City of the month: Warsaw

Warsaw and music

Venues & Orchestras

History

Christianised in 966, Poland chooses the Church of Rome and becomes a catholic State. The first hand-written works dated of the 9th century witness the influence of the Gregorian chant.

In 16th century a polyphonic school of song appears, whose first composer was Mikolaj de Radom. The creation of musical printing houses enabled Polish musicians to maintain the relations with the artistic Europe. The school of lute is also founded in 16th century. The Mazurka, dance which forms part of Polish cultural traditions, appeared in about 1550.

In the 17th century, Poland is fascinated by Italy to the detriment of its national culture. In 1625, Warsaw is the first city to found its own Opera House out of Italy. Hundred years later, the appearance of the “Polonaise” is the only striking event of the Age of Enlightenment.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Karol Elsner founds the Warsaw Academy of Music. Kleofas Oginsli composes the first symphonic works, an opera dedicated to Napoleon and a cycle of Polonaises, which became a model for Chopin.

Elsner wrote about Chopin: “Astonishing capacities. Genius of music”. At 19 years old, Chopin is regarded as the best Polish pianist; its improvisations are dazzling. However, on November 1st, 1830, he leaves Poland for France, “a study trip abroad”, and never came back. Suffering from tuberculosis, he gives his last concerts in England, before his death on October 17, 1849. He was buried at the cemetery Père-Lachaise in Paris, but his heart was brought to the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw.

The Chopin International Piano Contest was created in 1927. It now takes place in Warsaw every 5 years. Among the prize winners: Chostakovitch in 1927, Malcuzynski in 1937, Maurizio Pollini in 1960, Marta Agerich in 1965, and Christian Zimmerman in 1975.

In 1858, Stanislas Moniuszko took the head of the National Opera, the Wielki Theatre. Zelenski and the family Wieniawski played a major role in the Warsaw musical life. Henryk Wieniawski, the “Polish Paganini”, gave his name to the International Violin Contest of Poznan. Like the Chopin Contest, the Wieniawski Contest takes place every 5 years; Ginette Nephew and David Oistrakh were among the prize winners.

The term "Polish composers' school" was popularised in the early 60s to name the specific style of Polish music in which the tone of sound is a foundation of the structure of a musical piece. Inauguration of the "Warsaw Autumn" festival of contemporary music in October 1956 also played a significant role in the establishment of the "Polish composers' school".

“Warsaw Autumn” (Warszawska Jesien) - September www.warsaw-autumn.art.pl
The “Warsaw Autumn” is a festival with a long history; it is the only festival in Poland with an international status, dedicated to contemporary music. For many years, it was the only event of this kind in Central and Eastern Europe. The Festival performed during the communist era in spite of all the difficulties of the system and became a manifestation of new aesthetic tendencies in Polish music.

These aesthetics are represented in Polish music mainly by Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) and Krzysztof Penderecki (born in 1933) as well as Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki (born in 1933) and additionally by Kazimierz Serocki (1922-1981), Tadeusz Baird (1928-1981), Wojciech Kilar (born in 1932), Witold Szalonek (born in 1927), Boguslaw Schaeffer (born in 1929), and Wlodzimierz Kotonski (born in 1925).

The Polish National Opera in Teatr Wielki (Teatr Wielki - Opera Narodowa) www.teatrwielki.pl
For 170 years Teatr Wielki (the Grand Theatre), today called the Grand Theatre - National Opera, has been Poland's grandest opera and ballet institution. Its building was erected in 1825-1833 and designed by the Italian architect Antonio Corazzi. The first performance in the new building, Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, took place on 24 February 1833.

It was here that Stanislaw Moniuszko's two best-known operas were produced for the first time ever: "Halka" (1858) and "The Haunted Manor" (1865). The theatre showed operas by Wladyslaw Zelenski, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Karol Szymanowski and other Polish composers, as well as ballet productions designed by such choreographers as Roman Turczynowicz, Piotr Zajlich and Feliks Parnell, major world opera and ballet classics.

During the battle of Warsaw in 1939 the Grand Theatre was bombed and almost completely ruined. Only the classicist façade survived the bombing.

The restored theatre was opened to the public on 19 November 1965. The Polish National Opera in the Grand Theatre continues its 200-year tradition and produces works by Polish composers and world classics.

The Warsaw Chamber Opera (Warszawska Opera Kameralna) www.wok.pol.pl
The Warsaw Chamber Opera was founded in 1961 by Stefan Sutkowski, who has served as its Managing and Artistic Director ever since. The Warsaw Chamber Opera’s repertoire spans a wide variety of musical styles and genres: from medieval mystery plays to the operas of the Baroque and Classical periods, 18th century pantomimes, the operas by Rossini and Donizetti, as well as works by contemporary composers. The Warsaw Chamber Opera ensembles also give regular concerts featuring chamber, oratorio and symphonic music of various epochs.
In order to celebrate Poland’s accession to the European Union, the opera has introduced a special event to its repertoire - a project entitled “An Ode to Europe - A Season of Music from a United Europe”, which will last precisely one year from May 3, 2004 till May 3, 2005. Its program includes mostly Baroque and classical pieces and lesser known chamber music from the United Europe.

Mozart Festival (June-July)
The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has long occupied a prominent place in the company's repertoire. A series of successful productions encouraged the decision to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's death with the 1st Mozart Festival (in 1991). Every edition of the event comprises Mozart complete stage output and a selection of his chamber, symphonic, and vocal-instrumental works. The Warsaw Chamber Opera is the only company in the world to have Mozart's entire operatic output in its permanent repertoire.

Baroque Opera Festival (12 - 22 October 2004)
Another major artistic project realised by Stefan Sutkowski and the Warsaw Chamber Opera, held annually since 1993. The event enriched the company's repertoire with works by J.Peri, C.Monteverdi, H.Purcell, J.Blow, F.Caccini and J.B.Lully. The 2004 edition of the festival is dedicated to English baroque composers.

Claudio Monteverdi Festival (22 September - 1 October 2004)
The Claudio Monteverdi Festival is another annual fixture in the Warsaw Chamber Opera calendar since 1995. Within its framework, the company has produced all of Monteverdi's extant stage works, including three full-length operas L'Orfeo, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria and L'incoronazione di Poppea.

The Warsaw Philharmonic – The National Orchestra and Choir of Poland
(Filharmonia Narodowa) www.filharmonia.pl
The Warsaw Philharmonic, which celebrated its centenary in 2001, is one of the oldest musical institutions in Europe. The first concert was held on 5 November 1901 and presented the music of Polish composers.

The orchestra performed with famous artists such as Fitelberg, Melcer, Noskowski, Rodzinski as well as Grieg, Honegger, Leoncavallo, Nikisch, Prokofiev, Rakhmaninov, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, R. Strauss and Stravinsky.
It was in the Warsaw Philharmonic that the first three Chopin International Piano Competitions were held (1927, 1932, 1937), the first Wieniawski International Violin Competition (1935) and the first Universal Festival of Polish Art (1937).

The Second World War interrupted the Philharmonic's activity: the building was destroyed and about half of the musicians perished. It reopened for the 1947-1948 season. The building was reconstructed in a totally new style and completed in 1955. The orchestra received then the title of the National Orchestra of Poland.

Today the Warsaw Philharmonic - National Orchestra and Choir of Poland is made up of 112 top-ranking musicians and 100 choral singers. Both ensembles have completed over one hundred tours on five continents. They are regularly invited to the best musical centres in the world, such as: Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Festival Hall, Suntory Hall, La Scala.

Witold Lutoslawski's Contemporary Art Forum (April)
An important annual event held in the The Warsaw Philharmonic which presents 20th century music accompanied by exhibits and discussions.

Stanislaw Moniuszko Warsaw Music Society
The Moniuszko Music Society organises some of the most loved and appreciated musical events in the city. The setting, the beautiful Szuster Palace, is exquisite.

First traces of settlement in the Warsaw area date from the 10th century. The first notable structure does not come in until the beginning of the 14th century, when the dukes of Mazovia built a stronghold on the site where the Royal Palace stands today, thus starting a township. In 1413 Warsaw became the seat of the Mazovian dukes, and the city experiences a wave of development. At about this period we see the emergence of the New Town along the northern walls of the Old Town. In 1526 the last duke of Mazovia died without an heir, thus putting Warsaw along with the whole of Mazovia under the direct rule of the Polish king in Krakow.

In 1569 Warsaw became the seat of the Sejm (Polish parliament), due to its central location in the new union between Poland and Lithuania. Four years later the city became the seat of the royal elections, however the King still resided in Krakow. In 1596 Warsaw became the capital. During the 1655-1660 Swedish invasion of Poland, Warsaw suffered heavy damage. The 18th century saw some of the most splendid growth of the city. It was during this period that many of the palaces, churches and monasteries were erected and the cultural life flourished, especially during the reign of the last Polish king Stanislaw August Poniatowski. The National Theatre was established in 1765 on the initiative of the King.

On the 3d May 1791 the Constitution was adopted (the first in Europe and second in the world) providing the foundations for the establishment of modern state.

By 1795 Poland had been totally partitioned by three empires: Prussia, Russia and the Habsburg Empire. Warsaw found itself under the Prussian rule and its role was diminished to that of a small provincial town. However in 1807 Warsaw became again the capital when Napoleon created the Duchy of Warsaw. With the collapse of Napoleonic France in 1830, Warsaw fell to the Russian rule. After the defeat of the insurrection the Polish Kingdom was stripped of the last vestiges of political independence such as the Parliament, government and the Polish army. The University was closed and associations banned. Cultural life took the form of unofficial and informal activities. Despite the Russian occupation, Warsaw continued in its steady development along with a steady population increase. By 1900 Warsaw had 700,000 inhabitants.

In 1915, during World War I, Warsaw was occupied by the Germans and in 1918 became the capital of the reborn Polish State. The urban planning activities, of particular intensity under the presidency of Stefan Starzynski, came to an abrupt and dramatic end in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. The city soon became the main centre of resistance. In April 1943 an uprising began in the Jewish ghetto resulting in a total annihilation of this district populated by half a million people. On 1 August 1944 the Warsaw Uprising, prepared by the Home Army erupted. After the defeat of the uprising the city was given a death sentence. The population was expelled or transported to camps and the Germans began a systematic destruction of the town. Some 650 000 people died and 84 % of the urban fabric was destroyed.

The rebuilding of Warsaw began immediately in 1945. It is difficult to identify a date of the completion of this task as in certain terms this process continues even today. A ballpark date would be 1970 - when Warsaw's population again reached 1.3 million.

In 1989, free elections mark the end of the communist regime. With the entry of Poland into the European Union in 2004 Warsaw is currently experiencing the biggest economic boom in its history.

Architecture & Some Highlights		Gardens & In the surrounding area		Food
The capital of Poland, Warsaw, was one of central Europe's most beautiful cities until it suffered massive devastation in World War II. As a result, most of the city has been reconstructed to reflect its glorious past and it now has more open space and parks than most other European cities with most of its major streets lined with trees. Old Town (Stare Miasto) The Old Town possesses exceptional 13th-century architecture. Period houses with Gothic and Baroque influences surround the Old Market Square. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. New Town (Nowe Miasto) The New Town forms a picturesque part of Warsaw, with churches, palaces, galleries and museums lining the Royal Route and other grand streets. New Town began to develop in 14th century. In 1408 Duke Janusz the Elder granted Nowe Miasto a separate status from the Old Town. During World War II, it suffered severe damage but was also restored to its original glamour. Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Kosciol Nawiedzenia Najswietszej Marii Panny) One of the oldest churches of Warsaw, built in the Gothic style at the beginning of 15th century. A parish church in New Town, demolished during the Insurrection of Warsaw of 1944, rebuilt in 1950. It offers fantastic views over the Wisla River. Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski) The castle was completely destroyed during World War II and meticulously rebuilt in the 1970s in the architectural style of 17th and 18th centuries. A collection of paintings, sculptures and objets d'art saved from the Nazi’s invasion is housed in the Royal Castle. The Royal Route (Trakt Królewski) The Royal Way (10 km long) links the king's residences of the Royal Castle, the Ujazdowski Castle, the Lazienki Palace and the Palace in Wilanów. The highlight of this district is Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street. Along both streets one can admire Neo-classical style buildings, churches and palaces, cafes, restaurants and fashionable boutiques. Wilanów Palace www.wilanow-palac.art.pl This palace was the summer residence of the King Jan III Sobieski. Its primary construction was based on Italian village, according to a design by Augustyn Locci in the years 1677 - 1696. After death of Jan III Sobieski, the palace became a residence for many famous Polish aristocratic families and was rebuilt and reconstructed many times. After the Second World Wars it was carefully renovated and become a museum. The residence is surrounded by a vast park. Church of the Holy Cross (Kosciol Swietego Krzyza) Chopin admirers can visit the Church of the Holy Cross, where an urn containing his heart is interred in a pillar beneath a statue. Twice a year a special ceremony is held to mark the anniversary of the composer's birth and death. Jewish Warsaw The first Jewish settlers appeared in Mazovia at around the start of the 14th century. By late 18th century over 9% of the capitals inhabitants were Jewish. By 1939 Warsaw was home to over 350000 Jews. The horror of WWII and the subsequent prejudice of the anti-Semite government decimated Poland's Jewish population. Today only 2000 Jews live in Warsaw. Around Marshall (Marszalkowska) Street in Warsaw Rebuilding of Warsaw after World War II coincided with emergence of “socialist realism”. The facades of many buildings in this area show the uninspired architecture style of the communist area. Palace of Culture The Stalinesque skyscraper, towering over the city, is probably the most impressive example of this style of architecture outside the former Soviet Union. It is the largest and tallest building in Poland. The viewing platform on the 30th floor houses interactive maps, a slide show and display of Polish architecture.		There are 76 parks in Warsaw, covering a total of 700 hectares. Warsaw, like no other European city, is also rich in forests: they cover a total of 7,000 ha. Forested areas comprise 12 nature reserves-areas under special protection. Lazienki Park This romantic park was landscaped in 1764 for the king's residence. It features several palaces and pavilions, a temple, historic monuments, an amphitheatre and two orangeries. The Palace on the Water, within the park, is a monument of Polish history with its splendid interior providing an ideal setting for cultural events, art exhibitions and official state ceremonies. During the summer, free Chopin concerts are held every Sunday. In the Surrounding area Zelazowa Wola Zelazowa Wola, a village on the Utrata river. A charming old Polish manor - the birthplace of the composer and national hero Frederic Chopin. The house where he was born is now a museum surrounded by a large garden. Brochów www.brochow.ug.gov.pl Typical Mazovian village with a Renaissance basilica of defensive character erected in the 16th century. Jablonna Palace and Park http://palacjablonna.pl The Palace of Jablonna is situated just outside Warsaw (northward). The Palace was built in 18th century by brother of King Stanislaw August, Michal Poniatowski, the Bishop of Plock and later the primate of Poland. The next owners were the Potocki Family and in 20th century it was transformed into a conference centre for the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN). The palace also has a small hotel. Lowicz (75 km from Warsaw) www.um.lowicz.pl Lowicz is the capital of Mazowsze region folk culture. The town itself is very old and has original urban lay-out and many baroque buildings from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Very interesting is collection of the Lowicz Museum. Nieborów (85 km. from Warsaw) www.nieborow.pl Nieborów is one of the most beautiful magnate's residences in the country and most certainly in the vicinity of Warsaw. In the palace you can find collection of Polish and foreign paintings (especially Dutch paintings). In the town was also a factory manufacturing porcelain.		Polish cuisine is very hearty; traditionally people eat a lot and consume a lot of meat, preferably with a vodka shot. The most typical ingredients used in Polish cuisine are sauerkraut, beetroot, kohlrabi, cucumbers (gherkins), sour cream, eggs, mushrooms, dill, marjoram, caraway seeds, sausages and smoked sausages. Soups : - Chlodnik litewski: cold yoghurt-and-beetroot soup served with a cooked egg - Barszcz bialy: rabbit soup with potatoes and marjoram - Zurek: soup with flour of rye, potato, sausage or an egg, sometimes served in a bread loaf - Krupnik: barley soup with smattering of vegetables and veal - Rosol z kurczaka: golden chicken consommé with homemade noodles - Flaki wolowe: pork tripe soup Hors d'Oeuvres - Smalec: partially double fried lard. It is often spread over bread and served as an appetizer before dishes - Sledzie w smietanie: herring in sour cream - Sliwka w boczku : Deep-fried plum in bacon Main course - Baranina: roasted or grilled lamb - Bigos: appetizing, seasoned sauerkraut "hunter" stew with various kinds of meats and sausages, extremely traditional - Golabki: "little pigeons" - cabbage parcels stuffed with mushrooms and meat - Kotlet schabowy: breaded pork cutlet, very traditional - Klopsiki: meatloaf stuffed with eggs - Kaszanka: grilled or baked solid pieces of porridge blended pork blood - Krokiet: deep-fried pieces of potatoes, meat stuffed with spinach, cheese etc. - Pierogi: small white dumplings larger than ravioli filled with meat, cheese, mushrooms, strawberries or anything else, very traditional - Ozór wolowy: soft steamed beef tongues - Watróbki drobiowe: chicken liver with mushrooms - Zrazy zawijane: rolled fillets of hashed veal in a spicy sauce Sweet Titbits - Faworki - pastry twisters - Galaretka - very sweet jellies - Makowiec - sweet poppy cake - Paczki - doughnuts - Sernik - delicious fat cheese cake

Drinks		Traditional customs and Festivals		Things to Do
Beer Recommendable bear brands are Okocim, Tyskie, Zywiec, Heweliusz, Lech or Tatra. It is very popular to mix beer with raspberry or black currant juice (piwo z sokiem) and drinking it using a straw. Some people find refreshing hot beer with cloves and cinnamon. Vodka Vodka consumption is a bit on the wane. The name for vodka has changed over centuries. Formerly it was called okowita (from aqua vitae - the water of life in Latin) which changed into gorzalka (from the verb gorzec - to glow). Wódka (related to woda - i.e. water) proved to be the best name for it. If you want to try the most famous brands, choose Zubrowka with the characteristic bison label, distilled in Bialowieza world-known for the last bison reserve in Europe. Zubrowka has a long leaf of special grass in the bottle, which blesses vodka with green colour and a special flavour. The most usual vodkas are Wyborowa or Sobieski. Very special is Krupnik, vodka with honey or Vodka Goldwasser - vodka with pieces of real gold in it. Mead (miód pitny) is considered the oldest drink of all Slavonic nations. It has a very delicate, sweet taste.		March and April: - Topienie Marzanny (Drowning of Marzanna): 21 March. Celebrating the end of winter by drowning the witch, Marzanna, in Wisla River - Niedziela Palmowa (Palm Sunday): Late March/early April. Blessing of floral bouquets and processions. - Easter Sunday: late March/early April. Dawn Mass and processions followed by an Easter breakfast. May - October: - Slaska Noc Swietojanska (Midsummer’s Eve): 21 June. Wreathes with candles on the Wisla River, ending with fireworks. - Chopin Music Summer Concerts: June-October, Lazienki Park, at the Chopin Monument. One of the oldest music festivals in Poland presenting Chopin's works. - Warsaw Summer Jazz Days: July-September. Outstanding representation of contemporary jazz in the Castle Square. - Musical Gardens: July-August. World top film productions held in the courtyard of the Royal Castle. - International Organ Music Festival: July-September. Organ concerts in St John's Cathedral. - Warsaw Autumn: September. International contemporary music festival. - Warsaw Film Festival: throughout October. - Jazz Jamboree Music Festival: throughout October. The oldest and most prestigious jazz festival in Poland. - Old Music Festival: October-November. Concerts with the use of instruments from the epoch. November – December: - Warsaw Theatrical Encounters: November. - Christmas Fairs: throughout December, especially at the Plac Defilad, in front of the Palace of Culture and Science, and Plac Zamkovy.		National Museum The collection of the National Museum includes 780 000 items displayed in permanent galleries and many temporal exhibitions. The museum also boasts the largest Polish scholarly library of art catalogues, art history books, books on the cultures of almost all over the world, and an excellent collection of old maps and prints. The Frederick Chopin Museum at the Frederick Chopin Society www.chopin.pl The Frederick Chopin Museum was established in the 1930s. The museum (containing manuscripts, printed matter, some with handwritten annotations, iconography…) and the library collections, recordings as well as photographs are the outcome of purchases made at home and abroad as well as donations and loans. Museum of the Warsaw Uprising (Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego) www.1944.pl This ambitious new museum looks set to become one of the major fixtures in the city's cultural life. It tells the story of one of the decisive chapters of the second world war, the doomed Uprising of the Polish underground army against the Nazi occupiers. Although the full opening is not expected until the Autumn of 2005, a section of the museum was opened to on August 1st 2004. Centre for Contemporary Art (Centrum Sztuki Wspólczesnej) http://csw.art.pl Although more a gallery than a museum it hosts some first class exhibitions. It's located in the stark interiors of the Ujazowski Castle and there's a fine bookshop and restaurant attached. Museum of Independence (Muzeum Niepodleglosci) www.muzeum.zk.pl An old nineteenth century saying goes: ''The Poles rebel against a mild oppressor, because they can, against a harsh one, because they must." Apart from the Solidarity movement of 1980's (the only non-military endeavours documented here) these Uprisings commonly resulted in horrendous reprisals, thus adding a distinctly melancholic streak to Polish culture. This museum is located in the former Radziwill Palace. Ethnographic Museum (Panstwowe Muzeum Etnograficzne) www.pme.art.pl Founded in 1888, this museum is a perfect introduction to the weird and wonderful world of Polish folk art.

Hotels		Restaurants		Web Sites
*Sofitel Victoria Warsaw (5) www.orbis.pl/sofitelvictoriawarszawa Tel.: +48 22 657 8011, Fax: +48 22 657 8057 The hotel is located in the centre of the city close to many famous architectural monuments as well as next to the financial and commercial centre of the capital. From the windows of the hotel there is a beautiful view of the Pilsudski Square surrounded by the Saxon Gardens, Grand Opera and historic Royal Tract. Le Royal Meridien Bristol (5)* www.warsaw.lemeridien.com Tel.: +48 22 55 11 000, Fax: +48 22 625 25 77 Situated on the Royal Tract, Warsaw's most elegant street, and overlooking the Presidential Palace, the hotel is only a short walk from the historical Old Town, the Royal Castle and the National Theatre and Opera House. The hotel graciously combines Old-World charm with modern luxury. *Warsaw Marriott Hotel (5) http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage/WAWPL Tel. +48 22 630 6306 Fax: +48 22 830 0311 There are not many places in Warsaw where you can hear Dixieland Jazz on Sundays but the Warsaw Marriott is one of them. The hotel is located in the centre of Warsaw. This 40-floor building, which opened in 1989, is Warsaw's 3rd tallest building. Residence St. Andrews Palace (4)* www.residence.com.pl Tel.: +48 22 826 4640, Fax: +48 22 826 9635 Situated in a quiet pedestrian street in the heart of Warsaw, St Andrews Palace is a beautifully modernized and tastefully decorated building dating from 1900. With a view of the Palace of Culture, walking distance from the financial district, the Opera, Cinema & shopping area. *Zajazd Napoleonski (4)** www.napoleon.waw.pl Tel.: +48 22 815 3068, Fax: +48 22 815 2216 This stylish Hotel used to be a famous inn located just by the main Warsaw’s route to Moscow. It was built in 16th century and has been hosting noble travellers even since (Napoleon with his regimen in 1812). Its history is soaked in Poland’s great historical events as well as old customs and culture. Now, this very luxurious intimate and cosy hotel offers traditional hospitality, comfort and friendly atmosphere. It is located in the south - eastern part of Warsaw, not very far from the city centre.		Malinowa Hotel Bristol, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 42/44 Tel. +48 22 551 1833 Malinowa is renowned as the most exclusive restaurant in Warsaw. There are very exciting interpretations of classic dishes and innovative use of speciality ingredients, evident in some superb desserts. Belvedere Place Lazikienki Krolewskie Tel: +48 22 841 4806 With tables set among exotic plants of the former orangery (Nowa Orangeria), this is probably the most elegant and expensive restaurant in all Poland. Biblioteka Ul Dobra 56/60 Tel: +48 22 552 7195 Curiously located hi-tech confection of concrete and glass, and now with an open roof garden, Biblioteka is an odd mix of industrial chic & old world. The food is superb - fillet of sea bream comes in a delicately spicy paprika sauce with spinach leaves, and tender grilled duck is marinated in juniper. Restauracja Polska Ul Nowy Swiat 21 Tel: +48 22 826 3877 Hidden in a courtyard off the main street, Polska combines traditional Polish style with a folklore flourish. With floral decor dimmed by discreet lighting, this restaurant is a romantic favourite with exemplary service. Modern Polish cuisine makes the best of speciality fish, game & vegetables. Fukier Rynek Starego Miasta 27 Tel. +48 22 831 1013 Excellent cuisine served in some of Warsaw's most beautiful surroundings. Mainly Polish cuisine at its most creative, enriched with French and other European influences.		Warsaw Tourist Office www.warsawtour.pl The official Website of the City of Warsaw www.e-warsaw.pl Warsaw Guides www.warsaw-life.com : Warsaw Life - Warsaw Travel Guide www.inyourpocket.com/poland/warsaw/en www.explore-warsaw.com www.poltravel.com/Warsaw Adam Mickiewicz Institute www.culture.pl/en Warsaw Map http://um.warszawa.pl/mapa/ The Warsaw Voice – Polish and Central European Review www.warsawvoice.pl Warsaw Autumn 2004 www.warsaw-autumn.art.pl/04 The Polish National Opera www.teatrwielki.pl The Warsaw Chamber Opera www.wok.pol.pl The Warsaw Philharmonic www.filharmonia.pl City-Discovery.com : Choose and book the most popular tours and attractions ! world-airport-transfer.com : Easy and convenient way to move from the airport to your hotel.