The 49th Karol Szymanowski International Music Festival in Zakopane: "Music of the Orient"

The central theme of the 49th Karol Szymanowski International Music Festival in Zakopane will be the presentation of the composer's oeuvre contrasted with the musical culture of the broadly defined Orient. Eight festival concerts will take place from July 19 to 25, 2026.

Karol Szymanowski composed a number of works captivated by the culture and art of Persia and other countries of the broadly understood East. Drawing on this aspect of Szymanowski’s work, the organizers have structured the program to offer listeners the widest possible context of European creators' fascination with the Orient. The audience will experience not only the exceptionally colorful works by the Master of Atma and composers from the 18th to the 21st centuries, but also ethnic music arranged by contemporary composers.

This year's edition features appearances by artists including the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Choir, tenor Andrzej Lampert, the duos of Wojciech Fudala & Michał Rot and Ewa Tracz & Grzegorz Biegas, Jakub Kuszlik – laureate of the International Chopin Piano Competition, and the Neuma Quartet – laureates of the International Karol Szymanowski Music Competition in Katowice. The lineup will also include ensembles with unconventional instrumentations.

Naturally, the opening concert will feature Szymanowski’s Symphony No. 3 "Song of the Night", performed alongside works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Eugeniusz Knapik. Bringing together over 140 performers under the baton of Yaroslav Shemet at this event aligns with the Karol Szymanowski Society's plan to perform all four of his symphonies over four consecutive editions of the festival.

Traditionally, the program will feature world premieres. The 49th edition will witness the debut of Zbigniew Bargielski’s Ship of Fools IV for clarinet, accordion, and string quartet, as well as Przemysław Scheller’s The Sensitivity of Things for clarinet, harp, and cello.

Artistic Director – Piotr Sałajczyk.

All concerts will be hosted by Marcin Majchrowski, journalist of the Polish Radio Program 2.

Zbigniew Bargielski’s piece was commissioned by the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków Foundation.

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund within the "Composers' Commissions" and "Music" programs implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.

Co-financed by the City of Zakopane.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

Detailed program: https://szymanowski.zakopane.pl/wydarzenie/49-miedzynarodowy-festiwal-muzyki-karola-szymanowskiego-w-zakopanem/