The Polish National Opera has unveiled its 2023-24 season. First up is a concert featuring the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The event will feature conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson leading a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth symphony with such soloists as Olga Kulchynska, Nicole Chirka, Dmytro Polov, and Vladyslav Buialsk. Performance Date: August 20, 2023 There will be {…}
The Kosciuszko Foundation in New York has awarded the Polish National Opera’s general director Waldemar Dabrowski with the Medal of Appreciation. He was first appointed to lead the Polish National Opera in 1998 and held the position until 2002. He then took on the role of Minister of Culture of Poland between 2002-05. In that position, he set up the {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to perform Piazzolla’s “María de Buenos Aires.” The tango operita, which will be performed under Piotr Staniszewski, will star Damian Kwiatkowski as el Duende, Natalia Kawałek in the title role, and Łukasz Karauda as Payador. Wojciech Faruga, artistic director of the Polish Theater in Bydgoszcz, will direct the work. For the upcoming production, Faruga {…}
(Credit: Krzysztof Bieliński) The Polish National Opera is set to premiere a new production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” The production, which is set to open on Jan. 13, will be directed by Mariusz Treliński’ whose staging is a co-production between the Polish National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, where it premieres during the 2023-24 season. The production will {…}
The Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa will present “A Sea of Dreams Did Breathe on Me” on Nov. 23, 2022. The concert, which features songs for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed choir, and orchestra, will feature music by Penderecki. Soloists include soprano Iwona Hossa, mezzo-soprano Anna Bernacka, baritone Mariusz Godlewski, and conductor Maciej Tworek, who will lead the Chorus and Orchestra of {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to showcase a revival production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The company and Theatre Museum will showcase a new exhibition “Beyond Aida: Egyptomania” on Polish stages on Sept. 8 in anticipation of the new production. The exhibition will present theatrical fascination with the culture of ancient Egypt, and above all, with the history of its last {…}
The Polish National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring six new productions and 15 revivals in opera and ballet. Here is a look at the opera productions. New Productions The company will present “Chorus Opera” with Rafał Bartmiński, Anna Terlecka-Kierner, and Dagmara Sokalska as the soloists. The production will feature music by Bizet, Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Moniuszko, Orff, Penderecki, Puccini, {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of baritone Artur Ruciński with a special gala. The concert will showcase the baritone alongside Pretty Yende on June 23. The baritone made his debut as Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” and has returned to the Polish National Opera many times in productions of “Turandot” and “Madama Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is teaming up with the Polish National Opera to bring together major Ukrainian musicians to form the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. The ensemble will be comprised of refugees, Ukrainian members of European orchestras, and musicians in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharviv, Odesa, and from around Ukraine. The ensemble will take on a European and American tour between July 28 – {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to present a semi-staged production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” Following the cancellation of “Carmen” due to COVID-19, the company will go ahead with performances. The company stated, “despite the COVID-19 absences within our team, we have decided to go ahead with the upcoming run of ‘Rigoletto’ in a semi-staged version.” The sumptuous scenery for the {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to revive a production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production, which is set to premiere on Jan. 14 and run through Jan. 23, will star Ewa Vesin as Tosca, Tadeusz Szlenkier as Cavaradossi, and Krzysztof Szumański as Scarpia. Patrick Fournillier conducts the 2019 production by Barbara Wysocka who transports the story from the year 1800 {…}