The Nobu Warsaw Hotel has become the setting for a visual narrative about music and the emotions it evokes. Inside, visitors can view an exhibition of photographs by Grzegorz Mart, who, during the first edition of the Break in Classic festival, captured what no score can convey: the energy of the encounters, the relationships between the artists and the audience, and the atmosphere of an event that redefines the way we think about classical music.
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Break in Classic, with Jakub Józef Orliński and Aleksander Dębicz as its artistic directors, has functioned as more than just a festival since its first edition last year. It is a three-day feast for music lovers, taking place in the historic park of the Museum of Interiors in Otwock Wielki—a branch of the National Museum in Warsaw—where the world’s most outstanding classical artists meet the audience in a relaxed summer atmosphere. No strict dress code, no formality—just picnics on the grass, conversations with the artists, and open-air concerts. It is precisely this idea that Grzegorz Mart has captured in his photographs.
Photography That Captures Music
The exhibition consists of several dozen large-format photographs taken during the first edition of Break in Classic. This is not a traditional concert documentary, but rather a visual reportage capturing the artists’ emotions just before taking the stage, the musicians’ focus, the audience’s reactions, and the relationship between the music and its listeners. The exhibition was designed specifically for the interiors of the Nobu Warsaw Hotel. The photographs guide the viewer through the successive stages of the festival—from the silence preceding the first concert, through the climactic moments of the performances, to the evening gatherings of artists and the audience. Thanks to this, guests at the Nobu Warsaw Hotel become participants in the story, rather than mere observers.
Break in Classic is a festival full of moments that cannot be planned. It was precisely these moments—the glances, gestures, emotions, and light—that interested me the most. I wanted to show music not only as sound, but as an experience that stays with a person long after the concert ends,” says Grzegorz Mart.
Architecture That Becomes a Gallery
The exhibition is being held at the Nobu Warsaw Hotel, one of the most interesting examples of contemporary hotel architecture in Poland. Designed by the Medusa Group studio under the direction of Przemo Łukasik and Łukasz Zagała, the building harmoniously blends the modernist history of the former Rialto Hotel with modern, minimalist architecture inspired by Japanese aesthetics. Natural materials, light, and the serene composition of the interiors make Nobu Warsaw not only a place to stay but also a space for encounters with art, design, and culture. Grzegorz Mart’s exhibition aligns with this philosophy, creating a dialogue between photography, architecture, and music.
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Photography as an Extension of the Festival
As the organizers of Break in Classic emphasize, the exhibition is not a summary of the event, but rather its next chapter.
From the very beginning, we dreamed of a festival whose experience wouldn’t end with the final concert. Grzegorz’s photographs allow us to revisit the emotions we felt during the first edition and show that music can also be experienced through images. “We’re delighted that this year’s artists, while staying at the Nobu Hotel, will be able to soak up the festival atmosphere even before they take the stage in Otwock Wielki,” say Marta Szymańska and Paweł Szumny.
The exhibition is sponsored by Omnires, a brand that has long supported initiatives promoting design and culture. At OMNIRES, we believe that design and art share a common goal—they stir emotions, inspire, and enrich everyday life. We value the courage to seek out new perspectives and the creative reinterpretation of what is timeless. That is why we are pleased to support an exhibition that reveals the beauty of classical music in a modern and authentic way,” adds Paulina Shacalis, Creative and Managing Director of OMNIRES.
The partners of the Break in Classic festival, who have helped shape its unique character from the very beginning, are also involved in the project. Among them are this year’s festival patron—the Polish National Foundation; festival partner—PGE Polish Energy Group; and partner and partner for accessibility and innovation—ORLEN. Supporting partners include BMW, Nobilia, Słodkie, and Omnires. Among them is DOMOTEKA, which has been bridging the worlds of design, architecture, and culture for years. During the June event “Break in Classic. BEFORE,” the space at the Nobu Hotel—which is also a festival partner—was co-created with BoConcept furniture available at DOMOTEKA, demonstrating that design can become an integral part of artistic experiences.
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This year’s edition of the Break in Classic festival will take place from July 31 to August 2, 2026, in the picturesque surroundings of the Museum of Interiors in Otwock Wielki, a branch of the National Museum in Warsaw. The audience will hear world-renowned classical music stars, including Avi Avital, the Vision String Quartet, Lyyra, Fuse, Lucienne Renaudin Vary and Félicien Brut, Théotime Langlois de Swarte with Le Consort, the Manchester Collective with the Fergus McCreadie Trio, and Marcin Zdunik. The festival’s artistic directors—Jakub Józef Orliński and Aleksander Dębicz—will also take the stage, accompanied by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy.
Grzegorz Mart’s exhibition is open to guests of the Nobu Warsaw Hotel through the end of August 2026. The exhibition serves as a photographic preview of the upcoming chapters of “Break in Classic” and an invitation to a world where classical music extends beyond the concert hall, becoming part of everyday life.
OKK! PR is responsible for the communications surrounding Grzegorz Mart’s photography exhibition.
