Dear Guests and readers of Warsaw In Your Pocket,

I am pleased to announce that in January this year our Concierge Association became a member of the oldest and most prestigious association of professional hotel Concierges, and which is represented in over 45 countries -“Les Clefs d’Or. We are now a chapter of the worldwide “circle of friendship” and we are able to serve you better than ever before.

April & May are exciting months not just because spring has arrived and encourages us to stroll along the fabulous Royal Route to shop and sightsee or visit the Royal Gardens in Lazienki as it comes into bloom where we can admire the relics of the last era of Polish royalty.

April and May are also the months of culture and shows. The 16th Easter Ludwig van Beethoven Festival tempts you to visit one of Warsaw’s pre-eminent concert halls to listen to the finest pieces of classical music. Also, the repertoire of the Warsaw Opera should attract you with classical performances such as Nabucco, Oresteia, the Flying Dutchman and Cinderella, with innovative productions like Medeamaterial, Die Passagierin and with their choreographic workshops. As usual we will find masterpieces of classical music in the repertoire of the Philharmonic Hall, presenting the works of Mozart, Rossini, Dionizetti, Verdi and also inviting kids aged 6 to 12 for its Sundays Music Matinees for the Young Music Lovers.

Popular music fans will be happy to see one of the shows in the Congress Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science: Chris Botti, the famous American trumpeter on April 7, Passion de Buena Vista – who once accompanied the famous “Buena Vista Social Club, with its hot rhythms and passionate dancing will seduce the audience on April 11 and Witalij Władasowicz Graczew called “Vitas” or the “Diamond Voice will present famous opera arias and pop-hits on April 21. The Finnish pop stars “The Rasmus” will play in club Stodoła on May 11 and Macy Gray who won a Grammy, MTV Award and double BRIT Award, will perform in Torwar Hall on May 30.

Slightly heavier sounds will be produced by some heavy metal classics: Accept on April 22 in Stodoła, Metallica on May 10 on the grounds of Bemowo airport and Slayer on June 1 in the SGGW students campus.

Last but not least I’d like to mention the Roma Musical Theatre with its hits beloved by the Polish and foreign audiences such as “Les Miserables” and Aladyn Jr.

“Warsaw is changing and becoming more and more attractive” is one of the most frequently heard comments. In fact, there are more and more events and places worth visiting. For the last few years the most frequently visited places have been the Museum of Warsaw Uprising and the Fryderyk Chopin Museum. The Copernicus Centre of Science was created not only as an interactive exhibition. It is a place where adults and kids can carry out experiments demonstrating how the world around us works. Warsaw has much more to offer, such as the galleries of contemporary art: Zachęta and Ujazdowski Castle, or permanent and temporary exhibitions in the Royal Castle.

Limited space prevents me from mentioning all the attractions available. Therefore please simply contact your hotel Concierge, who will be delighted to make sure that you are kept busy and that your stay in Warsaw is completely enjoyable.

Piotr Prasuła
Chief Concierge
Sofitel Warsaw Victoria Hotel