Music in Old Cracow is one of the oldest Polish festivals – initiated by the authorities of the City of Cracow and held since 1976 under the patronage of the President of the City. The founder of the Festival and its artistic director is Stanisław Gałoński, founder and long-term director of Capella Cracoviensis. The cultural traditions centred around Krakow create an aura particularly conducive to music. Eminent European composers, such as H. Finck, L. Marenzio, D. Cato, dedicated their works to Polish kings by G. Palestrina, G. Ph. Telemann, J. S. Bach, gave concerts by Liszt, Brahms, Paderewski, Rubinstein. The Music Festival in Old Krakow refers to these great pages of Krakow's cultural history.
An important message of the Festival, which is emphasized, is to present outstanding Polish soloists and ensembles, especially those from Cracow. This provides an opportunity to familiarise numerous foreign guests with the local musical culture. Apart from famous artists, young talented musicians, who are on the threshold of their careers, are also invited to participate in the Festival. The programme of the "Music in Old Cracow" Festival does not close in a narrow subject matter. It is designed in such a way that during the two weeks of the Festival, listeners can choose the music that is closest to them, from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. Artists are also free to choose the repertoire in which they feel best. The concerts of the Festival take place for 16 days, every day in different, historic interiors; in churches, museums, courtyards.