Cultural life in Warsaw was strong before the fall of Communism and has diversified and opened up considerably in the last few years. The city enjoys a lively cultural scene. There is a great sense of pride in Frederic Chopin in the Polish capital. Born in 1810, in nearby Zelazowa Wola, the musician moved to Warsaw, where he remained until he left for Paris in 1830. Poland's golden age, in terms of art and culture, was the Sarmatism (Polish Baroque) period from 1572 to 1764. The dress, sculpture and painting of the period reflect the lifestyle of the Polish nobility. Warsaw has a number of world-class cultural institutions, including the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Theatre. The main cultural season runs from September to July, although there are often summer festivals featuring outdoor concerts held on the Old Town Square and in Warsaw's parks.

The Warsaw Tourist Information and Promotion Bureau has a very useful weekly and annual online calendar of cultural events (Web site: www.warsawtour.pl). The English language Warsaw Voice newspaper carries a weekly listing of events. In addition to the venues themselves, tickets can often be purchased at the ZASP box office, aleja Jerozolimskie 25 (tel: (022) 621 9383 or 9454), or at Empik Megastore, ulica Nowy Swiat 15/17 (tel: (022) 627 0650; Web site: www.empik.com).

Music: The main orchestra in Warsaw is the Filharmonia Narodowa (National Philharmonic), also called the Warsaw Philharmonic (tel: (022) 551 7111; fax: (022) 551 7200; Web site: www.filharmonia.pl), located opposite the Palace of Culture and Science, ulica Sienkieicza 10. The company includes both symphonic and chamber players, with separate entrances for each hall - ulica Sienkiewicza 10 (symphony concerts) and ulica Moniuszki 5 (chamber concerts). Teatr Narodowy (National Theatre), plac Teatralny 1 (tel: (022) 692 0604; fax: (022) 826 0423; Web site: www.narodowy.pol.pl and www.teatrwielki.pl), comprises the Teatr Wielki (Grand Theatre) and Opera Narodowa (National Opera) and has a tradition dating back to 1778. Opera and ballet performances run every evening, except for Monday, during the season (September-May). Warszawska Opera Kameralna (Warsaw Chamber Opera), aleja Solidarnosci 76B (tel: (022) 831 2240; Web site: www.wok.pol.pl), performs at a variety of venues throughout Warsaw.

Lighter music is offered at the popular Buffo Theatre, ulica Konopnickiej 6 (tel: (022) 625 4709), where anything from rock and pop to traditional Polish musicals are performed. Large-scale productions, such as Aïda, are held in the 2000-seat Sala Moniuszki, in the National Theatre (see above), which has one of the largest stages in Europe. Prices start at under Z10.

Theatre: The-Warsaw Operetta (Roma Musical Theatre), ulica Nowogrodzka 49 (tel: (022) 628 8371), stages productions of Broadway hits, folk music theatre and some matinees for children. The Teatr Zydowski (Jewish Theatre), plac Grzybowski 12/16 (tel: (022) 620 6281; Web site: www.teatr-zydowski.art.plM), is a full-time Yiddish-language theatre company. The Globe Theatre Group (tel: (022) 620 4429) is Poland's professional English-language theatre group.

Dance: Ballet performances are part of the National Theatre's regular programme (see Music above).

Film: There are more than a dozen cinemas in Warsaw, including Multikino, aleja Ken 60, and Ster Century Mokotow, ulica Woloska 12. Almost all films are shown in the original language with Polish subtitles. Tickets cost from Z12 to Z20, with concessions for students and children. Listings can be found under 'Kino' in Friday's Gazeta Wyborcza and online (Web site: www.gazeta.pl). Arthouse and Polish-language films with English subtitles can be seen at the Rejs cinema, behind the Kultura cinema at Krakowskie Przedmiescie 21/23 (tel: (022) 826 3335), and the Muranow, ulica Gen. Andersa 1 (tel: (022) 831 0358).

Cultural events: Warsaw celebrates the end of winter on 21 March, with Topienie Marzanny, the drowning of an effigy of the witch Marzanna, in the Wisla River. Throughout summer and autumn, on Sunday afternoon, outdoor concerts in Lazienki Park, at the Chopin Monument, celebrate the city's most famous composer. The Chopin Music Summer Concerts run from June to October. In honour of another famous composer, the city's Mozart Festival, from mid-June to the end of July, has concerts at many venues throughout the city. On Slaska Noc Swietojanska (Midsummer's Eve), 23 June, wreathes with lit candles are floated on the Wisla River. There are also many concerts and the night ends with firework displays over the city. Warsaw Autumn, in the third and fourth weeks of September, is a celebration of contemporary classical music, with concerts held in venues throughout the city. Christmas festivities include a profusion of Christmas markets throughout the city.