Music in Old Cracow Festival Begins This Weekend
We all remember the painful experience of listening to our childhood schoolmates attempting to play something pretty on the piano at the end of term concert. Those forays into classical music are enough to put anyone off attending a concert for life. But it’s time to throw away your preconceptions, as Krakow is about to revel in a cacophony of superb music. The 34th Festival of Music in Old Cracow is about to commence, and as always, some fantastic international acts are set to perform.
The basic gist of the festival is to lure venerable names on the world scene to perform in some of the city’s most evocative historical venues. This year, you’ll be able to catch concerts in the Collegium Novum, the Tempel Synagogue, the Florianka Hall and a selection of Krakow’s most imposing churches. The instigator of the festival was Stanisław Gałoński, director of Capella Cracoviensis, Cracow’s pre-eminent orchestra. Capella – always a treat to hear – will also be performing alongside the international guests. Music aficionados can snap up tickets from the city Cultural Office at ul. Św. Jana 2.
The full schedule is below:
15 August, Saturday
19.30 Krakow, Philharmonic Hall, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1
Karłowicz anniversary tribute 1909 – 2009, Capella Cracoviensis, Stanisław Krawczyński conducts
16 August, Sunday
19.30 Krakow, Corpus Christi Basilica, ul. Bożego Ciała 26
Capella Cracoviensis, varied programme, Ralf Sochaczewsky conducts
17 August, Monday
20.00 Krakow, Bernardine Church, ul. Bernardyńska 2
Haydn, Shostakovich & Schubert, performed by the Philharmonia Quartet Berlin
19.00 Wieliczka Salt Mines, ul. Daniłowicza 10
The Los Romeros Guitar Quartet plays Bach, and selected pieces by Joaquin Rodrigo and Francisco Tarrega
18 August, Tuesday
19.30 Kraków, Philharmonic Hall, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1
12 Cellists from the Berlin Philharmonic take on pieces by Bach, Ravel, Piazzolla
19 August, Wednesday
19.30 Krakow, Philharmonic Hall, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1
Krakow’s Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by Ivan Monighetti on cello for an evening of Dvorak & Brahms
20 August, Thursday
20.00 Krakow, Corpus Christi Basilica, ul. Bożego Ciała 26
Les Sacqueboutiers de Toulouse perform their inimitable 17th Century mix
21 August, Friday
20.00 Krakow, Corpus Christi Basilica, ul. Bożego Ciała 26
Capella Amsterdam performs The Dutch Masters, Daniel Reuss conducts
22 August, Saturday
20.30 Krakow, Church of St. Catherine, ul. Augustiańska 7
Capella Amsterdam and the Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin play Handel’s oratorio Saul
23 August, Sunday
20.30 Krakow, Church of St. Catherine, ul. Augustiańska 7
Capella Amsterdam and the Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin return with second performance of Handel’s oratorio Saul
24 August, Monday
18.30 Krakow, Tempel Synagogue, ul. Miodowa 24
The Chamber Orchestra of the Polish Radio plays Mozart, Haydn and Mussorgsky
20.30 Krakow Church of St. Catherine, ul. Augustiańska 7
Capella Cracoviensis plays Haydn’s The Creation, Marta Boberska soprano, Robin Tritschler tenor Bogdan Makal bass.
25 August, Tuesday
20.00 Krakow, Florianka Hall, ul. Basztowa 8
L’arte dell ‘Arco plays Vivaldi, Handel and Ferrandini
26 August, Wednesday
19.30 Krakow, Aula Collegium Novum, ul. Gołębia 24
The Wind Quintet of Capella Cracoviensis plays Bartok, Ligetti and Bacewicz
27 August, Thursday
19.00 Krakow, Church of the Holy Cross, ul. Św. Krzyża 23
Capella’s Vocal Ensemble sings Missa pulcherrima
28 August, Friday
19.30 Krakow, Church of St. Joseph, Podgórze, ul. Zamojskiego 2
Ensemble Clement Janeqin plays dows in Podgorze, joined by Dominique Visse on as countertenor
29 August, Saturday
19.30 Krakow, Philharmonic Hall, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1
Grammy award-winning pianist Emmanuel Ax plays Schubert, Liszt, Schumann and Chopin
30 August, Sunday
20.00 Krakow, Galicia Jewish Museum, ul. Dajwór 18
Capella Cracoviensis plays Mozart on antique instruments. Deborah York sings soprano.