The summary of the 2020/2021 season
The summary of the 2020/2021 season
We ended the 67th artistic season of the Kraków Opera with a performance of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. This title has been permanently included in the repertoire of our Theatre, reliably attracting Kraków audiences for years – those were performances no. 122 and 123! The symbolic return to what is familiar is also an expression of hope for a permanent return to "normal" in the upcoming months. However, the past season, so difficult for cultural institutions, was not fruitless. Before we focus on our plans for the future, let us look back for a moment and make a brief summary.
Premieres
The first premiere of the season was G. Verdi's Othello, directed by Laco Adamik and under the musical direction of Tomasz Tokarczyk. This undisputed masterpiece of the opera appeared on the Kraków stage for the first time – in a semi-staged version, using the symbolic role of lights and a modest stage design. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the premiere took place in the form of an online broadcast; in order to keep the required distance between the performers, the Orchestra took their place on the stage with the Soloists, and the Artists of the Choir took their seats in the audience.
Another premiere – Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart, under the musical direction of Tomasz Tokarczyk – allowed for the participation of the audience. This is the third title in our repertoire (after Don Pasquale and The Barber of Seville) directed by Jerzy Stuhr. The Kraków staging of the masterful comedy by Mozart and Da Ponte was appreciated by both the audience and the critics; Jacek Marczyński wrote in Rzeczpospolita newspaper as follows: "The main advantage of the Kraków performance is the balance of all elements of the opera theatre. [...] Watching how efficiently the director guides the singers in this comedy (which is a particularly difficult genre in opera), it is worth listening to Mozart himself and watching Tomasz Tokarczyk conduct the orchestra, accelerating or slowing down the pace so that every vocal phrase can resound."
Another premiere – Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart, under the musical direction of Tomasz Tokarczyk – allowed for the participation of the audience. This is the third title in our repertoire (after Don Pasquale and The Barber of Seville) directed by Jerzy Stuhr. The Kraków staging of the masterful comedy by Mozart and Da Ponte was appreciated by both the audience and the critics; Jacek Marczyński wrote in Rzeczpospolita newspaper as follows: "The main advantage of the Kraków performance is the balance of all elements of the opera theatre. [...] Watching how efficiently the director guides the singers in this comedy (which is a particularly difficult genre in opera), it is worth listening to Mozart himself and watching Tomasz Tokarczyk conduct the orchestra, accelerating or slowing down the pace so that every vocal phrase can resound."
ONLINE EVENTS
In order to meet the challenges posed by pandemic restrictions, and raise the spirits of audiences in these difficult circumstances, we transferred some of this season’s events to the Play Kraków platform – in the form of a live broadcast or broadcast of a previously-recorded show. Via this platform we presented 17 different events. In addition to the December premiere of Othello, these included, among others, A November evening with the Opera as well as a special concert on the occasion of the Beethoven Year, entitled Sir Ludwig's Birthday. Thanks to Internet broadcasts, our Artists were also guests in audience’s homes during the Christmas Concert. We were introduced to a truly sparkling party mood by the New Year's Eve Concert entitled "Whoever sings is free!" The audience could hear a varied programme consisting of excerpts from works by many European composers, such as W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, Ch. Gounod, G. Puccini, G. Bizet, G. Rossini, G. Verdi, F. Lehár, V. Monti and I. Albéniz. Finally, the Radetzky March by J. Strauss and... a symbolic glass of champagne, which was not to be missed!
It was on 30th January 2021, during the live broadcast of play The Gypsy Baron, that the VOX OPERA 2020 awards took place – the winners were Jan Sady and Consultronix company. On 29th March, which was the first anniversary of the death of the great Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, we recalled The Devils of Loudun, his first operatic work. This is a title of special importance to our theatre, since its premiere (directed by Laco Adamik) took place on 13th December 2008, during the ceremonial opening of the new Kraków Opera.
It was on 30th January 2021, during the live broadcast of play The Gypsy Baron, that the VOX OPERA 2020 awards took place – the winners were Jan Sady and Consultronix company. On 29th March, which was the first anniversary of the death of the great Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, we recalled The Devils of Loudun, his first operatic work. This is a title of special importance to our theatre, since its premiere (directed by Laco Adamik) took place on 13th December 2008, during the ceremonial opening of the new Kraków Opera.
EVENTS with the participation of THE AUDIENCE
We started the season with a bang – a Gala Concert among the historic walls of the Garden of the Archaeological Museum. The soloists, the Choir and the Opera Orchestra, conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk, performed a programme consisting of excerpts from opera masterpieces well known to Kraków audiences, including The Marriage of Figaro by W. A. Mozart, La bohème by G. Puccini or The Barber of Seville by G. Rossini. The solemn Te Deum from Tosca by G. Puccini honoured the memory of Monika Swarowska-Walawska, a long-time soloist of our theatre, who died in August.
Thanks to the loosening of the restrictions, we managed to meet the audience at the end of the carnival, during the concert "New Year in Vienna – Shrovetide in Kraków." In addition to excerpts from works by composers such as I. Kálmán, F. Lehár and J. Strauss, without which it is difficult to imagine Shrovetide frolics, a passage from Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart resounded, which whetted appetites for the March premiere.
The May warming brought the time of open-air sessions – it was in the beautiful space of the Botanical Garden of the Jagiellonian University that the concerts "Mozart. La ci darem la mano” and “Choirs at Dusk” were held. Arias and ensembles from Mozart's works well known to the public, such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute, as well as the most famous choral parts from the world's opera repertoire resounded amidst blooming azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. It was only in July that we returned to the oldest botanical garden in Poland – this time with G. Donizetti's Love drink.
The last weekend of June was traditionally marked by "Arias from the World’s Operas". In this year's edition, apart from the soloists of our theatre: Monika Korybalska, Katarzyna Oleś-Blacha and Tomasz Kuk, world-famous baritone Artur Ruciński performed as well. The Opera Ballet, Choir and Orchestra were conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk. The concert coincided with a festive gala celebrating the centenary of Rzeczpospolita, so the programme simply had to include sections from Manru, the only stage work by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the newspaper’s founder.
Thanks to the loosening of the restrictions, we managed to meet the audience at the end of the carnival, during the concert "New Year in Vienna – Shrovetide in Kraków." In addition to excerpts from works by composers such as I. Kálmán, F. Lehár and J. Strauss, without which it is difficult to imagine Shrovetide frolics, a passage from Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart resounded, which whetted appetites for the March premiere.
The May warming brought the time of open-air sessions – it was in the beautiful space of the Botanical Garden of the Jagiellonian University that the concerts "Mozart. La ci darem la mano” and “Choirs at Dusk” were held. Arias and ensembles from Mozart's works well known to the public, such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute, as well as the most famous choral parts from the world's opera repertoire resounded amidst blooming azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. It was only in July that we returned to the oldest botanical garden in Poland – this time with G. Donizetti's Love drink.
The last weekend of June was traditionally marked by "Arias from the World’s Operas". In this year's edition, apart from the soloists of our theatre: Monika Korybalska, Katarzyna Oleś-Blacha and Tomasz Kuk, world-famous baritone Artur Ruciński performed as well. The Opera Ballet, Choir and Orchestra were conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk. The concert coincided with a festive gala celebrating the centenary of Rzeczpospolita, so the programme simply had to include sections from Manru, the only stage work by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the newspaper’s founder.
EDUCATION
With the youngest in mind, we continued the cycle of "Online MATINEES" – in the 2020/2021 season four episodes of the series hosted by Anna Adamus were produced. The viewers could learn the secrets of creating opera costumes and make-up, working in the Children's Choir and the backstage of the singing profession. In June, "Matinees" returned in an "on-air" version; participants in the meeting had the opportunity to visit our theatre. In the past season there were also five meetings in series "Music from conception" – music therapy workshops for pregnant women.
OTHER EVENTS
On 27th February, during the concert "An Evening at the Opera House" organised by the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, students of the Voice and Drama Faculty of this university performed at our theatre; for many of them these were their first steps on the opera stage. The young soloists were accompanied by the Orchestra conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk.
It was on 9th March that we opened the exhibition "Mozart at the Kraków Opera". The opera's Mezzanine abounded in costumes, archival posters, placards and photographs relating to old performances of works by Mozart in Kraków theatres. The exhibition could be visited during the interludes of performances and concerts until the end of the season.
The season ended with pleasant news – the Jury of the 15th Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Awards announced the nominations, three of which went to our theatre, and the winner of the Special Prize for lifetime achievement was Zofia de Ines-Lewczuk. Nominations were received by Katarzyna Oleś-Blacha (in the Best Female Opera Singer category), Tomasz Kuk (in the Best Male Opera Singer category) and Piotr Suchodolski (in the Best Theatre and Music Poster category). We will have to wait until 27th September for the results to be announced.
We sincerely hope that the next season will be uninterrupted, since it is then that we expect, among others, the world premiere of Wanda, an opera by Joanna Wnuk-Nazar, and the postponed (the third time is the charm…) premiere of the operetta Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach, directed by Włodzimierz Nurkowski. We look forward to the moment when we can meet you again in the building at 48 Lubicz St.!
Tickets for performances in the forthcoming season will be on sale from 23rd August – see the programme itinerary!
It was on 9th March that we opened the exhibition "Mozart at the Kraków Opera". The opera's Mezzanine abounded in costumes, archival posters, placards and photographs relating to old performances of works by Mozart in Kraków theatres. The exhibition could be visited during the interludes of performances and concerts until the end of the season.
The season ended with pleasant news – the Jury of the 15th Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Awards announced the nominations, three of which went to our theatre, and the winner of the Special Prize for lifetime achievement was Zofia de Ines-Lewczuk. Nominations were received by Katarzyna Oleś-Blacha (in the Best Female Opera Singer category), Tomasz Kuk (in the Best Male Opera Singer category) and Piotr Suchodolski (in the Best Theatre and Music Poster category). We will have to wait until 27th September for the results to be announced.
We sincerely hope that the next season will be uninterrupted, since it is then that we expect, among others, the world premiere of Wanda, an opera by Joanna Wnuk-Nazar, and the postponed (the third time is the charm…) premiere of the operetta Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach, directed by Włodzimierz Nurkowski. We look forward to the moment when we can meet you again in the building at 48 Lubicz St.!
Tickets for performances in the forthcoming season will be on sale from 23rd August – see the programme itinerary!
