Programme devoted to art created in the most important courts and music circles of the past centuries.

It revives the tradition of musical meetings organised at Villa Decius by its aristocratic owners. The first owner of the Villa, Justus Ludovicus Decius, invited his friends and scholars staying at King Sigismund the Old's castle. In the 19 th century, Duchess Marcelina Czartoryska organised artistic salon meetings and historical concerts in the Villa.

The rooms of the Villa provide an ideal setting for early music performed on instruments modelled on historical ones, such as the Baroque violin, viola da gamba or harpsichord.

The concerts are embellished by the performances of the soloists of the Ardente Sole Court Ballet who perform historical dances in carefully reconstructed historical garments.

Coordination: Katarzyna Trojanowska

Music of the European Courts
Editions: 2000 - 2003

Evening I: Wawel
The first evening devoted to medieval and Renaissance music, was entitled "Wawel" after the name of the Royal Castle in Krakow. The concert referred to the relationship between the Royal Court of Sigismund the Old and Villa Decius during the Renaissance period. (September 2000)

Evening II: Sanssouci
Featured music composed at the court of Frederick II the Great. (October 2000)

Evening III: Venice
Transferred the audience to 17 th century Italy, to the Venetian Doges' Court. (April 2001)

Evening IV: Windsor - Whitehall -Vauxhall
Audience was invited to English royal courts by outstanding performance of Prof. Alison Pierce of Royal Academy of Music in London. (August 2001)

Evening V: Old Polish Nobility Courts
Featured music composed by excellent though not well known Polish composers: Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński, Adam Jarzębski and Marcin Mielczewski. (November 2001)

Evening VI: Habsburgs in Vienna - Schönbrunn and Hofburg
Audience was invited to a performance of XVII century dances of Vienna courts. (April 2002)

Evening VII: Esterhazy Castle
Transferred audience to Esterhazy Prince Court, where German dances were frequently performed. (May 2002)

Evening VIII: Gonzaga Court in Mantua
Featured music of Italian composers of XVI and XVII centuries. (December 2002)

Evening IX: Saxon Court in Dresden
Minuets, marches and a dance of the King of Poland accompanied music of German masters, including masterpieces of Jan Sebastian Bach. (April 2003)

Evening X: Royal Court of Naples
Jubilee concert.

Programme included musical pieces composed by artists of the Royal Court in Naples at the time when Spanish line of Habsburg dynasty was ruling in Naples. (October 2003)