Birthday concerts 2026

We are celebrating the 216th anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin’s birth with particular solemnity: three concerts are planned, featuring the winner of the last Chopin Competition – Eric Lu, Jan Lisiecki, and Mateusz Dubiel.

The celebrations will begin on February 26th with an extraordinary recital by Jan Lisiecki. Falling into a world’s elite of pianists, young virtuoso, linked by a long-standing artistic friendship with the Chopin Institute, in a program titled ‘World (of) Dance’ has combined works by Chopin, Brahms, Szymanowski, Schubert, de Falla, and Piazzolla; common denominator – not only the titular element – ​​is danceability. The result is an exceptionally interesting, multi-coloured mosaic of styles and moods – an intelligent play on context, promising both good entertainment and a space for reflection.

On March 1st, as always, we invite you to a concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic and a broadcast of a recital from Żelazowa Wola.

Exactly at noon on Polish Radio 2, broadcasted from Chopin’s Birthplace in Żelazowa Wola, we will listen to Mateusz Dubiel, an outstandingly talented Polish pianist of the younger generation. The recital will also be available online on the Fryderyk Chopin Institute’s YouTube channel.

The winner of the last Chopin Competition returns to Warsaw for a gala evening organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute on the anniversary of the composer’s birth – the concert headlined by Eric Lu will take place at 7:00 p.m.

The evening’s program is composed of two very diverse yet complementary elements: in the first part, Eric Lu will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor with the distinguished AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of Tychy, conducted by Marek Moś. The second part – recital – will feature works by Fryderyk Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 27, No. 1, Polonaise, Op. 71, No. 2, and Third Sonata, Op. 58.

Tickets for both concerts at the Warsaw Philharmonic will be available from 3rd February 2026, from 10:00 a.m. online and in person at the ticket and information desk (ul. Tamka 43, next to the Museum ticket office).

***

February 26th, 7:00 p.m.

Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall

Jan Lisiecki – piano

Program:

Bohuslav Martinů: Three Czech Dances, H. 154

Manuel de Falla: Spanish Dance, No. 2/1

Karol Szymanowski: Four Polish Dances for Piano, M60

Franz Schubert: 16 German Dances, D. 783

Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56

Alberto Ginastera: Argentine Dances, Op. 2

***

Fryderyk Chopin: Grand Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Op. 18

Johannes Brahms: Waltz, Op. 39/3

Fryderyk Chopin: Waltz Op. 34 No. 1, No. 2

Johannes Brahms: Waltz, Op. 39/15

Astor Piazzolla: Libertango

Isaac Albéniz: España, Op. 165/2 (Tango)

Manuel de Falla: Fire Dance

Fryderyk Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53

 

March 1st, 7:00 p.m.

Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall

Eric Lu (piano), AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy,

Marek Moś (conductor)

Program:

Fryderyk Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 1, Polonaise in B-flat major, Op. 71, No. 2, Sonata in B minor, Op. 58

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto, No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

 

Eric Lu appears courtesy of Warner Classics