Janusz Olejniczak, the polish pianist who recorded Chopin's Ballad No. 1 in G minor, Opus 23 forthe Oscar winner "The Pianist," gave a concert here Tuesday evening, to kick off the Polish Culture Festival.

"The Pianist" directed by Rolan Polanski spared the audience none of the nightmarish horror left by the war time. However, the music in the film aroused nostalgia and enthusiasm for one of Chopin's greatest works.

An official with the Polish embassy to China said the Polish Culture Festival, part of the 5th "Meet in Beijing" Cultural Festival, will include four jazz concerts and an exhibition on Polish handicrafts. According to the Polish embassy, the festival, in response to the consensus reached by the two sides during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Poland last year, is aimed to strengthen mutual understanding of the two peoples. There will be a Chinese Culture Festival next year in Poland.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)