The International Festival of Early Arts named after Izabela Branicka is a platform for the presentation of culture, art, and early music, connecting to the cultural grandeur of the Versailles of the North, as the unique Białystok residence of Grand Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki and his wife, Izabela Branicka of the Poniatowski family, sister of the last King of Poland, known as patrons of the arts. The original concept of the festival was to artistically reconstruct various elements of the grand celebrations of Izabela’s Name Day (November 19th). Today, the Festival showcases the creativity of both the 18th century and earlier eras, reconstructing for contemporary audiences the culture, art, and early music, utilizing historical styles and performance techniques. The international nature of the event is linked to the foreign musicians in Branicki’s chapel and the many invited artists from key music centers of 18th-century Europe.

Although Białystok, despite its growing number of cultural initiatives, did not have a significant high-ranking artistic event dedicated to commemorating Izabela (Elżbieta) Branicka née Poniatowska, an important patron of culture and benefactor in the city’s history just over a decade ago, her patronage turned the capital of Podlasie into a significant musical and cultural center on a national scale. One of the main goals of the Festival is to popularize knowledge about this important fragment of the city’s history, enriching the current perception of Białystok’s history, presenting it as a center of important cultural achievements within the life of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Festival, by organizing most of its events in Branicki Palace, brings modern audiences closer to the culture and art from the time of the creation of the Polish Versailles – the most beautiful palace and garden complex in this part of Europe. The initiator and Director of the Festival is Mariusz Perkowski – President of the Pro Anima Foundation, while the Artistic Director of the Festival is Dr. Anna Moniuszko.

Since 2021, the International Festival of Early Arts named after Izabela Branicka has been operating in an expanded format, with a new approach to the presentation of broadly understood early music – from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The expanded format of the Festival primarily encompasses a broader thematic scope and a richer repertoire, which not only includes grand court music but also delves into lesser-known yet equally fascinating areas, such as folk music and secular music from various periods.

Starting in 2023, each edition of the Festival will have its own guiding theme, which sets the artistic direction and helps to better understand the context of the presented works. In 2023, the Festival was held under the theme „Music from the Thatch and the Manor”, focusing on secular early music from all over Europe. The upcoming edition in 2024 will feature the theme „Music of the Soul.” This theme will allow us to delve into the spiritual dimension of music from past eras, referring both to religious traditions and deeply personal, contemplative experiences offered by music in ancient times.

The inauguration of the Festival will be a unique event – the reconstruction of the musical setting for the Holy Mass from the time of Mikołaj Zieleński, Missa s. Adalberti.This is a rare opportunity to experience the authentic sounds of Polish and European sacred music from the 17th century. Another concert will refer to the life and times of the Festival’s patron, Izabela Branicka, and will feature the distinguished Czech ensemble Collegium Marianum and baritone Tomáš Šelc, who will perform Czech Baroque compositions. During another concert, the group Jerycho will take us on a journey through the musical paths of Sarmatian spirituality, performing hymns and songs on Marian themes from the 17th century, showcasing the richness of Polish musical traditions.

The group Schola Cantorum Riga from Latvia, together with saxophonist Dāvis Jurka, will present a concert to close the Festival – Music of the Soul – Georgian Chant and the Sounds of the Music of the World. This event will combine the traditional sound of male voices with the sounds of contemporary instruments, creating a space where spirituality meets modernity. Thus, the final concert will be a kind of „musical prayer,” an ideal culmination of the edition dedicated to the „Music of the Soul.” We are convinced that this year’s edition of the International Festival of Early Arts named after Izabela Branicka will be a unique experience, allowing our audience not only to engage with early music but also to discover its profound spiritual dimensions.