St Brigid’s Day: Songs of Celebration

PERFORMERS

Artists from Ireland:
Ava Dodd – soprano
Aebh Kelly – mezzo-soprano
Dearbhla Collins – piano

Opera Academy singers:

Justyna Khil – soprano
Magdalena Lucjan – soprano
Iryna Melnyk – soprano
Mariana Poltorak – soprano
Sylwia Ziółkowska – soprano
Zuzanna Nalewajek – mezzo-soprano
Natalia Tepla – mezzo-soprano

Opera Academy pianists: Klara Janus, Rozalia Kierc, Olha Kozlan, Gabriela Lasota, Natalia Pawlaszek, Daria Siemianowska, Weronika Staszek

In Ireland, 1 February marks the celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde, St Brigid’s Day.
 
1 February has ancient roots. It was originally celebrated as a pagan festival called Imbolc, marking the midpoint between the winter equinox and spring solstice, and the arrival of longer, warmer days. It is a perhaps a mark of Irish optimism that the day still marks the start of Spring in Ireland!
 
The day then acquired a religious significance, as the Feast Day of St Brigid. St Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints, and 2024 year marks 1500 years since her death. On this day Irish people collected reeds and fashioned them into traditional St Brigid’s crosses.
 
In recent years 1 February has acquired a new significance, as a day to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous positive role of women in our society. Since 2022 it has also been a public holiday in Ireland.
 
Over recent years, Ireland has brought St Brigid’s Day – and the celebration of trailblazing, inspirational women – all around the world.
 
In 2024 year in Warsaw, the Embassy of Ireland, together with the Polish National Opera will be celebrating the contribution of women to the arts – singers, pianists and composers. On 4 February we will stage a concert to showcase some outstanding emerging female artists from Ireland, Poland and Ukraine.
 
Join us for an evening of arias and songs, including works by female composers, as well as others reflective of the female experience over the centuries.