Chopin & Friends Piano Trio Concert Tickets Krakow

A Chopin concert in Krakow: the programme

Frédéric Chopin, born in 1810 near Warsaw, is the composer most Poles think of first, and a Chopin concert in Krakow is one of the most requested evening activities in the city. This programme is built around his music: the gentle Prelude in E minor, fragments of both piano concertos, the Funeral March and the Polonaise in A-flat major, known as the heroic Polonaise.

Around these pieces the trio places well-loved classics such as Pachelbel's Canon, Summer from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik and Brahms's Hungarian Dance No. 5, plus tangos by Piazzolla and Gardel, the fiery Csárdás by Monti, a klezmer melody and the Krakow folk song Krakowiaczek jeden. The mix keeps the 50 minutes varied and easy to enjoy, even for first-time concertgoers.

Piano, violin and cello: the trio and its arrangements

Most Chopin recitals are for solo piano, so hearing his music arranged for piano trio is a different experience. The violin and cello take over lines that the left and right hands would usually carry, which gives the melodies a singing, almost operatic quality, while the piano keeps the rhythm and the harmony.

The ensemble is made up of young Polish musicians from Krakow who perform regularly on concert stages across Europe and beyond. On the night, the organiser may adjust the repertoire or the line-up, but the format stays the same: three instruments, short introductions and a lively finish. Front-row VIP seats let you watch the musicians' hands closely, while Sector A in the middle rows offers a balanced sound across the hall.

The baroque hall of the Bernardine monastery

The concert takes place in the Monastery of the Bernardine Fathers at 2 Bernardyńska Street. The Bernardine friars settled at the foot of Wawel Hill in the 15th century, and their church and monastery were rebuilt in the baroque style in the second half of the 17th century after wartime damage, which explains the white twin-towered facade you see from the riverside.

Inside, the hall used for concerts has the warm resonance typical of old stone buildings, so the trio plays without heavy amplification. Seating is in rows facing a small stage. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the 18:00 start to find your sector, and allow a few extra minutes in winter for coats. The concert lasts about 50 minutes without an interval.

Wawel Hill and an evening in Krakow

The monastery stands just below the walls of Wawel Royal Castle, where Polish kings lived for centuries, and next to the Vistula boulevards. That makes the concert easy to combine with sightseeing: visit Wawel Hill in the afternoon, walk along the river at sunset, then step into the hall for the music.

After the concert, Kanonicza and Grodzka streets lead north to the Main Market Square in about 10 minutes on foot, and the Kazimierz district is a similar walk to the south-east, both full of places for dinner. If you are wondering what to do in Krakow in the evening, a short classical concert near the castle is a calm, memorable choice that works in every season.