Summer Festival "Wawel at Dusk": Music in a Historical Setting

From August 2 to 11, 2024, Wawel Royal Castle will be the backdrop for the extraordinary music festival "Wawel at Dusk". This unique event combines the beauty of music with the magic of a historical setting, offering unforgettable aesthetic experiences. The festival takes place in the illuminated castle courtyards, including the usually inaccessible Batory courtyard and the arcaded courtyard, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

Festival Organizers

The main organizers of the festival are the Wawel Royal Castle and the Creative Group "Castello". Organizational management is led by Hubert Piątkowski, while Małgorzata Janicka-Słysz, who will also give lectures about the music at the concerts, is responsible for the artistic direction.

Festival Program

August 2 (Friday), 8:00 PM – A chamber concert in the Batory courtyard featuring Monika Korybalska (mezzo-soprano) and Dmytro Holovenko (guitar). The program includes Polish songs by composers such as Fryderyk Chopin, Stanisław Moniuszko, Mieczysław Karłowicz, and Stanisław Niewiadomski.

August 3 (Saturday), 8:00 PM – In the same courtyard, Katarzyna Oleś-Blacha (soprano) and Mariola Cieniawa (piano) will perform works by Chopin, Moniuszko, Gounod, Dvořák, and Granados.

August 4 (Sunday), 8:00 PM – A chamber concert featuring Łukasz Długosz (flute), Agata Kielar-Długosz (flute), and Agnieszka Kaczmarek-Bialic (harp), performing compositions by Żeleński, Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré.

August 9 (Friday), 11:00 AM – In the arcaded courtyard, a "Marathon" of young pianists will take place, featuring performances by Juliusz Łukasik, Lelin Qi, and Dominik Gilewski, presenting works by Fryderyk Chopin. Free admission.

August 9 (Friday), 8:00 PM – That same evening, a symphony concert will be held, where Piotr Wyleżoł (piano) and the CORda Cracovia Orchestra, conducted by Piotr Pławner, will perform Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" with jazz improvisations.

August 10 (Saturday), 8:00 PM – The Batory courtyard will be filled with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms, performed by Piotr Pławner (violin) and artsemble: Mateusz Doniec (viola), Krzysztof Sadłowski (cello), and Mateusz Dubiel (piano).

August 11 (Sunday), 8:00 PM – The festival finale is a symphony concert in the arcaded courtyard. The CORda Cracovia Orchestra, conducted by Antoni Wit, will perform Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, with a Polish translation of Friedrich Schiller's "Ode to Joy" by Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński. Soloists will be Zuzanna Hwang-Cempla (soprano), Ewa Menaszek (mezzo-soprano), Piotr Kalina (tenor), and Maciej Parkita (bass-baritone), supported by the "W kontakcie" Choir and the "Insieme" Choir under the direction of Monika Bachowska.

Tickets and Information

Tickets for the concerts are priced at 140 PLN (regular) and 90 PLN (discount), with discounts for youth up to 18 years old, students, and seniors over 65 years old. Tickets are also available at InfoKraków points at ul. św. Jana 2 and in the Wyspiański Pavilion, as well as online at: bilety.wawel.krakow.pl.

The concerts take place outdoors, so participants are advised to prepare for changing weather conditions. In case of bad weather, concerts in the Batory courtyard will be moved to the Senate Hall.

Organizers also ask attendees to turn off mobile phones and avoid using electronic devices during concerts to not disturb the music and the illuminated architecture of the castle.

We invite you to participate in the Summer Festival "Wawel at Dusk" and wish you unforgettable experiences!