TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY AFP Elissa DARWISH and Stanislaw Janusz NAKLICKI
Piotr Paleczny, the artistic director of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival poses for the picture in hotel in Duszniki Zdroj, southwestern Poland, August 1, 2025. In 1826, when the town was part of Germany and known as Bad ReinerzÃłthat a 16-year-old Chopin gave here his first concert abroad. That performance inspired the founding of the festival in 1946. Since that time it has attracted many of classical music’s biggest names. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP)