November at the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic will be marked by great excitement and artistic premieres. The main event will be the world premiere of the staged oratorio Forefathers’ Eve Night– a work inspired by Part II of Adam Mickiewicz’s Forefathers’ Eve. The repertoire will also include symphonic concerts, a Rossini opera, broadcasts from New York’s Metropolitan Opera, events for children, and two unique exhibitions.

On November 14th, the Main Stage of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic on Odeska Street will host an event of exceptional importance – the world premiere of the staged oratorio Forefathers’ Eve Night. Directed by Piotr Tomaszuk with music by Piotr Nazaruk and Krzysztof Herdzin, this work is the first oratorio inspired by a text by Adam Mickiewicz since Stanisław Moniuszko’s Phantoms.
The music was composed by distinguished composers whose artistic sensibilities converged in this innovative and deeply emotional interpretation of Mickiewicz’s text. As Krzysztof Herdzin emphasizes, Referencing one of the most important works in Polish literature was a great challenge. The most important thing was to convey the anxiety and dark, suffering-filled contexts associated with the summoning of souls. Following Mickiewicz, we sought to convey the tragic-romantic character of the whole. This is the first oratorio of Forefathers’ Eve in over 160 years – since Stanisław Moniuszko’s Phantoms, no Polish composer has undertaken such a work set to a text by Adam Mickiewicz. Forefathers’ Eve Night is therefore an artistic return to the sources of Polish Romanticism, interpreted in the language of contemporary music and stage.

The production is being created in partnership with the Wierszalin Theatre, known for its masterful interpretations of Adam Mickiewicz’s work. The Orchestra, Choir, and Ballet of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic will perform on the Main Stage of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, along with guest actors from the Wierszalin Theatre. The libretto and direction of the performance are by Piotr Tomaszuk, founder and director of Wierszalin. Krzysztof Herdzin is the musical director, Mateusz Kasprzak is the set designer, and Julia Skuratova is the costume designer. The premiere of Forefathers’ Eve Night will take place on November 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM, with subsequent performances scheduled for November 15, 16, 22, and 23.

A week after the premiere, on November 21st, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Polish Requiem will be performed – a monumental work in which the composer combines the tradition of the Catholic requiem with a reflection on Polish history and national memory. Under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz, the OiFP Orchestra and Choir will perform, along with distinguished soloists: Iwona Hossa (soprano), Anna Lubańska (mezzo-soprano), Adam Zdunikowski (tenor), and Wojciech Gierlach (bass). The concert begins at 7:00 PM.

On Friday, November 28th, in the Concert Hall of the School of Music on Podleśna Street, the audience will hear Masterpieces of Romanticism – a symphonic concert dedicated to two composers who significantly shaped the musical landscape of the 19th century. The OiFP Orchestra will be conducted by Paweł Przytocki, and the distinguished pianist Beata Bilińska will perform the solo part of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. The second half of the evening will feature Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 in D minor, known as ‘Wagnerian’ – powerful in sound, mystical, and deeply spiritual. The concert begins at 7:00 PM.
On the last weekend of November (November 29 and 30), the Opera’s Main Stage will shine with the colors of Italian bel canto in Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella, or the Triumph of Goodness. Director Maria Sartova has set the opera in post-war Poland, a time when a world full of grayness and everyday worries contrasted with dreams of beauty, love, and kindness. In this opera, full of humor, charm, and daring ensembles, good triumphs thanks to the strength of the human heart and forgiveness.

The November program will be complemented by broadcasts as part of the Met Live in HD series. On November 8th, audiences will see the iconic production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Soprano Juliana Grigoryan will perform the role of Mimi, and tenor Freddie De Tommaso will sing her beloved Rodolfo. On November 22nd, Richard Strauss’s Arabella will be broadcast from New York – full of charm, Viennese glamour, and romantic tension. Rachel Willis-Sørensen will star in the title role, and bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny will also be in the cast as Mandryka. Both broadcasts will take place on the Chamber Stage of OiFP.

The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic traditionally takes care of its youngest audiences. On November 7th at 11:00 AM, the concert Lesson in Polish Music will take place in the Concert Hall of the Music School Complex on Podleśna Street. This is a musical journey through the history of Polish music, from Renaissance dances to the romantic songs of Moniuszko and Szymanowski. Young artists will perform: students of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Faculty of Instrumental-Pedagogical Studies, Music Education and Vocal Studies – Białystok Branch. The soloists will be accompanied on the harpsichord by Anna Krzysztofik-Buczyńska, who will also lead the concert and share a word with the audience about the presented music.

The Opera Story – Discover the Secrets of Opera! workshop series will also return in November, combining a theatrical adventure with behind-the-scenes insights into the stage production (November 17th and 24th). Students will have the opportunity to see the stage, costumes, and understand how the magic of a performance is created. The educational project In the Rhythms of Tuwim: The Secret of Great-Great-Grandfather’s Chest” (November 26 and 28) will introduce young children to the poetic world of Julian Tuwim, where the rhythm of words meets music and theatrical movement.
The group exhibition Podlasie Dimension of Art. Close Art – Important Art is on view in the OiFP Exhibition Hall until November 19. The exhibition showcases the diversity of artistic approaches – from painting to sculpture and graphic art – and emphasizes that Podlasie has its own, original voice in contemporary art. On Saturday, November 29, at 4:30 PM, the opening of the exhibition God is Born… Amid the Silence of Holiness and Earthly Joy by the renowned illustrator Dymitr Grozdew will take place. The artist will present a series of drawings that meditate on the sacred, the human experience of faith, and the mystery of God’s birth in a world full of contradictions. The opening will be complemented with a concert entitled Around Christmas Carols. The drawing exhibition will be on display in the OiFP Exhibition Hall until January 11, 2026.

We invite you!