Never mind the short days and terrible weather – let’s try to enjoy ourselves in January! After New Year’s Eve celebrations and in the full swing of Carnival events, Kraków is taken over by the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. And it will soon be time for the increasingly popular performances held under the banner of Opera Rara – one of Kraków’s youngest festivals. The efforts of the organisers have quickly gathered huge audiences and positive reviews, and the occasional claims that the days of opera are numbered are turning out to be vastly exaggerated; all the more so since Opera Rara does not shy away from dialogue with centuries-old traditions, from redefining the genre and from experimenting on the very substance of music.

January is also a month of nativity scenes: they are displayed at the exhibition at the Museum of Krakow and at many spots throughout the city as part of the All Around Nativity Scenes campaign. And the festive spirit still abounds with carol concerts, frequently in unusual arrangements. If you aren’t afraid of the cold, head to one of the ice rinks under the chilly January sky, or if you prefer to keep your distance from ice, Tauron Arena Kraków presents Cirque du Soleil’s winter extravaganza. And if that’s still not enough, you can celebrate another new year’s eve accompanied by hot Balkan rhythms.

After all, it’s Carnival time!

Grzegorz Słącz
Editor-in-Chief