Krzysztof Baculewski "Subjective Annals 60 Editions of the Festival"

This was a very special edition of the Festival. For the first time it had a subtitle: 'North '98'. This title reflected the main focus of the programme - Scandinavian music (primarily owing to considerable support from the Nordic Council of Ministers). Hence many names of composers previously unknown to Polish audiences: Jan Sandström, Haukur Tómasson, Frederik Högberg, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Paavo Heininen, Kimmo Hakola, Karin Rehnquist, Jukka Koskinen, Poul Ruders, Hans Gefor, and Olav Anton Thommessen. However, the final concert ended with a 20th-century classic: Symphony No. 4 by Per Nørgård. Also for the first time there was an internet link with Helsinki and Oslo, which enabled simultaneous audiovisual presentations involving sound and computer images as well as acoustic instruments. As far as Polish music is concerned, one should note performances of Symphony No. 4 by Witold Lutosławski, Symphony No. 1 and Clarinet Concerto by Krzysztof Penderecki, Cello Concerto No. 2 by Krzysztof Meyer, Concerto à rebours by Tadeusz Wielecki, Psychodrama by Tadeusz Baird, Trio by Augustyn Bloch, Music from Afar by Tomasz Sikorski, as well as possibly one of the best Polish symphonic compositions ever heard at the 'Warsaw Autumn' - Slapstick by Zbigniew Bargielski.