Roxanna Panufnik at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham
When Roxanna Panufnik’s father Andrzej fled communist Poland, the CBSO hired him as its conductor. Now, a generation later, she pays tribute to Poland’s turbulent last 100 years with a magnificent new choral work – one whose beauty, sincerity and sheer communicative power is sure to make it a modern classic. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducts this landmark UK premiere – and then we’re off to the Kingdom of Sweets, in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker!
CBSO+ 6.15pm: CBSO Chief Executive Stephen Maddock OBE is joined by composer Roxanna Panufnik to talk us through the UK Premiere of Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland.
PROGRAMME
Panufnik Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland (CBSO co-commission: UK premiere), 65′
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker: Act I, 45′
Open House – Polish Underground Movement Study
Saturday 20th June 2026 - Explore Polish Wartime history at an Open Day of the Polish Underground Movement Study Trust - an archive dedicated to the Polish Resistance in WWII located on Ealing Common.
20
06.2026
Events, History
Collecting Cultures: Central and Eastern Europe –
This panel will reveal insider tips on what to seek out in the market, unpack the unique qualities that make this region’s photography so compelling, and spotlight must-know artists and hidden gems that even seasoned collectors might have missed. Perfect for discovering fresh perspectives and building your collection with confidence.
16
05.2026
Events, Visual arts
Polish Fashion Stories: Unexpected Encounter – Batik
The earliest known examples of Polish batiks appeared around 1903 at an exhibition in Kraków, when the artist Jan Bukowski presented furniture upholstered in textiles decorated with what was called then “a manner of Easter eggs” - it was before the term batik had even entered the Polish language. From this point, other Kraków artists began to further explore the technique and its possibilities.
05
05.2026
Events, Visual arts