From November 10 to 21, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine is hosting the second edition of the Kyiv Baroque Fest–2025, bringing together leading Ukrainian and European performers, researchers, and music lovers. Over the course of twelve days, baroque music will resonate through Kyiv, creating a space for dialogue and discovery.
 “Establishing a major European festival during a time of large-scale invasion is an act of resilience and resistance. The festival serves as a platform for various formats and equal partnerships among Ukrainian musicians and their international colleagues. The theme of baroque emphasizes the complexity of our world, but it is up to us to shape its future. We thank our partners and co-founders of this event, which is sure to gain prominence on the European artistic map!” — said Galyna Hryhorenko, the First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.
The festival is organized by the National Philharmonic of Ukraine in partnership with Open Opera Ukraine and the National House of Music, with support from diplomatic missions of European countries. 
This year's theme, Take Five!, refers to one of the most famous jazz standards, opening the door to new stylistic connections and creative experiments. It also alludes to five composers who shaped the European musical landscape: Heinrich Schütz, Georg Friedrich Handel, Domenico Scarlatti, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Maxim Berezovsky. Their music unites different cultural worlds — from Dresden to Naples, from London to Kyiv.
The festival program features performances by world-renowned musicians: countertenor Andreas Scholl (Germany), the ensemble Festina Lente (Italy), cornetto player Josue Melendez Pelaez (Switzerland-Mexico), soprano Hana Blazikova (Czech Republic), harpsichordist Marek Toporowski (Poland), flutist Jan de Winne (Belgium), viola da gamba player Salome Gaslen (France), and cellist Mark Kodla (United Kingdom-Poland).
This year, the festival collaborates for the first time with the Ukrainian inclusive brand FREEki, which designed the official merchandise for the event. This collaboration exemplifies socially responsible partnership, where ethics, beauty, and creativity become part of a unified philosophy.
As the organizers note, Take Five! invites listeners to engage with five voices that connect Europe through music and serves as a reminder that Ukrainian culture is an integral part of this polyphonic continent.
Festival partners include the Embassy of the French Republic in Ukraine, the French Institute in Ukraine, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine, Goethe-Institut in Ukraine, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Ukraine, the Czech Centre in Kyiv, the Polish Institute in Kyiv, the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Ukraine, the Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine, the cultural institution “Mizhvukhami,” the Young Music Center, and Freeki.