The Stanisław Moniuszko Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic—European Art Centre in Białystok is the largest artistic institution in northeastern Poland. It combines the 70-year tradition of philharmonics with the modernity of opera in one place. It is the only institution in the country with a dual focus, opera and philharmonic. It is one of the most sought-after venues for meetings, congresses, fairs, and anniversaries, and a modern space for music lovers, performing arts enthusiasts, and active participants in cultural life. Since November 3, 2021, the institution’s director has been Prof. Bożena Violetta Bielecka, a choirmaster and educator of many generations of music teachers.

OPERA HOUSE

The building’s design was created by the architectural studio of Professor Marek Budzyński. Glass surfaces combined with concrete, minimalism with wood elements, are reminiscent of two other projects he authored: the University Library and the Supreme Court Building in Warsaw. The OiFP building impresses with its grandeur, lightness, and transparency of form, integrated into the cityscape of Białystok. The vegetated roof, on which stands the sculpture “Composer’s Head” by Teresa Murak, the observation decks, and the green meadows surrounding the opera house create a city park, a place for relaxation and summer sky watching. It offers a panoramic view of the city. The building’s interior, constructed of glass, concrete, steel, and wood, creates a space that blends seamlessly with the green cityscape, combining the strengths of a traditional opera house with the multifunctionality of contemporary arts centers. These are enhanced by Tomasz Urbanowicz’s enormous glass compositions, featuring musical scores from works by Krzysztof Penderecki and Jerzy Maksymiuk, among others. The Main Stage is decorated with sculptures of muses by Dominik Wdowski.

The Main Stage Auditorium seats 756, but this capacity can be expanded to approximately 850 depending on needs. The auditorium houses the second-largest stage in Poland and the second-largest pipe organ. The hall’s décor combines classic operatic design with modern forms. The Main Stage features a very high, sixteen-meter portal opening (the hall’s volume is a staggering 18,000 cubic meters). Four two-level stage trapdoors and an orchestra pit trapdoor have been installed as part of the lower structure.

The stage has a rear pocket and a side pocket located on the right side. The rear pocket houses a stage box with a revolving stage and six stage racks to facilitate the installation of large sets. The side pocket contains four stage carts measuring 3 meters by 14 meters, which are used for changing sets and stages. They facilitate the placement of the largest set elements on stage. For concerts, the Opera also has a foldable bandshell.

ENSEMBLE

The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic has a permanent ensemble of opera soloists. The institution also boasts its own Orchestra, Choir (headed by its conductor and artistic director, Prof. Violetta Bielecka), Children’s Choir (headed by its conductor, Dr. Ewa Barbara Rafałko), Ballet and Big Band. Several chamber ensembles have their seats in the building.

ACTIVITY

The rich and diverse repertoire of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic spans classical operas (The Haunted Manor, La Traviata, The Magic Flute, Carmen, La Bohème, Turandot, Easter Diptych, The Magic Flute Books, I pagliacci/Rustic Cavalleria), musicals (Korczak, The Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Vesper) and operettas (Die Fledermaus, The Gypsy Baron, The Merry Widow), as well as symphonic and chamber concerts, oratorios, recitals, interactive shows for children and music festivals. The institution also organizes educational activities, exhibitions, film screenings and popular music concerts.

The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic strives to reach a broad audience. To this end, the repertoire proper is accompanied by various other activities, such as the International Senior Citizens’ Day, the International Book Fair, the Long Night of Museums, meet-the-author or meet-the-artist meetings.

The building additionally serves as an attractive exhibition space, fit for the presentation of various types of artworks. The exhibition programme is consistently structured around music and opera. However, since operatic theatre itself is a synthesis of many genres, our intention was to present a universal panorama of arts and culture. Apart from exhibitions of opera posters, artists’ fans and other valuable theatrical memorabilia, costumes and collections of music instruments, our visitors had the opportunity to admire works by renowned painters (Rafał Olbiński, Franciszek Starowieyski, Nikifor) and the multi-cultural heritage of the Podlasie region. Last but not least, the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic takes pride in presenting Polish fine art photography. Our Gallery of Photography series has so far featured works by such eminent artists as Edward Hartwig, Wojciech Plewiński, Tadeusz Rolke, Chris Niedenthal and Tomek Sikora, Michał Heller or the creators of the Interphoto festiwal.

Cultural education holds a special place in the institution’s activities. The primary goal of education through art is to prepare children and young people for their role as future participants and co-creators of culture, hence numerous initiatives aimed at creating a new group of informed audiences. In recent years, the OiFP has implemented projects under the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage’s Accessible Culture program: Did Moniuszko Meet Chopin?, Eternal Songs: Karłowicz and Us?, and Fredro the Singer. A project financed by the National Reconstruction Plan, In the Rhythms of Tuwim: The Secret of the Great-Grandfather’s Chest.

Stanisław Skrowaczewski
Symphonic concert 7 XII 2012
Maestro Stanisław Skrowaczewski, one of the greatest conductors in the world (and one of the oldest active), a renowned composer as well, performed in Białystok for the very first time December 7, 2012. Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra under his baton played Bruckner’s Symphony no. 3 and Mozart’s Symphony no. 41 in C major “Jupiter Symphony”. Every performance of Skrowaczewski was a great musical feast, and when he directed, orchestras performed well as never before. He was a virtuoso specialist when it came to symphonical pieces, and the works of Aleksander Bruckner were especially dear to him. The public of Białystok awarded him with vivacious standing ovation.

Aleksandra Kurzak
New Year gala 11 I 2015
The New Year gala of January 11, 2015 featured a world-famous opera singers and one of the most beautiful Polish sopranos Aleksandra Kurzak. The artist performs in the most prestigious concert halls over the globe—Metropolitan Opera in New York, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London—and rarely sings in her homeland. But even though her calendar is full for the next five years, she did visit Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic. She performed to the accompaniment of Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Bassem Akiki, talented young conductor.

Gala with a Star, March 14, 2025
As part of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic’s 70th Anniversary Artistic Season, the Main Stage hosted a special concert featuring the distinguished singer Aleksandra Kurzak. The soprano took the audience on a musical journey through the most beautiful operatic works. The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk.

Artur Ruciński
The closing of the jubilee 60th artistic season 26 VI 2015
Sixtieth, jubilee artistic season in Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic was ceremoniously closed with Concert dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of Carl Orff, during which we commemorated the Munich composer by performing his most famous work Carmina Burana. The performance was graced with the presence of world-famous artists, such as Artur Ruciński—one of the very best opera singers in the world, applauded in the Metropolinan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Berlin Staatsoper, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Arena di Verona, Teatro di San Carlo or Opera Bastille. Alongside him there was an outstanding soprano Katarzyna Trylnik, a renowned countertenor Jan Jakub Monowid, and of course Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra under the baton of Michał Klauza.

Jerzy Maksymiuk
Concert dedicated to the composer on his birthday jubilee 18 XI 2016
Maestro Jerzy Maksymiuk celebrated his birthday in Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic with a ceremonial jubilee concert of November 18, 2016. He conducted the performance of his own work of 2014 Vers per archi, and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 8 in F major op. 93 and Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major op. 58. The solo part was played by a virtuoso European pianist Katya Apekisheva. The evening was crowned with a standing ovation and honourable distinction: Maestro received the Honorary Badge of the Podlasie Voivodeship.

Maksymiuk Concert | Szymanowski | Beethoven March 18, 2022
Maestro Jerzy Maksymiuk conducted the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra during a concert on March 18, 2022. Music lovers heard the master’s composition Vers per archi, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21, and Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61. The solo part was performed by the talented violinist Julia Wrońska.