Classical Music in Poland and the Europe of Chopin - From the Reviewer's Notebook

The noble statue of Fryderyk Chopin in the Duszniki Zdroj Spa Park by the Warsaw sculptor Jan Kucz. It expresses the formidable, revolutionary side of his personality, an aspect one does not normally associate with the refined salons of Paris and 'pieces for schoolgirls' as one misguided contemporary English critic expressed his ignorance. Erected in 1976, its masculine, internalised creative power reminds me of Rodin's similarly controversial and formidable statue of Balzac Click on all photographs to enlarge Despite appearances to the contrary there is  life on earth outside the Olympic Games! I like sport as much as anyone but I am also greatly looking forward to attending the oldest piano festival in the world yet again, beginning August 3. I shall be keeping my detailed blog as ever. The lyrical surroundings of this spa town on the Polish-Czech frontier where Fryderyk Chopin once took a cure and gave charity concerts often lures me away for hiking in the moun