A classic event (in every sense of the word), organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, the International Music Festival 'Chopin and his Europe' (now in its 16th edition) focuses on the work of Chopin through the masterpieces of both historial and contemporary artists, especially those from which he drew inspiration during his life. Historically, the works of his friends, Polish composers, who although not as famous Chopin, undeniably created works of great value: Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński, Józef Nowakowski, Franciszek Lessel, Józef Krogulski, as well as those with whom Chopin co-created the musical world of Europe in the first half of the 19th century. As for contemporary performers, it is through them that every year, at the invitation of the Institute, perform at the festival - stars on the world stage, eminent chamber musicians, virtuososos of various instruments, conductors, excellent ensembles. Among those to have been invited to Warsaw many times are Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, Nelson Goerner, Garrick Ohlsson, Orchestra of the 18th century, Europa Galante, Collegium 1704, Sinfonia Varsovia... we think you get the point.

To get as close to the original sound of the music of the great composer, it's one thing to look upon the works of his historical and modern day contemporaries, however, no sound is as original as those of period instruments (or their copies), bringing a magical quality to the music. The pianists play on pianos from the Institute's own collection; an extensive array from the Chopin era: the famous Pleyel, Erard, Broadwood, as well as a copy of the Buchholtz piano (Chopin's Warsaw instrument) and the Vienna Graf.