Chopin piano recital · 50 minutes
A recital in the Chopin Concert Hall on Sławkowska street, run by Cracow Concerts. Includes a glass of wine and access to the Chopin Gallery. The hall is on the second floor.
Check this concert ↗Four figures behind the evening
- 50 min
- of live Chopin, the length of every recital opened from this page
- 30
- public performances Chopin gave after leaving Poland at 20, preferring small rooms
- 1600s
- the hall at the Bernardine monastery, at the foot of Wawel Castle
- 3
- recitals to choose from, each run by a different organiser
Six moments in fifty minutes
Chopin by candle glow, piece by piece
A recital here runs fifty minutes. These six moments follow the evening from the street to the last chord, using the forms named across the three concerts.
- Dusk
The Old Town lights come on
The Cloth Hall, rebuilt in the Renaissance style in 1555, glows gold across the Main Market Square while the Gothic towers of St Mary's Basilica darken above it.
- The hall
Up to a small room
The Sławkowska recitals sit on the second floor of the building, so follow the signs up the stairs. The candle-glow concert meets at the Bernardine monastery, 2 Bernardyńska Street.
- First mazurka
A Polish dance at listening pace
The candle-glow programme opens with Chopin's Mazurka Op. 17 No. 4, and mazurkas are named across all three concerts.
- The nocturne
Music for the night
Nocturnes feature in the first recital, and the candle-glow programme includes Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2. Guests of the first recital describe a set of five nocturnes and a waltz.
- The étude
Practice turned into poetry
The candle-glow programme includes Chopin's Étude Op. 10 No. 8, Debussy's first étude and one of Rachmaninov's Études-Tableaux.
- The encore
One more piece, then the stairs
Guests of the first recital describe a single encore at the end of the fifty minutes, before the room empties and the Old Town takes over again.
Repertoire, musicians and instruments can change at all three concerts, so treat this as a map of the evening rather than a set list.
Why a small room suits Chopin
Chopin, the salon and the Old Town
A composer who chose small rooms
Chopin left Poland at 20 and settled in Paris at 21. After that he gave only 30 public performances, preferring the more intimate atmosphere of the salon. A fifty-minute recital in a small hall is a closer match to how he liked to play than a big stage.
Dances turned into listening music
The mazurka is a Polish form in triple metre built on stylised rural dances, with accents that fall on the second or third beat. The polonaise began as a walking dance and still opens balls in Poland. Chopin carried both into the salons of Europe, and they are the pieces most often named for these recitals.
Music for the night itself
A nocturne is a piece inspired by, or evocative of, the night, which suits an evening concert by candlelight. The étude was once purely practice material; Chopin, Liszt and Debussy lifted it into the concert hall, and a candle-glow programme includes études by Chopin, Debussy and Rachmaninov.
The Old Town around the hall
Kraków's Old Town was the centre of Poland's political life from 1038 until the court moved away in 1596, and it is part of the Historic Centre of Kraków on UNESCO's original World Heritage List. Its Main Market Square dates to the 13th century and is often called one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.
Wawel at the end of the street
Wawel Hill above the Vistula carries the castle and the cathedral where Polish monarchs were crowned and buried. It was the residence of the kings of Poland for centuries, and one of the three evenings here is held in a 17th-century hall at its foot.
Three recitals, three organisers
Three rooms where Chopin is played in the Old Town
Each of the three evenings has its own organiser, so what you get differs. Here is each one on its own terms.
The Chopin recital on Sławkowska street
Run by Cracow Concerts in the Chopin Concert Hall, a room with Gothic architectural details on the second floor at Sławkowska 14. The ticket includes a glass of wine and access to the Chopin Gallery, which is dedicated to the composer's life and work. Arrive 10 minutes before the start; the hall is not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with mobility impairments.
The candle-glow concert at the Bernardine monastery
Run by Opera da Camera di Roma in a 17th-century hall at the Monastery of the Bernardine Fathers, 2 Bernardyńska Street, at the foot of Wawel Castle. Candlelight is reflected in gilding and marble, in a room with excellent acoustics. Seats are not assigned, so arrive early; the first two rows are the VIP sector, billed with a glass of wine.
Chopin by candlelight with wine
Run by Pro-Arts in a gallery dedicated to Chopin inside a 15th-century building that was once the home of Kaspar Dębiński, Royal Hunter for Wawel Castle. Expect a Yamaha grand piano, mazurkas, ballades, waltzes and polonaises, and a glass of wine or water. Concerts run daily all year, and the meeting point is Sławkowska 14, second floor.
Who is playing
Two of the concerts bill award-winning pianists, and all three can change musicians with availability. Choose by room, programme and setting rather than by a name on a poster.
Choosing between the three
Three Chopin evenings in the Old Town
| Recital | What the evening is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Chopin piano recital · 50 minutes | A recital in the Chopin Concert Hall on Sławkowska street, run by Cracow Concerts. Includes a glass of wine and access to the Chopin Gallery. The hall is on the second floor. | Visitors who want the most-reviewed Chopin evening in town, close to the Market Square. |
| Chopin concert by candle glow · 50 minutes | Run by Opera da Camera di Roma in a 17th-century hall at the Bernardine monastery, at the foot of Wawel. The programme mixes Chopin with Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Bacewicz. Seats are not assigned; the first two rows are VIP with a glass of wine. | Listeners who like a varied programme and a historic hall near Wawel, and who will arrive early to choose a seat. |
| Chopin by candlelight with wine · 50 minutes | Run by Pro-Arts in a gallery dedicated to Chopin, in a 15th-century building. A Yamaha grand piano, mazurkas, ballades, waltzes and polonaises, and a glass of wine or water. Concerts run daily all year. | Anyone who wants an all-Chopin programme with a drink in hand and a choice of days. |
Prefer a candle-glow hall at the foot of Wawel? See the candle-glow concert ↗
Getting to the hall
Before you walk to the hall
Finding the Sławkowska hall
The first and third recitals meet at Sławkowska 14 in the Old Town. The concert hall is on the second floor, up a staircase, so allow time for the stairs and arrive at least 10 minutes before the start.
Finding the Bernardine monastery
The candle-glow concert meets at the Monastery of the Bernardine Fathers, 2 Bernardyńska Street, at the foot of Wawel Castle. One guest notes that the entrance is at the side rather than on the main frontage, so look for it before you queue.
Seats and timing
Pick a date on GetYourGuide to see the start times. The candle-glow concert has unassigned seating, so an early arrival gives you the choice. Smoking is not allowed at the Sławkowska hall.
Stairs and access
The Sławkowska hall is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and guests mention three flights of stairs. Ask GetYourGuide about the other concerts before you book if anyone in your party needs step-free access.
Your ticket
The first recital issues a mobile ticket straight after booking, shown on your phone with nothing to print.
Changing your plans
A booking can be dropped without cost until 24 hours before the music starts, and the fare can wait until later if you would rather keep your dates open.
Reading for before the concert
Reading for before the concert
the hour in order
A Chopin recital in Kraków, from street to last chord
How an evening at one of the Old Town recitals usually runs, step by step.
Read about this → a listening guideChopin in fifty minutes: the forms you will hear
What a mazurka, a nocturne, an étude, a waltz, a polonaise and a ballade are, and where they turn up in these concerts.
Read about this → which concertThree Chopin recitals in the Old Town: how they differ
Three organisers, three rooms and three programmes, set side by side.
Read about this → the programmeThe candle-glow programme, composer by composer
Who is on the programme of the candle-glow concert at the Bernardine monastery.
Read about this → the street outsideThe Old Town before the concert
A short orientation to the part of Kraków the recitals sit in.
Read about this → wawel hillAt the foot of Wawel: the candle-glow hall and its neighbours
The castle hill above the Bernardine monastery, and why the setting matters.
Read about this →FAQ
What visitors ask us first
How long is a Chopin recital in Kraków?
All three concerts on this page last 50 minutes. Pick a date on GetYourGuide to see the start times for each.
Is a drink included?
The first recital includes a glass of wine, and the candlelight concert includes a glass of wine or water. At the candle-glow concert the first two rows are the VIP sector, billed with a glass of wine.
Will I have an assigned seat?
At the candle-glow concert at the Bernardine monastery seats are not assigned, so arrive early to choose where to sit. Ask GetYourGuide how seating works for the other two before you book.
Is the hall accessible for wheelchair users?
The Sławkowska hall is on the second floor and is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Guests mention three flights of stairs.
What will the pianist play?
Expect Chopin: nocturnes, mazurkas and polonaises at the first recital, with ballades and waltzes at the candlelight concert. The candle-glow programme also includes Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Bacewicz. Repertoire and musicians can change.
How early should we arrive?
At least 10 minutes before the start at Sławkowska 14, to allow time for entry and the stairs. For the candle-glow concert, arrive earlier still if you want to choose your seats.
Can we cancel if plans change?
Yes. Until 24 hours before the concert you can cancel at no cost, and the fare does not have to be paid when you reserve.
Which of the three should we pick?
For the most-reviewed Chopin evening choose the first recital. For a historic hall at the foot of Wawel with a mixed programme choose the candle-glow concert. For an all-Chopin evening with a drink on a day of your choice, choose the candlelight concert with wine.
Three Chopin evenings
Open a recital and check the dates
The recital above and two other Chopin concerts in Kraków's Old Town, each run by a different organiser and each opening its own GetYourGuide page.
Chopin concert by candle glow · 50 minutes
Run by Opera da Camera di Roma in a 17th-century hall at the Bernardine monastery, at the foot of Wawel. The programme mixes Chopin with Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Bacewicz. Seats are not assigned; the first two rows are VIP with a glass of wine.
Check this concert ↗Chopin by candlelight with wine · 50 minutes
Run by Pro-Arts in a gallery dedicated to Chopin, in a 15th-century building. A Yamaha grand piano, mazurkas, ballades, waltzes and polonaises, and a glass of wine or water. Concerts run daily all year.
Check this concert ↗More Kraków evenings on GetYourGuide
Fifty minutes of Chopin at the piano in a small Old Town hall, with the evening still ahead of you afterwards.
Reserve your Chopin seats ↗Fares are per person and start from the figure shown; GetYourGuide totals the whole party in your currency before you confirm anything.