I had to ask thinking about people not about money. If the name of her mother. The medicine was them to do several medical tests.” she has broken the law, then she did it for for an ill boy, whose name and condition she She created a network of physicians who me and for poor Zbyszek, who was dying does not remember now. believed as she did, that human beings must of lung cancer at our hostel. The doctor ar- Someone told her he had fever and faint- be valued. She and her colleagues took the ranged morphine for him and sat at his bed ed. A physician from an emergency room homeless to wards, tested them and helped when he screamed like an animal. And she gave him an injection and prescribed drugs, them get the drugs they needed. Today they did not complain that his body stank. She then left. His parents could not afford anti- do not want to talk about it for fear of conse- did not say ‘I am Mrs. Doctor,’ but ‘don’t be NOCLEGI W APARTAMENTACH biotics. So Dr. Rosiek-Konieczna sat down quences. Many still sympathize with her. scared, Zbyszek, I am here,’” said Tomasz Paszkowski, 55. www.aaakrakow.com at his bed and wrote: Zofia Rosiek, 78, IWB “She did not divide people into poor or Poland’s “Watergate”: justice minister to reveal proof [email protected] Agence france-presse say when he would reveal the information. He said it also concerned former deputy Kaczmarek, at the center of the political prime ministers Roman Giertych and An- Poland’s justice minister said late last storm, last week accused the prime minister drzej Lepper, whose conversations were al- week he would reveal “facts and proof” and Ziobro of ordering the tapping of con- legedly subject to eavesdropping by authori- denouncing the activities of the heads of versations between two deputy prime minis- ties under the prime minister. the two main opposition parties, which he ters who led parties belonging to the ruling The prime minister has firmly rejected claimed could destabilize the country. coalition. He had been close to the Law and the accusations of eavesdropping. It was the latest mud-slinging in what has Justice party led by President Lech Kaczyn- The murky affair has deepened the politi- been described by the opposition as “Po- ski and Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, cal crisis in Poland, where the Kaczynskis land’s Watergate.” but was sacked last month. decided mid-August to dissolve their right- “The time will come to reveal other facts Kaczmarek was arrested for obstruction wing coalition and attempt to organize early and proof,” Zbigniew Ziobro told jour- of justice and later released on bail. elections in autumn, two years ahead of nalists, a day after the prosecutor’s office Ziobro said that the new information schedule. presented video recordings and phone taps concerned not only Kaczmarek, but also If the September 7 vote on dissolution CALL IN AND SEE US! said to prove charges against former Interior opposition leaders Donald Tusk and Janusz obtains the required two-thirds majority, the ul. Napoleona Cybulskiego 2 Minister Janusz Kaczmarek. Ziobro did not Olejniczak. elections could be held on October 21. 6 The Krakow Post POLAND SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

EU insists Gdansk yards must be restructured 3M to agence france-presse If Warsaw were to fail to appease its concerns, the EC could order past state invest at least The European Commission in- aid to be reimbursed, threatening the sisted early this week that the Gdansk shipyard’s future. shipyard be restructured but under- With just 3,000 workers today, lined that it did not want to force the compared to some 17,000 in 1980, the $200 mln birthplace of Poland’s Solidarity trade Gdansk yard is a shadow of the Lenin union movement to close. Shipyard site where a strike by work- The EC, the EU’s competition ers in August 1980 led to the formation in Poland watchdog, said of the Communist agence france-presse it was obliged to With just 3,000 workers today, bloc’s first free trade ensure that rules compared to some 17,000 in union. on state aid to en- U.S. manufacturer 3M plans to in- 1980, the Gdansk yard is a Bronislaw Ge- terprises were re- remek, one of the vest at least $200 mln (270 mln euro) shadow of the Lenin Shipyard spected and that a intellectuals behind in Poland over the next two years, tri- level-playing field site where a strike by work- the Solidarity move- pling the current level, its local boss was available for ers in August 1980 led to the ment, urged the EC said late last week. all in the shipyard formation of the Communist to consider shutting Jose del Solar said in an interview market. bloc’s first free trade union. down just one slip- with the daily Rzeczpospolita that “The EC is not way and underlined $40-$50 mln would be invested in seeking the closure the importance of the 2008. Most of the extra cash would of the Gdansk shipyard,” EU Internal yard to Europe’s history. be in the pharmaceutical and indus- Markets Commissioner Charlie Mc- “At this juncture we should at least trial sectors. Creevy told members of the European limit the closure of slipways to one, so 3M has just completed a plant Parliament in Strasbourg. that the shipyard can actually be vi- for producing optical film for LCD “We would like to see the yard able. We should give it time to stream- screens at Wroclaw, in southwest Po- undertake a genuine, far-reaching re- line management,” he said. land, and is constructing another to structuring so as to become a success- “We must bear in mind that the make adhesive materials. The com- ful company capable of competing on shipyard is critical for the history of bined projects are valued at $70 mln. its own merits in the EU and world Europe. this is where social values Del Solar said 3M’s total invest- shipbuilding market,” he said. were recognized, which are central for ments in Poland already exceeded Brussels has demanded that two of Europe,” he went on. $100 mln. the yard’s remaining three slipways “The strength of Europe rests on Turnover last year came to $131.6 be closed, but with hundreds of jobs our ability to be innovative and com- mln, he said, predicting it would rise Brussels has demanded that two of the yard’s remaining three slipways be closed, but at stake, Poland has said that it would petitive but also sensitive to the fate of by 20 percent this year and 30 percent with hundreds of jobs at stake, Poland has said that it would only shut down one. only shut down one. those who are less fortunate.” in 2008. Poland to channel EU funds Flight to the into anti-Semitic radio Polish driver, Robert agence france-presse Land of Cherry Kubica, still wanted A Polish ultra-Catholic radio station known for its anti- Semitic and anti-European bent has been selected to re- ceive 15.5 mln euro ($21 mln) in EU funds to develop a Blossoms: Exhibition journalism school, Polish government officials said early by BMW Sauber this week. But European Commission officials said no final fund- the krakow post ing decision had been made for Radio Maryja, which fig- the wall at 230 kilometers per hour, most in Polish Aviation spectators thought Kubica was dead. ured on a list of 350 projects shortlisted by Poland for Poland’s Robert Kubica will race for EU financing. “We confirmed that Robert would drive BMW Sauber again in 2008, the Polish According to the Polish regional development min- next season before he recovered from the Press Agency (PAP) reported. istry, the radio station’s plan for an 18-mln-euro school Montreal crash,” Theissen said. “We want- Mario Theissen, director of BMW Mo- including the computer equipment had received backing Museum ed him to have confidence in himself and to torsport, said the organization is also re- for the EU money. know that we were counting on him.” newing the contract of Germany’s Nick “This project conforms to the aims of the program He added that “2007 was Robert Kubi- Heidfeld. meant to promote technical and computer training,” said ca’s first full season of starting off in the At one point there were rumors that Fer- the head of the ministry, Grazyna Gesicka. highest racing category. In his short career nando Alonso, a two-time world champion, But European Commission spokeswoman Katherina with Formula 1, he’s proven himself to be would leave McLaren for BMW. von Schnurbein stressed that the EU had not yet taken as good as Nick. Robert is unusually fast When Theissen failed to scotch the ru- any decision as the Polish list had not yet been officially and understands the technical aspects very mors, many racing observers assumed presented to Brussels. EU members such as Poland were well. We want to turn him into a winning BMW would replace Kubica, a Krakow obliged to respect various European laws – including driver.” native. Heidfeld’s position seemed guaran- ones that prohibit discrimination, she added. Theissen said Kubica’s and Heidfeld’s teed because BMW teams always include Radio Maryja, founded 15 years ago by a Catholic great year was the reason BMW Sauber at least one German driver. priest, Tadeusz Rydzyk, frequently broadcasts nationalis- ranks third in the Formula 1 standings. With six races still remaining before tic and anti-Semitic messages to a large audience. “I’ve been at Formula 1 for one year the end of the 2007 season, BMW finally Rydzyk was recently the target of 17 lawsuits sparked and have already gained incredible experi- squelched the Alonso rumors, announcing by anti-Jewish comments he made to students at his jour- ence,” Kubica said. “I still learn new things that Kubica had already signed for the 2008 all the time.” nalism school. Danuta Filipowicz country. season. Kubica said he is eager to repay the team But the suits were dropped last week when prosecutors STAFF JOURNALIST Back in the home country, their In fact, according to the Warsaw-based “for their confidence in me.” decided the statements “were not of a prohibited nature.” flight gave motivation and pride sport magazine “Przeglad Sportowy,” Ku- “Robert is like a diamond in the rough,” Eighty-one years ago, pilot to all pilots of the Polish Air Forc- bica signed with BMW only a few days Theissen said. “We want to transform him Boleslaw Orlinski and mechanic es which had been created just after he was involved in a terrible accident into a champion driver.” Leonard Kubiak began a spec- eight years before, when Poland in Canada in early June. Even a world champion like Fernando tacular journey in their Breguet regained its independence. On June 10, Kubica slammed into a wall Alonso wouldn’t be enough to replace an 19 A2 biplane. The Museum Wola in Warsaw after colliding with Jarno Trulli’s Toyota. up-and-comer with Kubica’s potential, They managed to fly to Tokyo organized an exhibition in 2006 His car was wrecked, but he suffered only a Theissen said. and return to Warsaw in just 28 to commemorate the flight’s 80th slight concussion and a sprained ankle. Last year Kubica, 32, became the first days. In their 10,000-kilometer anniversary. Immediately after the car smashed into Polish driver in Formula 1 history. odyssey they overcame several A small hangar houses ma- problems. The most dangerous chines from World War I. EPE Translations was an oil leak which grounded Except for two, they are the their return flight near the Rus- only ones of their type that have English - Polish - English sian-Chinese border. survived until now. Agency providing translation services As they were waiting for an oil Other parts of the collection cc:sa:Pedroaroy for companies working shipment, a whirlwind severely include planes from World War II damaged their plane. and post-war times. in multicultural environment as well They repaired it with the help The Polish Aviation Museum as for private individuals. of local women who stitched the in Krakow is planning a similar Deliver standard, technical and sworn wing covering made of canvas. exhibition in the near future also Orlinski and Kubiak also had devoted to the Orlinski and Ku- translations at competitive prices. to cut off a part of the wing in or- biak flight. Also provide interpreters located in der to keep the aircraft balanced. Apart from this exhibition, Ireland, UK and Poland. Their 1926 achievement has visitors can see more than 200 been widely discussed and ad- planes, gliders and helicopters and mired both in Poland and abroad. probably the biggest collection of Check out www.epetranslations.com In Japan they were honored by aviation engines in the world. tel: (0048) (0) 12 4212300 the emperor, who gave them the The museum can be reached Order of the Rising Sun – the by tramlines 4, 15, 9, 10 from the second highest decoration of that center of the city. Robert Kubica will race for BMW Sauber again in 2008. SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 KRAKOW The Krakow Post 7 IS-2 tank renamed and restored Michal Wojtas 10,000 zloty to finish the project. STAFF JOURNALIST However, some war veterans weren’t too anxious to have the tank returned to Nearly a year was spent renovating the the museum. They argued that since it was

IS-2 tank that has been standing before the named IS-2 after USSR dictator Josef (Iosif) Andrzej Kowalski Museum of War Effort for over 40 years. Stalin – the Soviet Union invaded Poland The World War II monu- in 1939 and controlled it ment’s temporary remov- until 1989 – the monu- al proved how integral The renovation took ment doesn’t belong in the symbol is to Nowa longer than ex- Krakow. Huta’s Osiedle Gorali Despite the objections residents, where the mu- pected when costs the tank was returned, seum is located. Last Sat- exceeded estimates driven on a truck platform urday the steel giant was from the old Czyzyny put back in its place look- and financial dona- airport to Osiedle Gorali ing shiny and new. in an hour. The IS-2 Specialists from the tions were needed codename was removed Museum of Aviation be- to finish the work. from the side plaque and gan renovations in Oc- replaced with the title, tober 2006, reworking Fortunately Nowa “Heavy Tank,” and a de- the old worn-out lacquer Huta residents were scription of its journey and rusted steel. Its pre- during World War II. vious condition was be- eager to donate over The tank is another coming a health threat to 10,000 zloty to symbol of Nowa Huta, kids who enjoy playing an easternmost, once around the tank. finish the project. working-class district of The renovation took Krakow built in the 1950s longer than expected as a huge steelworks cen- when costs exceeded original estimates and ter. Since the 1960s, when the Polish Army additional financial donations were needed relinquished it to the Museum, the tank has to finish the work. Fortunately Nowa Huta become Nowa Huta’s personal World War II Specialists from the Museum of Aviation began renovations in October 2006, reworking the old worn-out lacquer and rusted steel. residents were eager to donate more than memorial. Its previous condition was becoming a health threat to kids who enjoy playing around the tank. Last Night Karol Szymanowski’s “Harnasie” performed of the Proms at Malopolska’s ald, with Sally Wilson the mezzo-soprano and Mariusz Patura on violin. The concert presented by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Krakow Industrial Society will feature performances by Karol Tatra point of origin Szymanwoski, Jules Massenet, Niccolo Pa- ganini, Edward Elgar, Gioacchino Rossini and Henry Wood. The set will comprise pieces such as Sabbath Morning at Sea, the Pomp and Circumstance March, Rule Zakopane, Krakow, Tanow and Britannia, March Entrance of the Gladia- tors, The Swimmer, Fantasia on British Sea-Songs and many others. As part of the Nowy Saczwill host the outdoor evening performances, there will be a re- ception after the concert. It will take place at The Krakow City Hall with everyone in- stage performances of the vited to meet the artists, the orchestra and Justyna Krzywicka the performers. STAFF JOURNALIST Ticket reservations: famous ballet “Harnasie” Agencja Artystyczna “Presto” The Krakow Philharmonic Hall will be Email: [email protected] playing host to The Polish Radio National Ticket price: 90 zloty per ticket for the the krakow post which in those days became a center of tour- Symphony Orchestra and The Krakow Phil- concert and 70 zloty per person for the re- ism but and above all, a favored retreat for harmonic Choir this Saturday, September 8 ception. Ticket sales begin August 27. Zakopane, Krakow, Tanow and Nowy artists. The first performance, September at 19:00. The Last Night of the Proms con- For more information visit: Sacz will host the outdoor stage perfor- 7, will take place in Zakopane on the top cert will be conducted by Mark Fitz-Ger- www.agencjapresto.pl mances of the famous Polish ballet “Har- of Gubalowka Hill. This is the exact place nasie.” This remarkable project is part of where Karol Szymanowski together with a celebration of the Year of Karol Szy- the author of the libretto, Jerzy Rytard, cen- manowski, on the 70th anniversary of his tered the action of the ballet. The simple death, as announced by the Polish Parlia- plot of “Harnasie” centers around a moun- ment. The project is tain girl’s love for a leader supervised by the Malo- of highland robbers, who “Harnasie,” a ballet in three Check out polskie Cultural Center abducts her from her wed- Sokol in Nowy Sacz and acts for tenor solo, choir and ding to a rich mountaineer The Krakow prepared in cooperation orchestra is one of the most and they both elope into with several cultural magnificent achievement of the mountains. The Kra- Post online institutions, like Kra- the composer’s output. The kow performance will for a kow Opera, the regional work was finished in 1931 be presented in the old groups Skalni and Nowa after taking eight years quarry of Bednarski Park Huta, and Barus Ob- complete to complete. in Podgorze district. The rochta Folk Group from third performance will electronic Zakopane. take place September 14 version of “Harnasie,” a ballet in three acts for tenor in the Moscickie Cultural Center in Tar- solo, choir and orchestra is one of the com- now and the last one on September 15 in each issue, poser’s most magnificent achievements. The Nowy Sacz by Dunajec River. Among the work was finished in 1931 after taking eight 100 performing artists we will have the PDF archive, years to complete. opportunity to watch the dancers-soloists: downloadable The origin of the music and libretto of Sabina Szybka, Jaroslaw Swiatek and To- “Harnasie” is connected with composer’s masz Szaro and to listen to the Orchestra city guide fascination with the folklore of the moun- and Choir of Krakow Opera conducted by tainous Tatra region in southern Poland, the Tomasz Tokarczyk. The tenor role will be and more! Highlanders’ customs, dances and songs. performed by Tomasz Kuk. The author of Szymanowski visited this area many times, www.krakowpost.com staging is Boguslaw Nowak. renting a mountain house in Zakopane, www.opera.krakow.pl 8 The Krakow Post KRAKOW SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 Eleventh International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music widely dismissed, misunderstood, scorned impression that there was a marvelous rich- and scoffed at. ness here, rather than a pointless variety. And so it was disheartening, though This point was underscored by the truly perhaps none too surprising, to find myself remarkable performances at the final con- one of exactly fourteen spectators of the tri- cert (Philharmonic, September 1, 19:00). als of the 11th International Competition of Both Grand Prix winners – the prize was Contemporary Chamber Music (August 30- shared for only the second time in the September 1), including the five jury mem- festival’s history – showed a truly supe- bers and at least two or three other journal- rior range of abilities. The Berlin-based ists. This lack of public enthusiasm is in no Berolina Trio (Poland/Germany/Japan) way due to the quality or importance of the performed a Wolfgang Rihm piece in a festival. The participants I saw were nearly way that both vigorously interpreted it and all highly talented, the prize-winners rep- made it legible for someone (such as my- resented a very high scale of achievement self) who was hearing this composer for the indeed, and the festival has, over its eleven first time. editions, been slowly gaining a kind of mi- A combination of passion, confidence nor prestige in the field. No, the sad fact is and intelligence that seemed uncanny in that people simply do not like this music. a group so young. The other Grand Prix This is a great shame. Sitting for free in the winners (Sonic.Art Quartet/Germany) per- lovely new music school auditorium, one formed the great Gyorgy Ligetti’s Baga- could hear Ayako Kitanaka’s (Japan) some- telles on four saxophones, a skittering and times frantic but very knowledgeable ren- oddly affecting work, with a sense of com- ditions of Bacewicz and Szymanowski (the munication more frequently seen among latter is really a bit too old for this festival, jazz musicians than classical ones. I don’t though he does sound surprisingly modern, believe I have heard the saxophone sound perhaps because his music has been assimi- quite the same way. Of the two first-place lated so much less than, say, Debussy’s or contestants who did not win the Grand Prix, Prokofiev’s), followed by the Polish accor- Bartosz Koziak (Poland) played Xenakis in dion/cello duet of Adam Misiak and Jacek a way that reminded the listener that the Malachowski, whose first piece sounded cello was an instrument made of wood like a more sacral Shostakovich and whose and metal, in other words a grating and not second (Wojciech Blecharz’s “In My always likeable piece, but compellingly Head”) was a delightfully spastic, romp- performed. The Piano Duo LP from Serbia ing, staccato thing that exploited changes performed a rendition of Mauricio Kagel in dynamics to very good effect. that in lesser company would have been a Other performers availed themselves worthy Grand Prix winner, and which cer- of double-belled trumpets (Paul Hubner/ tainly made me want to find more music Germany), marimbas (a rather popular by Kagel. Rounding off September 1 was instrument at this year’s festival) or saxo- a performance by Krakow’s own Motion phones, plucked at piano strings or played Trio, who won this very competition seven Krakow’s Hejnal on a clarinet with the top years ago and have since gone on to have half removed (3rd-prize winning Conash an international career that will include a Trio from Poland/Japan). date at Carnegie Hall this January. With all this eclecticism one might right- As such, they are a kind of beacon for Eleventh International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music. fully wonder if the music would get lost in young students of new music, showing that the fray, but mercifully this was seldom the the yawning chasm between this new mu- Soren A. Gauger avant-garde classical music to escape from horrible image, and one that unfortunately case. Granted, Hubner’s double-trumpet sic and the public at large can be bridged Staff JOURNALIST a rain storm. The few other people attend- only slightly exaggerates the gloomy posi- was not always a joy to listen to, and some – with a great deal of energy, talent and a ing the concert gradually disappear, until tion of modern classical music in the eyes of the instrument combinations – such as sense of humor. There is a particularly memorable mo- the protagonist is left alone with this wom- of the general public. Of all the contempo- the Feel Free Trio’s (Poland) clarinet/bas- ment in Julio Cortazar’s “Hopscotch” an on stage, vainly exerting herself to play rary art forms (excluding, perhaps, poetry), soon/oboe – were not as electrifying as Read an interview with founder of the where the protagonist attends a concert of some grotesque atonal composition. It’s a modern classical music finds itself most others, but one went away with the general Motion Trio Janusz Wojtarowicz on pg 14. Krakow’s hostels maintain higher standards Ania Biernat but during the tourist season most hostels are full. That’s “There was a fete, awards and free tours for the customers. thesis about hostels. The customers, he says, “are usually STAFF JOURNALIST because more and more visitors are coming to Krakow ev- During the nights DJs played for the bar guests.” young people who not only want to save money by staying ery year. Hostels’ fortunes rise and fall with the seasons. “We put a lot of effort to make our guests feel comfort- in a hostel but want to meet other young people from all Krakow’s hostels are among the best in the world, ac- “During the summer there are a lot of customers, whereas able,” she added. “We never force them to stay in the hostel around the world. They choose a hostel because they think cording to Hostelworld.com, the most popular web site for winters are usually stressful,” Bascin said. when there’s a party. Still, the best parties are spontaneous.” that regular hotels are boring.” booking hostels. Most of Krakow’s nearly 100 hostels are in To attract customers during the offseason, hostels jockey Many tourists have a few drinks in the hostel bar before Marta Meissner, Giraffe Hostel’s manager, divides her the city center, are clean and offer a variety of free facilities for the best positions in the ratings. “During the summer they go out to a party to some club. On Saturday evenings customers into two groups. The first come to Krakow just such as Internet access, laundry and security lockers. They tourists usually choose the first available hostel, but when Giraffe’s bar is full of young people drinking beer, chatting, for the weekend. – usually from the UK, Ireland, France and are also cheap. A bed in a dorm costs between 30 and 50 there’s a lot of choice they usually select the one that is best playing pool or cards. Spain. They don’t do much sightseeing but rather concen- zloty ($10-$17). The high standard of Krakow’s hostels is rated,” said Gosia Ewy, a co-owner of the Giraffe Hostel. trate on entertainment. The second group are backpackers a tradition set by the first hostels in the city such as Bling Ratings on Hostelworld.com are based on six factors: Staff is most important – from Australia, New Zealand and other distant countries. Bling and Nathan’s Hostel. “They were offering free break- character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness. The They usually book a bed for one or two nights, but often fast, lockers, Internet access and luggage storage. All the ratings reflect the grades given by customers. Tourists also Laura from Australia has been traveling around central decide to stay longer because they like the city so much. next hostels that were opening had to adapt their offerings can make written comments and eastern Europe, and she has come back to Krakow for to these high standards,” said Marek Bascin, owner of the the fifth time. “I love the city and its atmosphere and I just Hoscars Awards for Krakow’s hostels Travelers Inn Hostel. Bascin previously worked at the Bling Parties and dance courses keep on coming back here,” she says. She has stayed in Bling Hostel. Then he decided to open his own business in many hostels around Europe, so I ask her what is the most The reputation of Krakow’s hostels for being among the 2004. His Travelers Inn was the fifth hostel in Krakow. Hostels try to attract tourists in different ways. Travelers important thing about a good hostel. “Staff and the overall best in the world was recently confirmed during the Hostel- Now, with dozens of hostels, the competition is high, Inn offers a bike rental for free. Giraffe Hostel has a spa- atmosphere,” she says. world.com’s 5th annual Hoscars Awards ceremony. cious bar with sofas, piano, pool ta- Marcus from New Zealand and Seamus and Cormac Krakow’s Mama’s Hostel ranked fourth among all the ble and a big projection screen where from Ireland agree that the staff is the most important fac- hostels in the world. guests can watch films and football tor. Knowing this, Gosia Ewy from the Giraffe is very care- The winner was Berlin’s Jetpak City Hostel. NEW matches. “The bar in the hostel is ful while recruiting staff members. She usually chooses A special award was given to another Krakow hostel, EMPLOYMENT often the reason why people choose people with special talents. “The receptionist creates the Flamingo’s Hostel. PORTAL us,” said Gosia Ewy of the Giraffe. hostel’s atmosphere,” she said. “That’s why it’s so impor- The winning hostels were selected by more than 500,000 To encourage customers to spend tant to have the right person who will quickly recognize Hostelworld.com customers from more than 12,000 proper- LAUNCHING a night inside their hostels, owners the customer’s personality and provide them with the right ties featured on the web site. NOVEMBER organize concerts, parties and even entertainment.” dance instruction. “In June we were 2007 celebrating the first anniversary Hotels are boring of the hostel. The party lasted for three days,” said the Giraffe‘s Ewy. Wawrzyniec Slusarczyk wrote his BA REGISTER FOR FREE TODAY BE FIRST! SEND YOUR CV NOW MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE TO EMPLOYERS IN IRELAND, UK AND MIDLAND EUROPE

REGISTER NOW ON www.snazzyjobs.ie SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 KRAKOW The Krakow Post 9 Famous Krakow Police investigate heist dragons made known in Europe at Wawel Cathedral Michal Wojtas the thief was not a professional. Concen- STAFF JOURNALIST trating on the money, he left many priceless items behind. Police are investigating a burglary at the Cathedral workers say they make a thor- Wawel Cathedral in which the thief took ough check of the church before it is closed perhaps 1,000 zloty from three collection each evening. boxes. But surveillance cameras inside the ca- When cathedral staff arrived at 06:00, thedral were turned off for the night – the Tuesday, August 28, they found the usual procedure. smashed collection boxes and change scat- Unfortunately, the crime took place tered on the floor. They also found two shortly before motion sensors were to be doors damaged. installed in the building. They might have Police believe the burglar hid inside the triggered an alarm, preventing the bur- cathedral until the doors were locked at glary. 22:00, Monday, August 27. The cathedral has a special place in Pol- A police dog traced the burglar’s scent ish history. Kings were crowned there for from the main floor of the cathedral to the four centuries, beginning with Wladyslaw attic, where it was lost. I, also known as Wladyslaw the Elbow- So police believe that after the burglar High, in 1320. took the money, he apparently went to the And most of Poland’s kings are buried roof. He fled when the gates to Wawel Hill inside the church or in crypts below it. The were opened for visitors Tuesday morning, cathedral also contains the silver sarcopha- police believe. gus of Saint Stanislaw. Three non-royal A police helicopter scoured Wawel Hill notables who rest in the cathedral are the on Tuesday morning, looking for the bur- romantic poets Juliusz Slowacki and Adam glar, but found nothing. Mickiewicz and the political and military Church officials say they are lucky that leader Jozef Pilsudski. Thieves robbed the cathedral last week. LUK Agency LUK Krakow is known for its dragons.

Alicja Natkaniec ies. They visited Ireland and added splen- Staff JOURNALIST dor to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. They also performed in Warsaw and were Needless to say, the dragon is the most warmly received by its citizens. RUGBY recognizable symbol of Krakow. At the beginning of September the Kra- The legend about a brave prince who kow dragons reached Prague where the slew a dangerous dragon is well known by open-air show will be held on the Vltava every Polish child. River near the famous Charles Bridge. This story has inspired the annual fun- The dragons were accompanied by Irish fest that is the Great Dragon Parade. It has sea snakes and terrifying water creatures of Vitava. WORLD been organized for the last seven years by Krakow Groteska Theater to celebrate this The director of Groteska Theater, Adolf particularly Krakowian myth. Weltschek, says the Krakow Municipality A show featuring representations of can gain a marketing advantage with its at- dragons with music, light and sound effects tractive symbol. attracts thousands of Krakow citizens every The dragons can become a recognizable year. advertisement for Krakow outside Poland. CUP’07 Some of the dragons are small, some are They provide an attractive image of Kra- huge, and all are colorful, vivid and fancy. kow and provide a glimpse of the legend- The dragons fly or swim for spectators on ary past of the city. The dragons’ appear- the Vistula riverbank where the show is ances in other countries were prepared with held. EU financial support as a part of a project entitled “European Myths and Legends.” September And now the dragons’ fame is spreading, the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza reports. Weltschek hopes for a similar opportunity Within the last month the dragons have left next year, perhaps with the cooperation of Krakow to show off in other European cit- the City Council. - October European capital of Dachshund, 13th annual parade lines up on THE HOME Rynek Glowny this weekend ADDRESS

the krakow post Traditionally owners decorate their pets, many disguising their dogs as dragons. For the last 12 years, a long line of The other prizes will be awarded for the FOR RUGBY “weiner dogs” has marched through the best drawing of a dachshund and for a short Old Town Rynek Glowny adorned in cos- poem. tumes. This Sunday the “two-dog-longs” Past contests were also dedicated to will be lining up again for the 13th time the longest dog in the parade. The award in the Annual Dachshund Parade, an event for the length contest, for years an impor- WATCHERS already considered a long tradition of Kra- tant part of the event, presented the win- kow, no pun intended. ning dachshund with the title of his or her The event’s original organizer, Radio “Lengthiness.” Krakow, is a local station of Poland’s pub- The Polish word for dachshund is “jam- lic broadcasting company. Other event nik,” which translates to “burrow-dog.” 9 plasma screens sponsors include various media, a dog food The German name “Dachs-hund” literally producer and, of course, its patron, Mayor means “badger-dog,” an animal these dogs SPEcial Menu, Promotions of Krakow Jacek Majchrowski. were used to hunt for. The parade begins at 11:45 near the Bar- Radio Krakow expects participating For reservations or further information bakan, where the line is to form. The pets guests from other regions of Poland and visit us: sheraton.com/krakow or call: +48 12 662 16 70, Amazing atmosphere and their owners will proceed to the market from abroad to join local Krakow resi- e–mail: krakow sheraton.com square for three contests. dents. If expectation proves true, the city Sheraton Krakow Hotel, ul. Powiśle 7, 31-101 Krakow. The place to be The biggest prize will be awarded for the may become a Mecca for these lovable dachshund in the most impressive costume. dogs’ admirers. 10 The Krakow Post KRAKOW SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 Nowa Huta Sunday flea-market after-church favorite film marathon

the krakow post

Last Friday, August 31, the Nowa Huta Adelina Krupski Adelina Krupski district had its own little holiday as a two- day film marathon weaved history with the present. The festival was a brainchild of film director, Jerzy Ridan. Last weekend’s mara- thon was the fourth event of its kind in Nowa Huta, but this was the first time that shows were held indoors, in the snug interior of Sfinx Cinema. Past events were held on the square by al. Roz and would gather crowds of spectators. The square was particularly suitable because of its historical symbolism as the location where a monument of Lenin stood until 1989. Nowa Huta was created entirely at the will of a Socialist-Communist political system. From the onset the district became a focus of attention. Among the in- trigued, either stimulated by propaganda or by personal curiosity, the attentive eye of the camera was ever-present. “The building works began in 1949. Since 1950, around 300 films have been made about Nowa Huta; this is more than of any other city in Poland, even more than War- saw,” says Ridan. These were not only docu- mentaries or news reports, but also feature films. Independent directors were especially interested in telling stories of Nowa Huta workers’ everyday lives. When filmmakers steered away from the propaganda’s beam, these were unveiled to be less than ideal. “Zagubione uczucia” (“Lost Feelings”), by Jerzy Zarzycki, is an example of oppo- sition to the period’s propaganda cinema. It illustrates the tragedy of a devoted laborer For many Polish families, checking out the flea market after attending church for Sunday mass has grown into a tradition that they look forward to all week. who faces misery at home as a result of the socialist system for which she works. Adelina Krupski there are also others who in need of extra the flea market. “You could find anything However, the councilors did not realize “The film is made black-and-white in ref- Contributing Journalist cash simply clean out their attics in hope of there,” she says. “We would bring back that a large majority of the vendors and trad- erence to the so-called ‘black documentary’ selling something. cosmetics, which would freeze during the ers live in the surrounding neighborhood, style aiming to present authentic existence, In spite of having seen many difficult Once the stalls are set up, the flea market winter, but people would buy frozen creams forming a strong voice against the elimina- a real human,” explains Ridan. When first times, the flea market beside the Hala Tar- becomes an amazing center for coin, stamp and shampoos because there was nothing in tion of the market place. released, the film was shown for only a few gowa, or Market Hall, continues to attract and postcard collections, books, original the shops.” Fortunately, Mayor of Krakow Jacek days before it was banned by censors. close to a thousand buyers and traders every photographs, jewelry, furniture and any- The flea market has since become much Majchrowski defended those who are finan- A “Nowohucka Kronika Filmowa” Sunday. For many Polish families, check- thing from bicycles and ice skates to pup- more organized. Whereas vendors used to cially dependent on the sales made there, (Nowa Huta Film Chronicle) project started ing out the “targi” after attending church for pies and rabbits. Especially popular at this set up their stalls chaotically, using any ma- arguing that he could not in any way support three years ago as a newsreel collection by a Sunday mass has grown into a tradition that time of the year are used schoolbooks. Local terials they came across, they now follow an an action that would cause individuals who young film-crew. Their goal is to find con- they look forward to all week. For the ven- Krakow residents enjoy going for the lively orderly method. operate there legally to lose their place of temporary positive social and cultural initia- dors, it is not only a chance to sell or trade atmosphere and the great bargaining oppor- The market has also become much safer. work. According to Majchrowski, the spot is tives and spread their message through film. their wide variety of goods, but also to have tunity. People visit from all over the world After a period of no security or management one of the many attractions in Krakow, deci- The clips at the festival showed girls in a discussions and exchange stories. In the for a chance to find a unique souvenir. A of any kind, safety measures have been in- sive in the city’s popularity and uniqueness. local wrestling team, a newly opened club midst of all kinds of antiques, collectibles, couple from Australia seemed very pleased troduced, along with an official administra- Though there are a number of other flea with an art gallery, the history of the oldest valuables and even not-so-valuables, occurs with their purchase, “We have a wedding to tion. markets in Krakow, such as the one on pl. bookstore in Nowa Huta, an amateur Film a social gathering of the most unusual kind. go to and found two great pairs of shoes for At the beginning of last year, the markets Nowy in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter, and Club, and a youth theater. The stalls are set up as early as six in the 10 zloty each!” were under threat of being demolished as a the antiques on Maly Rynek, or Little Mar- Similarly, this year’s production of Szy- morning. Some like to reserve by the month, The popularity of this particular flea result of a series of complaints made by a ket, occurring three times a year, none can mon Jakubowski, “Krakow dla poczatku- for a 30 zloty charge, others choose to pay market fired off in the 1980s. Under com- number of residents in the area. Councilors match the social and historic elements cap- jacych” (“Krakow for Beginners”), aspired a daily fee of 5.50 zloty for old merchan- munism, recollects Jadwiga, a local resident argued that issues tied to the functioning of tured by that of the market beside the Hala to dislodge the negative stereotypes about dise, or 9.50 zloty for new merchandise, per who frequents the flea markets since child- the markets, such as the intense traffic on Targowa on ul. Grzegorzecka. Nowa Huta as being a dull and dangerous square meter. While there are many collec- hood, very little was available for purchase, Sundays, the state of untidiness from litter This is one tradition in Krakow that will district. The films at the Nowa Huta Mara- tors and professional antique dealers, who so people made ends meet by collecting nec- left behind and the disorderliness of drunks not disappear – as stated by Jadwiga’s hus- thon formed an overview of the site’s trans- travel throughout Poland stopping at a mar- essary items from all regions of Poland and residing in the area, led to arduous and intol- band, “it will be there until the end of the formation, highlighting its rapid develop- ket in a different town each day of the week, making them available to everyone through erable living conditions. earth, and probably even after that still.” ment in recent years. Havel promotes new book From HAVEL on Page 1 Jerzy Illg recalls how Nobel-prize win- press conference. He is vehement in his ski as the very model of poor international ner Wislawa Szymborska once sighed, belief that firm principles need to support relations, a point on which he expanded “Why don’t men like Havel have twin politics, and states that as soon as politics at length, and every one of his remarks brothers!” He bemoans the fact that the drifts away from solid principles it becomes seemed to end with a tirade against the Czech Republic had a president savvy a circus or a football match. current politics. Such remarks had a cer- enough to invite the Rolling Stones and Not an earth-shattering statement, but tain inevitability to them; Michnik also Lou Reed to visit him, while Poland’s one that gives a good indication of how spent some time describing his first meet- president was enjoying Disco Polo (cheap Havel speaks – in a way that is disarm- ing with Havel at the Polish-Slovak bor- synthesized dance music popular in Polish ing, precisely because it reminds us of der, drinking vodka and discussing how to villages – ed.). how artificially other politicians speak. overthrow the Soviet government. But Havel is a man who has spent five With Havel one is absolutely certain that This was a generation where politicians years in prison, and he is also refreshingly his views are not those of a speech-writer, somehow developed from bandits, artists capable of speaking seriously, even at a and so what one gets is a human being, and and peasants, a model that has already be- quite an intelligent one at that. come a seeming impossibility in today’s Havel is even more forthright when world. Havel himself stressed that he had questioned about the current politics in never wanted to be leader of anything be- Poland. fore he became president. “Poland should ensure that it has a new “I always thought,” Havel said in his slow election as soon as possible,” he states. voice, “that when I finished being president “And it would be a good idea if the voting I would be free as a bird.” To his own sur- were overseen by an international com- prise, he found himself continuing to censor mittee.” He then falls silent. Ten minutes himself in public, to represent himself and later another reporter asks him to clarify his thoughts in a way more diplomatic than this statement, and he merely replies, “It how he wanted to. That in spite of this he is no shame to have an election overseen. should still come across as one of the most Momotown Hostel It is the very essence of what democracy is natural and clear-headed politicians one has about, as a matter of fact.” ever seen is remarkable. 28 Miodowa St. Polish politics became a major topic Havel’s latest book, “Briefly, please,” tel. 012 4296929 in the later discussion involving political (“Tylko krotko, prosze”) is newly avail- [email protected] critic and onetime dissident Adam Mich- able in Polish translation from Znak pub- www.momotownhostel.com nik, theater director Kazimierz Kutz and lishers. English-language readers have had Havel. Michnik held up Jaroslaw Kaczyn- access to it for some months now. SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 KRAKOW The Krakow Post 11 Wenclub, an open invitation to Krakow’s international Weekly Tygodnik Powszechny social community enters virtual Second Life

Ania Biernat is being discussed. The more than 9 mln visitors to this STAFF JOURNALIST Whatever price is settled on, visitors virtual world spend almost $2 mln a day will pay in Second Life’s currency, the on virtual-world purchases, Second Life A few weeks ago Krakow became Linden dollar. The exchange rate right research shows. That has made Second Poland’s first virtual city in the popular now is $1 per 270 Linden dollars. Life a great place for marketers to con- online game Second Life, where players Apart from reading selected articles, sider touting products. create a character who can travel, work, visitors to the virtual editorial offices The virtual world is becoming more bargain, eat in restaurants or even read can see pictures of some the newspaper’s and more remarkable. For example, the newspapers. Tygodnik Powszechny, a business-information provider and news Catholic socio-cultural weekly founded agency Reuters has started a service de- in 1945, has become the first newspaper Tygodnik Powszechny, a voted only to the virtual world. to open its virtual editorial office in Sec- Catholic socio-cultural The Linden dollar fluctuates hourly ond Krakow. weekly founded in 1945, like real currencies – and Reuters’ Sec- “We decided to create our virtual rep- has become the first news- ond Life Bureau monitors the ups and resentative as we think that Second Life paper to open its virtual downs. Other prominent communications is a great means of communicating with editorial office in organizations with a presence in Second young people especially,” said Michal Life are the American television network Kuzminski of Tygodnik Powszechny. Second Krakow. NBC and the conglomerate AOL. For the time being, the newspaper’s The growing number of Second Life virtual location is close to, but different most influential contributors, have a free users shows that a virtual world is much from, its real location. The real location is cup of coffee or chat with newspaper em- more than a marketing platform. Visitors along ul. Wislna. ployees. In the future Tygodnik will orga- say they can make their dreams come The virtual location is at the corner nize virtual meetings with key newspaper true much easier than in reality. They also of Rynek Glowny and Wislna. That’s staff – an opportunity many virtual visi- stress that virtual living is easier than real because the virtual representation of Kra- tors say they want. life. kow is so far limited to Rynek Glowny Michal Kuzminski, whose name in Tygodnik Powszechny, the voice of and the beginnings of adjoining streets. Second Krakow is Kuzmin Thorne, asks liberal Catholics in Poland, has been in- Second Krakow is an ongoing project. visitors to the newspaper’s virtual edito- fluencing public opinion for more than 60 Its creator, the advertising agency Su- rial office whether they would like to talk years. During Communist era it was the The social events begin at 18:00 and last until 20:00 every Wednesday at ul. Sienna 5. premum Group, is adding streets as time with newspaper representatives. only legal opposition paper. In the 1980s goes by. Most like the idea. “A dialogue with it played an important role in the peaceful Barbara Bajak even older history. Nobody knows how the The virtual representation of the week- readers has always been one of the transformation of Poland. staff journalist space began as none of the original mem- ly’s editorial offices is spacious, bright newspaper’s most important objectives,” These days the readership of Tygodnik bers remain. and modern. Kuzminski said. “Second Life has en- Powszechny is limited to a small group of Every foreigner to stumble into Wen- Most likely a group of students thought Only the editor-in-chief’s office has abled us to conduct the dialogue very intellectuals. It hopes its Second Krakow club cherishes the one-of-a-kind multicul- of the space to practice their English and antiques. Historic covers of the newspa- easily.” presence allows it to attract new readers, tural gathering that comprises everything later invited in foreigners. per decorate the walls. The virtual editorial office’s creators especially younger ones. most loved about Krakow. Wenclub is an Wenclub has had visitors from the U.S., Enlarged covers and selected articles want to make it attractive for foreigners “We decided to open an editorial of- informal, non-profit so- Canada, the UK, France, from Tygodnik Powszechny hang on the as well as Poles. They are preparing Eng- fice in the virtual world because we want cial event where locals Spain, Italy, Australia, Every foreigner to stumble walls of the main editorial office. Visitors lish versions of some of the most interest- to keep up with the times and have a dia- and tourists meet to chat Germany, Sweden, Hol- can read them. ing articles. logue with younger people,” Kuzminski in English in a homelike into Wenclub cherishes the land, Korea, China and Soon visitors will be able to obtain ac- Tygodnik Powszechny is only the sec- said. atmosphere. one-of-a-kind multicul- many other countries. cess to the virtual archives of the weekly, ond Polish news operation in Second The seat of the virtual editorial office The simple lodging, tural gathering that comprises “Once a couple from which have the same material as the real Life. More and more companies – media of the weekly was created by Krakow’s with an ancient-looking everything most loved about India appeared dressed archives. How much virtual visitors will and otherwise – are opening virtual of- Supremum Group advertising agency, the tile stove and rickety fur- Krakow. Wenclub is an infor- in their traditional attire, have to pay to gain access to old articles fices in Second Life, however. author of the Second Krakow. niture, opens its welcom- mal, non-profit social event. another time a group of ing doors to everyone. Mormons came and tried Tea is served with sweets. to preach to us about their An ad at the gate invites all visitors to come faith,” recalls Kasia Korejwo, who began inside, creating a rotating flow of newcom- coming to Wenclub in 1987. Many come ers that brings charm to the meetings. Such back after years of absence, some send fantastic cultural variety enclosed in one postcards. The atmosphere is irresistibly room always leads to an unlimited array of friendly. lively discussions. Any subject is open for Aside from the weekly encounters, regu- debate. lar members organize extra events from “What I find best about the club is that time to time. While these are usually to you never know who will come next time mark holidays, casual bonfires are occa- and what the conversations will be about. sionally organized, as well. “I remember The spontaneity is great,” says Basia Sand- an outing to Slovakia and a few sightseeing erska. tours around Krakow,” says Kasia. Basia has been a member of Wenclub Since people that come around are often for 17 years, but the club prides itself of an keen travelers, the space has been perfect for showing slideshows of trips and experi- encing even more of the world through oth- er travelers’ eyes. Whether to practice Eng- lish or to make new and interesting friends, Wenclub is certainly worth visiting.

The social events begin at 18:00 and last until 20:00 every Wednesday at ul. Sienna The virtual representation of the weekly’s editorial offices is spacious, bright and modern. 5, 2nd floor. Download the PDF edition of The Krakow Post online! www.krakowpost.com 12 The Krakow Post KATOWICE SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 “The Polish Silesia” exhibit widely misses mark Joanna Zabierek Niesterowicz. Marcin Szczelina, custodian of and installations. sense of course; from this point of view it is a sTAFF JOURNALIST the exhibition, invited some splendid artists. The first mural (a piece of art displayed brilliant exhibition. But the artists have some- The paintings of Edward Dwurnik or on the wall) in the city, created by Edward how missed the meaning which was intended “The Polish Silesia” – an exhibition of the films by Wilhelm Sasnal could have never Dwurnik, is also a part of the exhibition. by composing this display. They showed Off Festival in Myslowice – was supposed to been viewed in the Cul- Entitled “Smiling Fac- the stereotype image of Silesia as a mining revise stereotypical concepts about the area, tural Center of Myslowice es,” the mural is on a jail ‘skansen’ (open-air museum or zoo).” the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza reported. during the previous era. It seems that even artists wall in the center of the Exhibit custodian Szczelina told Gazeta It seems, however, that even artists share There are also works share the same associations city. Also of interest: A Wyborcza: “I wanted to create an exhibition the same associations of Silesia with the on display of a young of Silesia with the major- mobile installation, “YAP- which deals with the stereotypes. Having majority of Poles. Silesia still remains the generation of artists such ity of Poles. Silesia still PER,” by Tomasz Bajer composed it, I think it has a sentimental char- region of coal, miners and ugly architecture as Anna Niesterowicz, remains the region of coal, and Andrzej Dudka-Durer, acter. Some works cultivate the stereotypical stemming from the 1970s. Joanna Rajkowska and miners and ugly architecture has been touring the city Silesian myth; some sharpen it to show it in The aim of this exhibition was to shatter Agata Nowicka. stemming from the 1970s. looking like a huge loud- a different context. But they still remain ste- Silesian myths and improve the area’s im- Other artists taking part speaker, filling the city reotyped.” age. It was supposed to present a fresh look in the exhibition are: Szy- space with music and mul- Whatever the truth is, art reflects reality. by outside artists from Warsaw, Krakow and mon Kobylarz, Jerzy Kosalka, Mikolaj Dlu- timedia projections. Is all the variety together In this case, that reality is not so easy to make Gdansk. gosz, Karolina Kowalska, Michal Budny and with the novelty of this exhibition enough to enchanting. The exhibition runs until the end It would show how untruthful the picture Janusz Lukowicz. reach the intended aim? of September. of “Black Silesia” had become. The title “The The variety of artists is equaled by the va- A Gazeta Wyborcza review said: “Ev- Polish Silesia” comes from the work of Anna riety of art genres: film, paintings, drawings erything has disappointed. Not in an artistic “The Polish Silesia” exhibit. Scuba diving in former dolomite quarry Tractors of The krakow post ported, the most common entry point to the straw begin a water contains two floating cars: a black A story about unpaid bills, the end of a BMW and “Polonez.” The first of them is at love affair, and a car being pushed into the the center of an interesting story. It was sunk new village water to drown unwanted memories seems by a well-known scuba diver. The car was like it should end badly. supposed to be a present for his girlfriend, Not necessarily, at least not where one of but she gave it back when they broke up. He Poland’s best venues for people who love to didn’t want the car around to remind him of tradition dive is concerned. her. So he removed all liquids, lubricating Grodek, a dolomite quarry in Jaworzno- oils and gasoline, and pushed the car into Joanna Zabierek Szczakowa, faced daunting financial woes the water. STAFF JOURNALIST in the mid-1990s. “Out of sight, out of heart, ” said Miro- Near Piaski, a village near Pszczyna in Upper The quarry’s energy provider cut off the slaw Kierepka, the owner of the “Orka” div- Silesia, straw tractors along Highway 1 have at- electricity and all water lift-pumps stopped. ing center in Bielsko-Biala, regarding the tracted curious glances from passers-by, the news- Subsequently, the quarry was flooded and heartbroken diver. paper Gazeta Wyborcza reports. turned into a wonderful place for lovers of Visibility in the water is about 5 to 12 Last Sunday, Piaski held a Harvest Festival scuba diving, reported Gazeta Wyborcza. meters and the water temperature is about (called “dozynki” in Polish). The straw “folk art” Many interesting things await “discovery” 16 degrees. The “Orka” diving center that was a personal village touch to the festival tradi- under the water at the former quarry. The rents the Grodek quarry has paid attention tion. water, which is transparent, enables scuba to all the details. “We wanted it to be a nice accent of harvest time.” said Iwona Pinocy of the Country Hostess divers to admire two huge excavators that “We have organized camping places, Circle of Piaski. could not be removed from the flooded toilets, a bar with drinks and a barbecue,” Villagers prepared for the festival by clean- quarry works. At the bottom one can also Kierepka said. ing, cooking regional recipes and decorating the find barracks that were used as a shelter So it is a great place for the whole family, village. While most villages look similar, each for workers during explosions in the stone- not just scuba divers, to visit. One can dive incorporates slight regional differences according pit. Pikes and big perch add to the natural in Grodek year round. However, it’s not a to their customs. scenery as they swim among the underwater sport for everybody. People who suffer from Piaski’s inhabitants wanted to start a new cus- relics. epilepsy, lung disease or claustrophobia are tom, so they built huge tractors made entirely of straw bunches and sheaves. As the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza re- likely to fail the medical examination re- Each tractor, almost six meters high, took sev- eral hours to build. But it was worth it, the villagers said, delighted with the spectacular result. Poland’s nationwide Harvest Festival is the biggest annual farming holiday, celebrated as a crowning achievement of the farmers’ labor and held only after the season’s fieldwork and crop gathering is finished. The Harvest Festival has been celebrated in Poland since as far back as the 16th Century, when landowners would organize the festival in grati- tude for their field laborers’ hard work. The celebrations were filled with dancing and eating. When the festival began, traditionally on or around August 15, a crown of straw was placed on the head of a village girl. The mayor would place a rooster on top of the crown, and the girl would lead villagers and musi- cians through the fields. If the rooster crowed, it was considered good Scuba diver. luck and the future year would be good; if the rooster refused to eat, it was regarded as a bad quired before participation in diving cours- Some divers use venues/sites in Silesia omen and prospects for a good winter were bleak. es. The week-long course costs about 1,000 but the quality of the facilities and their August 15 also marks a Christian holiday, the Feast of the Assumption (the Virgin Mary‘s ascent zloty. Those who pass receive a certificate availability undeniably make Grodek the to heaven), which is celebrated with the Harvest that enables them to dive on their own. best in the eyes of most fans of this sport. Festival. Reapers traditionally prepared wreaths of grain, nuts and corn that they presented to the owners of the estates where the wheat was grown. The harvesters were invited inside for a feast, which was followed by dancing. The holiday always included attending church, where the wreaths were blessed at mass. Brazilian restaurant in the Old Town ul. Sw. Tomasza 28 We invite you every day from 12:00 p.m.

Reservations: Tel.: (0) 12 422-5323 www.ipanema.pl SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 ARTS & IDEAS The Krakow Post 13

Theo van Gogh in Four weeks of Weekend of metal at horror flicks club Loch Ness Kino Pod Baranami at Club Pod

Jaszczurami cc:sa:Seth

Horror flick festival. the krakow post bands. On Monday, September 10, the Swedish Michal Wojtas Krakow’s black and death metal fans band Marduk will perform in Loch Ness as sTAFF JOURNALIST should get an earful of music this weekend part of their five-show Poland tour. with two days of concerts. Two major bands The four-member group has for years Pod Jaszczurami is preparing a are playing at Loch Ness, a student club on been considered one of the most radical special treat for horror-movie lovers. ul. Warszawska 15 a few steps from Gale- black metal bands. The club has declared September as ria Krakowska. World-renowned Behemoth Even with the original singer and drum- a “month of horror” and is hosting will take the stage this Sunday, September 9, mer gone, it continues to uphold this status. weekly Thursday screenings of four after the Hatesphere and Rootwater shows. Beyond the wall of guitar, bass, and re- horror films, each from a different Apart from Vader, Behemoth is the only lentless drumming, the band is known for its part of the world. The series begins Polish metal band to make it in the inter- controversial lyrics about Satanism and war. September 6, with Brian Yuzna’s “Be- national music scene. They’re even better Last year the band’s Warsaw concert was neath Still Waters.” After a village is known abroad then here in Poland. cancelled when the city decided their lyrics intentionally flooded, its drowned in- The act, currently consisting of Nergal went too far. The band may find a similar habitants come back to life to start a (guitar, vocals), Inferno (drums) and Orion outcome in Krakow, where residents still massacre in nearby settlements. (bass), released their first demo tape in 1992 remember an infamous 2004 concert given On September 13, the club will in Gdansk, the coastal city in the north where by another Scandinavian death metal band, Screenshot from Theo van Gogh’s film, “Submission.” The film will be shown in English. screen, “The Bird with the Crys- the band came from. Since then they’ve re- Gorgoroth. City police launched an inves- The remaining films will be shown in Dutch. tal Plumage,” Italian director Dario corded eight full-length albums. tigation after the Norwegians performed Argento’s 1970’s debut film. Full of Starting with a classic black metal sound, on a stage surrounded by animal blood and the krakow post Then on November 2, 2004, van Gogh violence and thrilling action, it’s now the band evolved into death metal in their sheep-heads on stakes. was shot to death by Mohammed Bouyeri, among the classic Italian “giallo” most recent albums “Demigod” and “Apos- This recollection could still trigger pro- Six films by and about Theo van Gogh, a radical Islamist. (“pulp-fiction”) films. tasy.” This summer Behemoth starred at tests or even force the Marduk show to the murdered Dutch director, actor and The slaying led to demonstrations as well After Italy, the cameras roll to the Ozzfest concert as one of four non-U.S. cancel. writer, will be shown September 7-12 at as several arsons of mosques and churches Mexico on September 20, with Guill- Kino Pod Baranami (Rynek Glowny 27). in Holland. ermo del Toro’s, “Cronos.” The story Audiences will have the chance to see On Friday, “Submission” will be the is about an old antique seller who van Gogh’s film debut as well as the later first film shown in the cycle followed by possesses a mysterious mechanical Where artists and scientists meet works which made him notorious in his “Luger,” van Gogh’s version of “film noir” device that lets him turn back the ef- homeland. and his official movie debut. fects of aging. But he’s unaware that the krakow post precise drawings, it overwhelms you. Those The most famous of the films is “Sub- On Saturday, “Blind Date,” a story of a someone else knows of his treasure drawings are simply a masterpiece..” mission,” which in just 11 minutes tells bar romance narrated by a bartender, will be and wants to take it from him. Pieskowa Skala is one of three castles Another Pieskowa Skala attraction and the stories of five abused Muslim women. shown. On Sunday, the cinema will screen The horror finale, “Bio-zombie” in Malopolska Province boasting the sta- part of the “Imago florae” exhibit are the While background voices recount the sto- the thriller “Baby Blue,” and on Monday, from China, was directed by Wilson tus of a royal castle. The major one is, of flower gardens on the southern side of the ries, the camera focuses on their naked bod- “Cool!” – an ironical comment on violence Yip, also dubbed “Hong Kong’s Sam course, Wawel. The third one is Niepolo- castle walls. The gardens normally are closed ies painted with verses from the Koran. and criminality among Dutch lower-class Raimi.” This movie blends fear with mice castle. Pieskowa Skala (Dog’s Rock) to the public but are temporarily open for The film was perceived by many mem- youth. laughter when the invasion of blood- is a charming place, located in Suloszowa viewing. Access to Pieskowa Skala is quite bers of Dutch Muslim community as a blas- The last two days of the program will thirsty zombies turns into a comedy. village, 27 kilometers north of Krakow. simple, with private minibus lines that head phemous attack on their religion. bring “06/05” and “Have a Nice Weekend, It will be screened at the club on Sep- The castle is surrounded by a national for Olkusz through Pieskowa Skala. Both van Gogh and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Anyway.” tember 27. scenic park of jurassic geologic origin, per- The tourist companies have everything former member of the Dutch parliament The first film is van Gogh’s version The films will be showing at Club fect for walks. well arranged. who wrote the script for “Submission” (a of the assassination of his friend, radical Pod Jaszczurami, on Rynek Glowny For details see www.pieskowaskala.eu. See the Private Information Center at ul. translation of the Arabic word “Islam”) and politician Pim Fortuyn, while the latter is 8, at 19:00 on Thursdays, September The castle’s chambers contain historical ar- Grodzka 34. narrated the film, received death threats af- a documentary on his own death completed 6, 13, 20 and 27. tifacts and are used to display a collection ter the film was released. in 2004. of world-class paintings, from medieval times through the 20th Century. Pieskowa Skala also houses various temporary exhi- bitions, such as “Imago Florae” (“Pictures of Flowers”). The exhibit was inspired by a collection of books of botanical “herbaria” (descriptions of plants and their utility for mankind) and “florilegia” (albums of flow- er connoisseurs and collectors). The books are kept in the Wawel and Pieskowa Skala castles. The appeal of such an exhibit lies in its rarity. The botanical il- lustrations are unknown to a wider audience, apart from plant lovers and collectors. The major ingredients of the exhibit are books which once belonged to the Polish noble family Sapieha, such as “Botanicon” pub- lished in 1727 and “Plantaeselectae” (1750). One of the most beautiful ‘florilegia’ is “Hortus Eystettensis” (1613) containing 17 beautifully colored charts of then-rare flow- ers such as tulips, daffodils and anemones. “My private opinion of these exhibits is that at first sight they are nothing much of a thrill,” said Izabela Okreglicka of the Events Department of Wawel castle. “But when you get closer and start admiring the 14 The Krakow Post ARTS & IDEAS SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 An interview with founder of the Motion Trio Janusz Wojtarowicz violins can play sad melodies, but accordion, he makes arrangements for viola, for clari- A: No, it needed time. It wasn’t two never, they’ve always been funny, some- net. One piece can be translated into a lot weeks after the Penderecki competition that thing to dance to, fresh and interesting, but of different versions. An accordion trio is as everyone wanted us. Yes, a lot of people not tragic. It’s not a tragic instrument. It’s powerful as a string quartet, as powerful as wanted to help us. But if you play five con- a celebrating instrument. It’s also used in a string orchestra, even. But the difference certs per year, how can you live? When a the learning of ultra-contemporary music, an is that an accordion trio has more, many classical musician wins a very good competi- instrument for experimentation, music that, more, possibilities for creating sounds. A lot tion, everyone calls them and invites them to quite frankly, is impossible to listen to. We of different sounds! And this is my task – to play in prestigious places. But after we won decided that we wanted the accordion to be convince them. To say, “Look, an accordion first place in the Penderecki competition, we heard in its own voice. This is what we want- trio is the same as a string orchestra – but went back to playing on the street. It was ed to change. But how to discover the sound cheaper!” We’re even better than the organ very funny for us. of the accordion? This is still my question. in a Philharmonic hall, because we can create Q: When did you stop playing on the I’m still looking for new sounds. A violin sounds from the deepest pianissimo up to the street? player is not faced with these kinds of ques- highest fortissimo. To do this on the organ A: Four years ago. One week before our tions, because the possibilities on the violin you must change registers. And the power of first concert with Bobby McFerrin in War- have been completely exhausted. What more the accordion!!! What kind of sound can you saw. We had no money, so we had to go to can you do on violin, and piano, after Chopin, get from a string quartet? (Mimes playing a Germany to play on the street. We had no Debussy, Ravel, Shostakovich? Nothing new violin and makes a feeble, sickly sound) money for tickets from Krakow to Warsaw. has happened for fifty years. This is my task, to find a way to say it to Q: But you were already stars – you had Q: The music that you create with the Mo- them. I’m still explaining it to them. been voted best debut act of the year 2000... tion Trio is extremely original – it’s a very Q: There are many accordionists com- A: Yes, yes, but it was all on paper! Those eclectic fusion of jazz, rock, minimalism, peting in this year’s festival. Is it a popular awards... you don’t receive any money for sound collage, experimentation, with inspira- instrument to perform contemporary music this. You have to survive somehow. The In- tion from classical and baroque music, heavy on? stitute of Art in Krakow has now helped us a metal, techno, house and disco polo, among A: They’re in this festival because of us. lot – they’ve sponsored us to buy our instru- other things. With this kind of eclecticism is The Motion Trio won the festival’s Grand ments... But that in itself is another reason the Motion Trio trying to make a bridge be- Prix seven years ago. This is the reason that why we stopped playing on the street. I can’t tween different musical spheres? there are accordions in the festival now – we take an accordion that costs 20,000 euro onto A: Yes, exactly. We’re trying to make a led the way for them, we opened up the door. the street! (laughs) bridge between all kinds of music, classical, In the year when we competed, we were the Q: Did playing on the street give you any jazz, contemporary – this is the Motion Trio’s only accordion performers. We were the very kind of experience that helps your present main goal – to be everywhere. On the one first to bring accordions into the festival. music? hand we’re very interested in playing con- Accordions are becoming more popular in A: Yes, we feel that we’re different mu- temporary music – the music of Penderecki, the festival also because the performance of sicians than normal kinds of musicians, pop Gorecki, Kilar, the great Polish composers. contemporary music is challenging, it’s for stars, because we’ve played in a lot of differ- But it’s also a very good experience to be people who are looking for something new. ent places. In front of the building as well as present in the world music scene and the jazz Classical music is the past of music. It’s a inside the building. “Open air” for us a few music scene. Our performances with Bobby time for new sounds, and this also means years ago didn’t mean a big festival – it meant McFerrin and Tomasz Stanko have been very it’s a time for new instruments – instruments the street! (laughs) It gives you power. You good experiences for us. These kinds of other than piano, violin. The possibilities for must be very brave to play on the street. meetings give us the opportunity to mix the these instruments are exhausted. Marimba, Q: Do you miss playing on the street? accordion with different sounds. accordion, folk instruments – this is part of A: No. I’m 36 years old now, I have new Q: Why is this important to you? the new music. This festival is a good pro- ideas. But when I look back on the past, I A: We’re interested in guys like Bobby motion for unknown instruments. This is the think of it as a very nice time. McFerrin, for example. He’s an amazing, main worth of this festival, in my opinion. Q: You’re playing in Carnegie Hall early versatile performer. He was a classical con- There’s also more respect for the accor- next year. ductor, in La Scala, for example. dion now. At the festival seven years ago, A: Yes. It’ll be the first time that the ac- Q: Bobby McFerrin? The guy who sang the guy who announced us, before our per- cordion will be featured in Carnegie Hall. The Motion Trio at the International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”? formance, said, “Are you on your way to a There’s never been a solo accordion or an A: Yes, yes! The same guy! He’s a classi- wedding party?” It was a joke. But times accordion trio – the first time in the history Scotia Gilroy musician has taken his group extremely far cally trained musician, a pianist and conduc- have changed. Next January we’re playing of Carnegie Hall. There have been accordi- Contributing Journalist – from playing on the streets of Krakow and tor. He’s also a great jazzman and pop star. at Carnegie Hall. We’ve traveled a very long ons used as accompaniment, in world music in small clubs a decade ago, to performing at Q: What did you do with him? distance. This is the proof that we’ve man- groups, for example. But never the accordion The final concert of this year’s Interna- the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. A: We played a few concerts. In Montreal aged to change the accordion, the way people as an independent instrument. tional Competition of Contemporary Cham- and Warsaw. think about the instrument. Q: Do you play the same way when you’re ber Music (former Penderecki Festival of The Krakow Post: A statement from your Q: What kind of music did you play with Q: The world premiere of your accordion playing for heavy metal fans at rock and roll Contemporary Chamber Music) concluded record label says that you’ve “worked hard him? arrangement of the Penderecki piece “De festivals and when you’re playing for classi- with a powerful performance by Krakow’s to change the image of the accordion.” How A: We improvised, on stage, in front of Profundis” was in May of this year, in Los cal music lovers at Carnegie Hall? Motion Trio, who won the Grand Prix of the did the image of the accordion need to be 5,000 people. It was a very dangerous thing Angeles. Why were you interested in per- A: They’re both good. But my ideal audi- 4th edition of the festival in 2000. Their pres- changed? Do you feel that you’ve succeeded to do! forming this piece? ence for Motion Trio is about 1,000 people, ence in the gala concert served as a homage in changing the way people see it? Q: These well-known musicians such as A: The original version was composed for not from one age, not purely a jazz audience, to the festival’s past as well as a testament to Janusz Wojtarowicz: The accordion has Bobby McFerrin that you’ve played with.... three choirs. The symbolism seemed good nor a classical audience, nor anything else the bright careers that are possible for laure- traditionally been used for creating a fun at- do you think playing with them has changed – we’re a trio, so each of our accordions is – just people who like music, good music, ates of this festival. I had the opportunity to mosphere at weddings and parties. The roots the way they see accordions and accordion like one choir. It was difficult for me to ar- and want to take their families. Grandpa talk with Janusz Wojtarowicz, who founded of the accordion is that it’s a popular instru- music? Or were they already interested in range it. It’s very deep, very difficult music. will feel good, and a six-year-old boy will be the Motion Trio in 1996 and whose passion ment, an instrument for good times. In the the accordion? How to translate it for accordion was very entertained, too. Good energy, like Bobby for music, love of the accordion and sheer past the accordion has always been some- A: Bobby McFerrin, for example, didn’t interesting for me. I had to think about it for McFerrin. I want contact with people, with power as an individual, a composer and a thing funny, something nice. Clarinets and know anything about the accordion before a long time, it was a long process. I was even everyone. we played with him! He knew accordion mu- dreaming this music at night. It was the first Q: Is this some kind of new era for the ac- sic only from us, from the Motion Trio – he time I was ever playing Penderecki, so it was cordion? Are things changing? knew our music before we performed with very important for me. It’s a very important A: It’s still not a revolution. But the accor- him. He knew us as three crazy accordion piece, part of Penderecki’s “Seven Gates of dion right now is going in a good direction, ARKA NOEGO players. Jerusalem,” which was commissioned by the towards being independent, and I think that This is another one of our huge tasks – to Israeli government on the occasion of 3,000 now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the Our restaurant is located show the instrument to all people, not only to years of Jerusalem. This was in 1996 – which accordion is beginning a new history. Not in one of the oldest students and teachers. If you show the accor- was also the year when I formed the Motion for Motion Trio only, but I’ve had a lot of dion to Bobby McFerrin, the feedback comes Trio. A nice coincidence. meetings with other accordion players, and buildings in Kazimierz. from the entire world, because people follow Q: And what was the reaction to this piece we talk about the instrument, about how to We serve all kinds of Jewish Bobby McFerrin. in Los Angeles, at the premiere? develop it. Motion Trio is only one example cuisine, based mostly Q: At the gala concert of this year’s In- A: The reaction to it was very, very good. of how many things you can do with the ac- ternational Competition of Contemporary After this concert we felt better as classical cordion. on local recipes. Chamber Music your performance included interpreters. Q: In 20 years what is your music going Come to enjoy delicious works by three of Poland’s greatest con- Q: Has Penderecki ever been performed to be like? Can you imagine yourself playing Jewish dishes. temporary composers. How do Penderecki, on accordion before? with the same kind of power that you have Gorecki and Kilar feel about the accordion? A: No, never before. Nor the other con- now? A: I had to convince them. temporary composers that we’re now per- A: Great question. In the future, twenty Live klezmer music Q: Were these pieces that you played ar- forming – Gorecki and Kilar. Their music years from now, I’d like to be someone who every night at 20:00. ranged by the composers for you? has never been performed on accordion. has created a kind of legend for the accordi- Open daily: 09:00-02:00 A: No. I arranged them all. But with an Q: Was the year 2000, when you won the on. Not my legend, but the legend of the ac- official agreement with the composers over Grand Prix in the International Competition cordion. I’d like our group to be a legendary the arrangement. The composers wouldn’t of Contemporary Chamber Music and when group. People have to be a little bit stupid to ul. Szeroka 2 have been able to do it themselves – the ac- your album “Pictures” was voted CD of the do something different, and it’s very interest- +48 (12) 4291528 cordion is a completely unknown instrument Year 2000 by the Polish music industry, the ing to me to fight – not to fight just for the [email protected] to them, they don’t know how to do it. When point when your career took off and Motion sake of fighting, but intelligent fighting, for www.arka-noego.pl Penderecki composes concertos for violin, Trio’s success began? music. SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS The Krakow Post

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