REPORT ON THE VISIT OF THE
POLISH NATIONAL RADIO ORCHESTRA
16 SEPTEMBER 2010
Courtesy of sponsorship by the Polish Cultural Institute and DFDS (Norfolk Line) the tall ship which normally has a crew of 40 and takes 130 students has been travelling the north sea cities from Oslo performing with the Polish National Radio Orchestra in the wake of the progress of Chopin, whose 200th birth anniversary is this year.
Chopin ended his days with a trip from Paris, where he was living, to London for his last concert via Boulogne and Dover and that is why we were chosen for a visit. The ship left Dover today at 10am en route for Boulogne for their last concert, then back home to finalise the tour.
I visited the ship in the afternoon and noted that, having been built 30 years ago at the end of the communist regime, the inside was very utilitarian with the exception of the state room and officers' dining room, which was used to entertain guests. The students would have been bunked 20 to a cabin, having a small locker and 1 clothes hook on a hanging rail for their uniforms. The conditions of course were very tight but clean and patently efficient and strictly controlled. Each student coming on board is given a number by which they are known throughout the voyage because of the regular change overs.
The ship had a number of plaques from cities around its voyage and I presented one from Dover, inviting them back and offering them a welcome. At the reception were representatives from the Polish Embassy, Cultural Institute, Dover shippers, DFDS, Hammonds and, of course, the press, not only the Polish television, to whom I gave an interview, but also the BBC and some of our local papers.
They, as usual, said they enjoyed Dover and hoped to return and I said we would do anything to assist.
On to the Town Hall where the 60 piece orchestra provided the most amazing world class entertainment of Chopin, Britten and Debussy. Again, further dignatories had come down from London and all spoke highly of Dover Town Hall and its facilities and atmosphere.
The music was stunning, the Polish were friendly and enthusiastic and I met and discussed issues with many of the differing representatives, inviting them all to do a return visit. One aficionado suggested that he would like to run a concert in the Town Hall, inviting the pianist alone back. Again, this is something that we should encourage as the tickets were a sell out, patently for entertainment that is lacking here. Sitting next to me were the people involving in Deal Music Festival who confirmed that the venue was ideal for their purposes as well.
I was subsequently presented with a bronze bust of Chopin and books which will now reside at Maison Dieu House. In all, an unforgettable experience.
David Hannent
