The Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival is an international celebration of classical music, founded in 1997 on the initiative of Elżbieta Penderecka as part of the Kraków 2000 European City of Culture programme. And even though it moved to Warsaw in 2004, it has never fully parted with our city: as usual it opens with the exhibition of music scores form the collection of the Jagiellonian Library, including those from the Berlin collection. The motto of the 22nd festival, “Beethoven and Great Anniversaries”, is also the title of the musical manuscripts exhibition opening on 12 March. And in the evening, the audience gathered at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre will be treated to a performance by Anne-Sophie Mutter (the concert is held also in the frames of the ICE Classic cycle).
But that’s not the end of festival events: the main programme in Warsaw is held between 16 and 30 March, but it is once again preceded by concerts in Kraków. The great up-and-coming Polish pianist Krzysztof Książek performs during the exhibition opening and again at a recital held at the Gallery of 19th-century Polish Art at Sukiennice on 13 March. On 14 March, the Gallery also hosts Julia Karpeta, Anton Birula, Krzysztof Karpeta and Jarosław Kopeć performing works by French masters from the turn of the 18th century. With the stunning Sukiennice in the background, two viola da gambas, theorbo and percussion instruments, Polish musicians step boldly onto world-class stages – the concert promises to be unforgettable. (Grzegorz Słącz)

12 March 2018, noon
Jagiellonian Library

opening of the exhibition of musical manuscripts Beethoven and Great Anniversaries
piano recital: Krzysztof Książek (piano)

I.J. Paderewski Thème varié Op. 16 No. 3
Nokturn in B flat major Op. 16 No. 4
L. van Beethoven Piano SOnata in A major Op. 2 No. 2

admission free

12 March 2018, 7:30pm
ICE Kraków Congress Centre

Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Lambert Orkis (piano)
Roman Patkoló (double bass)

J. Brahms Scherzo in C minor from Violin Sonata “F-A-E”
J.S. Bach Partita No. 2 in D minor
K. Penderecki Duo concertante for violin and double bass, La Follia, Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano

Tickets: PLN 60-100

13 March 2018, 7:30pm
Gallery in Sukiennice

Krzysztof Książek (piano)

C. Debussy Children’s Corner L. 113, Estampes L. 100
K. Szymanowski Mazurkas Op. 50 No. 1-4
F. Chopin Polonaise in F sharp minor Op. 44, Sonata in B minor Op. 58

Tickets: PLN 20

14 March 2018, 7:30pm
Gallery in Sukiennice

Julia Karpeta, Krzysztof Karpeta (violas da gamba)
Anton Birula (theorbo)
Jarosław Kopeć (percussion instruments)

M. Marais Suite in A minor from Pièces de violes book 5, Suite in A minor from Pièces de violes book 4, Couplets de Folies
S. de Sainte-Colombe XLI Concert à deux violes esgales “Le retour”
R. de Visée Chaconne des Harlequins de Mr. Lully in D major, Prélude in D minor, Gigue in D minor
P. Pandolfo A Solo (Tombeau), A. Forqueray La Couperin, La Leclair

Tickets: PLN 20