Concerts of the 6th Beskid Classics Festival – the largest classical music festival in the Polish Beskids – will take place from August 24 to September 7, 2025, not only in Bielsko-Biała, but also in Kozy, Ustroń, Szczyrk, and Żywiec.
Over six years, the festival has become a cultural hallmark of this exceptional region, where cross-border collaboration with the Czech Republic and Slovakia is actively pursued – a fact reflected in the festival’s program.
This year, in the breathtaking landscapes of the Beskids, we will hear numerous timeless works – a perfect antidote to the rapidly changing world around us. These pieces will be introduced by the renowned actor Henryk Talar, who, in the year of his professional jubilee, will return to his hometown Kozy to share a poetic reflection on his life in theatre. The event will take place on August 24 at the Czecz Palace, accompanied by music of Elgar, Karłowicz, and Debussy, performed by Mauris Ensemble.
On August 30 in the Ustroń Amphitheatre, we will witness the world premiere of Carpathian Suite by Katarzyna Gacek-Duda. The vibrant music of the Carpathians will be brought to life by the composer herself on ethnic flutes and multanka, joined by the Kingdom of the Beskids Ensemble and the Zabrze Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Paweł Kotla.
At the Bator Gallery in Szczyrk on August 31, accordionist Klaudiusz Baran, former rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, will perform with violinist Justyna Baran. Together, they will present a dance-themed repertoire from around the world – from Spanish music and passionate Argentine tango rhythms to the exotic melodies of Kreisler’s Chinese Tambourine.
On September 3 at the Sułkowski Castle in Bielsko-Biała, lutenist Mateusz Ławniczak and acclaimed British singer Angela Hicks will transport audiences to the mysterious world of songs from the time of William Shakespeare, which once echoed in The Globe Theatre and at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
On September 4 at Helios Cinema, audiences can enjoy a digitally restored version of the legendary film Amadeus by Miloš Forman, featuring the music of Mozart.
In Żywiec, pianists Beata Bilińska and Filip Wojciechowski, together with the Cracow Wind Quintet, will evoke the atmosphere of New York’s grand music salons.
On September 6 at Willa Sixta, the Cracow Guitar Quintet will perform music inspired by Iberian culture – works written from Paris to South America.
For the extraordinary festival finale on September 7, American conductor Robert Israel, together with the Slovak Sinfonietta Orchestra, will perform a live score to one of the most thrilling stunt films of all time – Safety Last! starring the legendary Harold Lloyd.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Detailed programme: https://klasyka.eu/
