You must attend the concert "Music in Old Lviv. Prelude" if you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of romantic Lviv under live piano sound, as this is not just a musical evening, but a unique experience in a historical palace. The concert will take place on August 15, 2026, at 19:00 in the Potocki Palace at 15 Kopernika Street, which is part of the XII International Music Festival "Music in Old Lviv," running until August 31. It will be a chamber, yet profound event, where performer Szymon Roslonowski, a young Polish pianist from Warsaw, invites you into the world of Chopin and Bach, creating a mood that is perfect for those seeking emotional immersion rather than superficial entertainment.
About the Event
This is a grand piano concert consisting of five pieces performed in Polish (as instrumental music, it has no text language, but is performed by a performer from Poland), lasting about 60–70 minutes without intermissions. The program is dominated by Frédéric Chopin, but the centerpiece is Bach's Chaconne in D minor in a transcription by Ferruccio Busoni, which is a violin piece from 1720, transferred to the piano by an Italian composer of the late 19th century. Roslonowski, who is a third-year student at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, has already been awarded the "Chopin" prize in the "Polonaise" category and studies under Konrad Skolarski and Karol Radziwonowicz, ensuring high professionalism.
Plot and Mood
The story of the concert unfolds around Chopin's minor moods, where three pieces — Nocturne in D minor Op. 48, Polonaise in F-sharp minor Op. 44, and Scherzo in B-flat minor Op. 31 — reflect salon Chopin, but without a hint of frivolity. The central Chaconne in D minor by Bach in Busoni's transcription is a violin piece that the Italian pianist transferred to the piano, not diminishing but enhancing it, adding octave doublings and chordal masses, creating a unique visual and sound effect. At the end of the concert, listeners will be treated to Andante spianato and the Grand Polonaise brillante Op. 22, where first a long calm cantilena without a shadow, and then a polonaise in which Chopin celebrates, sounds like a permission to exhale after the B-flat minor scherzo.
Performance
The performer is Szymon Roslonowski, piano (Warsaw), who is the youngest in the class of the legendary Polish Chopinist Janusz Olejniczak, who recently passed away. He studies under Konrad Skolarski and Karol Radziwonowicz, and his program consists of five pieces, one of which is not Chopin, and it is the one at the center. The visual style of the concert is an intimate atmosphere of the Potocki Palace, where the pianist seeks not halls, but situations that emphasize his character and geography, which says something about his art.
How to Get There, Duration, and Intermissions
The concert will take place in the Potocki Palace at 15 Kopernika Street, located in the center of Lviv, about a 10-minute walk from the main square, and you can get there by metro, bus, or on foot. The duration of the concert is about 60–70 minutes, and there will be no intermissions, allowing for a complete immersion in the musical experience without breaks. The Potocki Palace is a landmark that is easy to find, and you can arrive a little earlier to explore the historical building.
Prices and Who It's For
Tickets for the concert start at 350 hryvnias, which is an affordable price for a quality musical experience in a historical palace. This concert is perfect for a date, family evening, or gathering with friends, as it will not be boring, but rather emotional and profound. If you are looking for a place to feel the romance of Lviv through music, then this is exactly what you need.
Tips for the Audience
Come a little earlier to explore the Potocki Palace and feel its historical atmosphere, and don’t forget the dress code — it’s not mandatory, but you can come in elegant attire to emphasize the importance of the event. During the intermission, if there is one, you can talk to the performer or discuss the music with other audience members, adding even more emotional immersion.
Do you prefer a daytime show for a calm mood or an evening one with dinner after the concert to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Lviv?
