History

Łańcut Castle – one of the most beautiful aristocratic residences in Europe – resounded with music as early as in the first decades of the eighteenth century thanks to the owners of the Castle from the Lubomirski family, and later, the Potocki family.

The centuries-old musical traditions at Łańcut Castle were revived in 1961 – in June of the same year, the State Philharmonic in Rzeszów and its director, Janusz Ambros inaugurated the first “Chamber Music Days” transformed in 1981 by the then Artistic Director, Bogusław Kaczyński into “Łańcut Music Festival”, and from 1991 – by Wergiliusz Gołąbek who was the Philharmonic and Festival Director for 16 years – into “Music Festival in Łańcut” that has become an event with a well-deserved global reputation today and “the most popular Festival in Poland now” – as Krzysztof Penderecki said.

The Festival formula includes recitals of eminent singers and instrumentalists, stars of the music scene, as well as concerts of renowned orchestras and chamber ensembles, and also scientific sessions and music workshops. The Festival’s concerts are held in various places which fit in with the nature of the works presented – the Ballroom of the Castle Museum in Łańcut, the castle park where open-air concerts are held, the Bernardine Basilica in Leżajsk, the Łańcut Synagogue and the concert hall of the Podkarpacka Philharmonic. During the Festival’s history of several decades, many masterpieces of the world’s musical literature, from early music to contemporary music; instrumental, vocal, and vocal and instrumental works, such as oratorios and operas, with special consideration for Polish music, have been performed. A wide spectrum of the Festival’s concerts also includes jazz and projects that are on the borderline of various art genres. Each concert is enriched by the words of prominent musicologists who complement the programme with valuable commentary.

The reputation of the Music Festival in Łańcut has been proved by the acclaimed names of the artists who honoured the Festival with their presence. These include, among others, Adam Harasiewicz, Rafał Blechacz, Joseph Malovany, Mischa Maisky, Shlomo Minz, Andreas Scholl, legendary tenor – Jose Carreras, Kate Liu, Julian Rachlin, Piotr Beczała, José Cura and Artur Ruciński. The Festival enjoys huge interest and each time attracts several thousands of listeners. Despite numerous changes it has gone through over 60 years of its existence, it still retains the character of the music feast reaching the wider audience. The unique atmosphere of the Łańcut Castle and its surroundings remains the unchanging and invaluable advantage of the Festival that allows the listeners to move to a world of beauty and music culture based on the centuries-old tradition. Our Donors and Music Lovers help in maintaining the continuity and high artistic level of the Music Festival in Łańcut by providing it with financial support, kindness and friendship. Each edition of the Music Festival in Łańcut is also a new, important page in the history of the Podkarpackie region.