Poland celebrates Penderecki

Poland’s leading composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki is celebrating his 85th birthday with a weeklong festival of his music in Warsaw. A concert of Penderecki’s 2nd Cello Concerto and his Songs of Reflection and Nostalgia opened the festival on Friday, at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw. Running until Nov. 23, and also at other venues, the festival features various musical forms including symphonies, choral works and compositions for voice. Among them will be Dies Illa, Credo and violin concerto Metamorphosen.