January 25, 2013, marks the centenary of Witold Lutosławski’s birth, and celebrations of this anniversary are being prepared throughout the world. On a motion by the Witold Lutosławski Society, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Honourable Bogdan Zdrojewski called the Sejm Commission for Culture and Communications to make 2013 formally The Year of Lutosławski.
To that effect, on December 7, 2012, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland passed the following resolution:
"On the centenary of Witold Lutosławski’s birth, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland is making the decision to honour one of the most outstanding artistic creators of our times, who has permanently inscribed himself in the history of twentieth-century music in Poland and in the world.
Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994), one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, elevated Polish music in the second half of the past century into the highest ranking art in the world. His masterworks, present on all important concert stages for over 60 years, make us discover new dimensions of beauty and uncover earlier unknown possibilities of understanding and experiencing the contemporary world. Tied in with the great European tradition, from Beethoven and Chopin to Debussy and Bartók, he was a patriot in his public activity and a world citizen in his creative work.
Deeply convinced of the particular significance of his output for the national and world heritage, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland announces 2013 to be The Year of Lutosławski".
With the centenary of its patron’s birth, The Witold Lutosławski Society is preparing numerous concerts, as well as educational and publishing activities propagating the person and life stance of this ambitious artist. In preparing the composer's centenary celebrations, the Society formed numerous partnerships, with the participation of The Institute of Music and Dance, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Polish Radio Program 2, the Polish Composers' Union, and others.
On our website we invite you to acquaint yourself with projects planned by the Witold Lutosławski Society.
A calendar of events and detailed information concerning all concerts and projects will be published on the official website of The Year of Lutosławski celebrations.
Cellphone application (Spacerownik po Warszawie Lutosławskiego)
An electronic publication in the form of a cellphone application is being created in partnership with The Fryderyk Chopin Institute. Its content is a rich assemblage of historical and contemporary photographs as well as text and audio information about the most important places in Warsaw connected with Lutosławski’s time there, and with his creative work.