Halka (Vilnius version)

Stanisław Moniuszko

Opera in two acts
Libretto: Włodzimierz Wolski
Instrumentation and score preparation: Michał Dobrzyński
World premiere: 1 January 1848, Vilnius
Premiere of this production: 8 June 2019, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera 
In the original Polish with Polish surtitles

When an outstanding theatre (or film) director makes their opera debut, they always cause a stir. The style, experiences, and approach they bring in from the other medium to opera can produce revolutionary results. Agnieszka Glińska has been treating Polish theatre audiences to excellent, psychologically sophisticated productions for years. Her take on Chekhov’s A story without a title and The Seagull were widely recognised as masterpieces. She is also unmatched in her ability to extract black humour from Dorota Masłowska’s plays. In each of her productions, music pushed through the most caustic of lines: well-meaning critics would even say that Glińska’s productions always revolve around dance. Before making her opera debut, the director tried her hand at film musical. Can you imagine Halka without the famous Mazuka and the aria Szumią jodły (The fir trees sigh on mountain peaks)? Or Jontek singing baritone? With such an intelligent director at the helm – you definitely can, especially that the original Vilnius version of Halka is said to be more dramatically coherent. Instead of an opera evergreen, we will be served a mature psychodrama…

Cast

Credits

Chorus and Orchestra of the Polish National Opera

Dancers/performers: Magdalena Fejdasz, Wojciech Grudziński, Daniela Komędera-Miśkiewicz, Małgorzata Mielech, Aleksandra Osowicz, Gieorgij Puchalski, Stefano Silvino, Monika Szpunar, Adi Weinberg-Prejna

Sponsors

  • Patrons of Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera

  • Partners of the Opera Academy

  • Partners of Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera

  • Strategic partner of the Moniuszko Year

  • Media patrons