(Credit: Mikołaj Mikołajczyk)

Famed Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień has announced that he will end his singing career due to ongoing health issues.

Kwiecień told the Polish media that he had undergone his first spinal surgery in New York, sustaining a slipped disc injury during a performance of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” at the Metropolitan Opera House. The issue reappeared after a performance of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. The baritone had to undergo a complex surgery with the implant being inserted.

“There are other problems appearing now, and my movements onstage would be quite limited in such a situation. I don’t want that,” stated Kwiecień.

The Polish bartone has accepted the post as the Artistic Director of the Wrocław Opera for 2020-21.

“I have a lot to say about opera these days. I have sufficient background and experience from the greatest opera houses in the world. I have a huge number of wonderful friends, singers, directors and conductors, whom I will be delighted to invite to Wrocław,” added Kwiecień.

During his lengthy and rich career, Mariusz Kwiecień appeared on the biggest world stages, including the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, and Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others.