Intermezzo at 1pm: Folklorama Week 2: Classic 107’s Guide to the Sounds & Flavours of the World

Sounds Around the World at 1 PM on Classic 107

Folklorama’s Pavilion Showcase: Week Two Edition

Every August, Winnipeg transforms into a global village during Folklorama—the world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival. Since its launch in 1970, it has grown into a two-week celebration featuring more than 40 pavilions spread across the city, each offering authentic food, cultural displays, performances, and hospitality from communities representing every corner of the globe.

Visitors can “travel” from one country to another in a single evening—sampling pierogies in one hall, dancing to steel drums in another, and watching traditional folk dancers before capping the night with a sweet treat from yet another culture. Beyond the entertainment, Folklorama fosters understanding, celebrates diversity, and shines a spotlight on the people who make Winnipeg one of Canada’s most culturally rich cities.

This week on Classic 107, we’re joining the celebration in our own way—every weekday at 1:00 PM, we’ll dedicate the hour to music from one of the pavilions now open in Week 2 (August 10–16, 2025). From Hungarian Rhapsodies to Cuban Mambos, Japanese folk melodies to Nordic anthems, each day’s playlist is a passport stamp in sound.

Monday, August 11 — Budapest-Hungaria Pavilion 

Venue: Bord-Aire Community Centre, 471 Hampton St. 

• 1:00 PM – “Skylark” by Ferenc Sánta & His Gypsy Band (Ferenc Sánta Jr.), a soaring Romani violin classic—Sánta Jr. (1945–2024) was a celebrated Hungarian violinist and artistic director of the Hungarian National Gipsy Orchestra  

• 1:04 PM – Bartók: Hungarian Sketches, performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti. 

• 1:15 PM – Dohnányi: 3rd Movement, Serenade for String Trio, by members of the Cleveland Quartet. 

• 1:22 PM – Ferenc Farkas: L’avotitiána Suite, 4th & 5th movements, “Nemét táncno­ta” and “Vigadozás a kocs­mában”, by Pentaedre. 

• 1:29 PM – Miklós Rózsa: Hungarian Peasant Songs, 4th & 5th songs, by Paul Barritt & Julian Jacobson. 

• 1:33 PM – Leo Weiner: Divertimento No. 3 – Hungarian Impressions, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi. 

• 1:47 PM – Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 for piano, Noboyuki Tsujii. 

• 1:54 PM – Hungarian Concerto performed by the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. 

Spotlight: Ferenc Sánta Jr. brought authentic Romani flair to worldwide audiences, winning Hungary’s highest musical honors—and his take on “Skylark” is both lyrical and powerful . Liszt’s Rhapsody No. 6 and Bartók’s sketches showcase Hungary’s classical heritage, while Rózsa and Farkas highlight folk influences filtered through chamber and orchestral brilliance. 

Tuesday, August 12 — Cuban Pavilion

Venue: Heather Curling Club, 120 Rue Youville 

• 1:00 PM – “Cuban Pete” by Tito Puente—a mambo classic by the legendary “King of the Timbales,” whose innovative percussion and compositions helped define Latin jazz in the 20th century. 

• 1:02 PM – Ernesto Lecuona’s Rapsodia Cubana, performed by Thomas Tirino (piano) with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under Michael Bartos. 

• 1:11 PM – Ignacio Cervantes: Four Cuban Dances for piano, by Álvaro Cendoya. 

• 1:24 PM – Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, Rochester Philharmonic under Jeff Tyzik. 

• 1:36 PM – José White Laffitte Violin Concerto, Rachel Barton Pine & the Encore Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Hege. 

• 1:58 PM – Lecuona again—7th of his “Danzas Cubanas,” performed by Thomas Tirino. 

Spotlight: Tito Puente’s vibrant style reshaped Latin music globally; followed by Lecuona’s romantic, piano-driven Cuban tone—and Gershwin’s playful homage to Cuban rhythms in Broadway-style grandiosity. 

Wednesday, August 13 — Japanese Pavilion 

Venue: Petrus Hall, 2624 Inkster Blvd. 

• 1:00 PM – Sakura Sakura, performed by Yo-Yo Ma. A timeless Japanese folk melody, “Sakura Sakura” captures the subtle beauty of cherry blossoms—Yo-Yo Ma’s rendition gives it classical warmth and grace. 

• 1:04 PM – Takashi Yoshimatsu: Symphony No. 4, performed by the BBC Philharmonic under Sacho Fujioka. A modern Japanese composer, Yoshimatsu blends lyricism with contemporary orchestral textures. 

• 1:36 PM – Katsutoshi Nagasawa: First of His Pastorals, performed by the Yamato Ensemble. Nagasawa’s pastoral evokes the serenity of the Japanese countryside. 

• 1:39 PM – Three Japanese Children’s Songs, arranged by Jean-Pascal Bentus, performed by the Montréal Symphony under Kent Nagano, featuring soprano Diana Damrau. These light, enchanting songs capture innocence in exquisite orchestration. 

• 1:45 PM – Kitarō: Music from the Heaven and Earth Film – The Land Theme, performed by a studio orchestra. 

• 1:53 PM – Akira Miyoshi: Three of the Four Piano Pieces, performed by Yukie Nagai. Miyoshi’s works combine European classical forms with Japanese sensibility—Naglaï’s playing is both nuanced and evocative. 

Spotlight: Yo-Yo Ma’s “Sakura Sakura” bridges folk tradition and global recognition, while Yoshimatsu and Miyoshi showcase a modern Japanese musical voice. Kitarō’s ethereal presence adds a cinematic dimension, and the children’s songs—delicately arranged and performed by world-class artists—offer a touching, cross-cultural moment. 

Thursday, August 14 — Polish Pavilion 

Venue: RBC Convention Centre – North Building, 1st Floor, 375 York Ave. 

• 1:00 PM – Chopin: Heroic Polonaise (Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat major, Op. 53), performed by Rafał Blechacz. One of Chopin’s most triumphant works—Blechacz, a Chopin Competition laureate, brings commanding clarity and nobility. 

• 1:06 PM – Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise Brillante, by Jan Lisiecki with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Krzysztof Urbański. A blend of delicate lyricism and grand polish—Lisiecki’s youthful fluidity paired with orchestral sheen. 

• 1:23 PM – W moim ogrodzie (Traditional Polish folk melody), by Rokiczanka. A folk song rooted in Polish village life, performed in authentic style by this folk ensemble. 

• 1:26 PM – Moszkowski: 2nd of his Four Polish Folk Dances for piano, performed by Duo Turgeon. Moszkowski’s dance pieces are bright, charming miniatures with folk rhythms. 

• 1:29 PM – Emil Młynarski: 1st of Two Mazurkas for violin, by Piotr Pławner (violin) & Piotr Salijczyk (piano). 

• 1:33 PM – Zarzycki: Introduction and Krakowiak in D, by Eugene Ugorski (violin) with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. A sprightly Krakowiak dance—regional Polish flair, played with virtuosity. 

• 1:42 PM – Zygmunt Stojowski: 3rd movement of his Cello Sonata, by Joanna Ławrynowicz & Jarosław Domżał. motional and dramatic—Stojowski’s cello sonata is late-romantic polish. 

• 1:51 PM – Stanisław Moniuszko: Civic Polonaise in F major, performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic under Antoni Wit. Moniuszko, a national romantic composer, evokes Polish pride and elegance. 

• 1:57 PM – Kukułeczka (Traditional Polish folk song), by Rokiczanka. A sweet, nostalgic closing by a folk ensemble deeply rooted in tradition. 

Spotlight: This hour brings together Chopin’s grand masterpieces with folk-inspired works—a musical tapestry woven from national pride and stylistic diversity. Blechacz and Lisiecki anchor the hour with finesse, while Rokiczanka and others ground it in folk authenticity. 

Friday, August 15 — Scandinavian Pavilion 

Venue: Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St. 

• 1:00 PM – Finlandia Hymn and Kansalaislaulu (Song of the Nation), performed by Tapiola Choir & Sinfonietta under Jorma Panula. The Finlandia Hymn, a stirring symbol of Finnish identity, paired with a civics-inspired song—a deeply emotional opener. 

• 1:04 PM – Edvard Grieg: Norwegian Dances, by WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln under Elvind Aadland. Grieg’s folk-inspired dances, danced with precision and lyrical energy. 

• 1:23 PM – Julgrånspolska (traditional), performed by Triakel. 

• 1:26 PM – Sønderho Bridal Trilogy, performed by the Danish String Quartet. 

• 1:29 PM – Jón Leifs: Three Icelandic Dances, by Susanne Kessel. Icelandic themes rendered with dramatic rigor—Leifs is known for compelling Nordic atmospheres. 

• 1:37 PM – Sibelius: Symphony No. 3, 1st Movement, by Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Jukka-Pekka Saraste.  powerful, mood-rich movement from Finland’s great. 

• 1:46 PM – Amanda Röntgen-Maier: the first two of her Swedish Tunes and Dances, by Gregory Maytan (violin) & Ann-Sofi Klingberg (piano). 

• 1:57 PM – Traditional folk selection for Hardanger fiddle, performed by Vidar Lande on Hardanger fiddle. 

Spotlight: The hour spans nordic soundscapes—from Finland’s national anthems to Grieg’s expressive dances, Jón Leifs’s elemental compositions, and Nielsen’s orchestral flair. Vidar Lande’s Hardanger fiddle piece brings the segment home with haunting, shimmering folk resonance. 

Why These Hours Shine 

This five-day feature delivers precisely timed global soundscapes—each day at 1 PM—celebrating cultural diversity through music. From classic virtuosity to folk authenticity, your blog will guide readers through not just the tracks but the stories, the artistry, and the rich tapestry of cultures on display.