Such is the esteem in which composer Fryderyk Chopin is held in Poland, that even this year’s edition of the Beethoven Easter Festival is dedicated to him, although the fact that this year marks the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth probably doesn’t hurt.

Beginning March 21 and running through April 3, the festival will include a repertoire of works from Beethoven, Chopin and Schumann – who was incidentally born in the same year as Chopin – performed by over 180 international musicians. These musicians will fill the halls of the Royal Castle, the Grand Opera House and the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall with classical and contemporary interpretations of some of the world’s most beloved symphonies, sonatas and suites.

In one of the festival’s main attractions, Polish conductor Antoni Wit will lead the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra through Schumann’s Symphony Number 4 in D minor (March 24). In another highlight, Estonian-American conductor Paavo Järvi will conduct the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen in a performance of Beethoven’s complete symphonies (March 30-April 3). The festival will also include a performance from acclaimed Portuguese Fado singer Misia, who will pay homage to the oeuvre of Chopin, along with performances from other special guests including pianist and conductor Louis Lortie, cellist Jian Wang, soprano Xu Xiao Jing, baritone Xiaoyong Yang, conductor Long Yu and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Put together by one of Poland’s premier authorities on classical music, Elżbieta Penderecka, the Beethoven Easter Festival promises a rapturous experience for the classically predisposed.

For more information, log on to www.beethoven.org.pl

For tickets, log on to www. ticketonline.co.uk