Polish diplomacy for the 18th Chopin Competition
18.10.2021
Today marks the 172nd anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin’s death. In a special video, Secretary of State Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk plays the Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 no. 1 on the piano and talks about the links between the great Polish composer’s music and diplomacy, encouraging the viewers to watch and follow closely the final stage of the competition.
Given that public and cultural diplomacy is among the Ministry’s key tasks, Polish diplomatic posts have promoted the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in every corner of the world since the conception of the event. They are now joined by MFA Secretary of State Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, a Chopin music enthusiast and a graduate of a primary music school, who sat down at the piano after an interlude of many years.
“It is often said that diplomacy is an art played on many instruments. Like in an orchestra, each diplomat has a part to play,” says the deputy head of Polish diplomacy in the video. “I encourage you to follow the activities of Polish diplomacy. At this special moment, however, I invite you to enjoy the music of Fryderyk Chopin and the 18th Chopin Competition.”
The short video features Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk sharing some interesting facts about the links between Chopin’s music and diplomacy, such as that the building in Paris where Chopin began his international career currently houses a Polish embassy.
If you want to learn about Fryderyk Chopin’s émigré endeavours in support of the Polish cause, or how Ignacy Jan Paderewski employed Chopin’s music in his diplomatic efforts in the United States, watch the video for more facts from the blending worlds of music and diplomacy.
MFA Press Office