On Saturday, 5th July, The 2nd Wieliczka Summer Music Festival has been commenced with a classical music concert performed by the "Obligato" Orchestra directed by Jerzy Sobeńko.

Even the weather could not spoil the organisers' plans. The official opening of the event was performed by the host of our town - mayor of Wieliczka, Artur Kozioł and the Małopolska District vice-marshall, Wojciech Kozak. The world-renowned mezzo-soprano, Małgorzata Walewska was the star of the evening. On the second day of the festival, the public numerously gathered in the Upper Market Square saw the artists of the Entertainment Theatre from Chorzów ("Teatr Rozrywki") performing the musical "Fiddler on the Roof".

The organisers of the 2nd Summer Music Festival are the Polish Strauss Society and the Cracow Saline Works Museum, financially aided by the Wieliczka Municipality and the Małopolska District.

The concert week in Wieliczka has officially commenced. The Saturday concert despite the weather which on the beginning was far from perfect, gathered numerous public as well as distinguished guests, among them Antoni Wit, the director of the National Philharmonia of Warsaw.

The gala inaugurating the festival was, similarly to last year, was hosted by Jolanta Suder and Jerzy Sobeńko, the director of the Strauss "Obligato" Orchestra. The concert commenced with a well-known and well-liked ouverture from "The Gypsy Baron" by Johann Strauss. Subsequently, the gathered public had an opportunity to hear "The Waltz of the Flowers" from Peter Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker", ouverture to the operetta "Orpheus in the Underworld" by Jacques Offenbach, as well as the charming waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss.

Małgorzata Walewska, the very much expected star of the evening started her performance with the chanson "Plaisir d'amour"and ended with an amazing performance of Georges Bizet's "Habanera". The concert was a very special event not only for the gathered public,but for the artist herself as well, as she celebrated her anniversary that day, on the occassion of which the public sang for her the birthday song "May you live hundred years".

On the second day of the festival, in the magical scenery of the John Paul II Alley, a music and poetry performance entitled "The Swindler Flea" took place. In the evening, the same day, the Upper Market Square saw the gathering of masses of public attending the musical "The Fiddler on the Roof" performed by the Entertainment Theatre from Chorzów. This unusual performance, filled with great music and professional dramatic art was 2 hours long.During this time the public gathered on the Wieliczka Market Square did not get any smaller - on the contrary - more and more specators kept arriving.

It was the last significant show on the Wieliczka Market Square before the commencement of the renovation works.The organisers expressed the wish that next year the Summer Music Festival shall be hosted in the new scenery of the Upper Market Square.

The organisers invite to the other music events of the 2nd Wieliczka Music Festival.