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

     SALVE!   WELCOME!       The pianists are not without significant musical competition in the Spa Park! In English his sign reads: Time and Direction to the Organ Grinder Click on photos to enlarge Welcome once more to the International Chopin Festival at the lovely Polish town of Duszniki Zdr ó j, a charming spa in Silesia on the mountainous Czech-Polish border not far from Wrocław. A modicum of history first. Part of the way through his studies Joseph Elsner recommended that Chopin ‘take the waters’ or 'go into rehab' not far from where Elsner was born in the small Silesian spa of Bad Reinerz (now Duszniki Zdrój). Originally on the Prussian-Bohemian frontier, the village is now in the south-west of Poland on the border with the Czech Republic. Frycek’s studies and intense partying into the small hours during his third and final year at the Liceum had begun to affect his health. He was a bit of a 'party animal' was Frycek! In his youth not the melanc