The Year of Moniuszko, in which we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the “father of the Polish opera,” we shall end with a concert highlighting the most beautiful arias and duets from his works. Original, two-act version of the opera “Halka” premiered in Vilnius didn’t gain popularity. Moniuszko, encouraged by friends knowledgeable on the topic, added two acts, that featured what was later proven to be hits: Halka’s aria “Gdyby rannym słonkiem,” Jontek’s aria “Szumią jodły na gór szczycie,” and dances, such as the fiery mazur from the first act. In the Great Theatre in Warsaw, in 1858, has begun Moniuszko’s career as an originator of Polish opera. Polish national dances, especially polonaise and mazur, from village yards moved to noble manors.
Opera gala
Moniuszko’s arias and duets
Podleśna 2
Artists
Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk—conductor
Małgorzata Trojanowska—soprano
Anna Wolfinger—soprano
Joanna Motulewicz—mezzo-soprano
Oksana Gołambowska—alto
Adam Zdunikowski—tenor
Maciej Nerkowski—baritone
Violetta Bielecka—choir preparation
Programme
Stanisław Moniuszko
Overture to the opera “Halka”
“Szumią jodły”—Jontek’s aria from Act 4 of the opera “Halka”
“Gdyby rannym słonkiem”—Halka’s aria from Act 2 of the opera “Halka”
Highlanders’ Dance from Act 3 of the opera “Halka”
“Gdy będę królową”—Rokiczana’s aria from the opera “Rokiczana (The King of Peasants)”
“Bajka” Overture
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“Milda”—mythological cantata for solo voices, choir and orchestra, pt. III no. 13 “Epilogue”
“O mój dziaduniu”—Bronia’s arietta from Act 1 of the opera “The Countess”
Raftsmans’ choir from the opera “The Raftsman”
“Okropny ten poranek”—Zosia’s aria from the opera “The Raftsman”
“Kto z mych dziewek serce której”—Miecznik’s aria from Act 2 of the opera “The Haunted Manor”
Girls’ choir “Spod igiełek kwiatki rosną” from Act 2 of the opera “The Haunted Manor”
“Do grobu trwać; Któraż to, która tej ziemi córa”—Hanna’s aria from Act 4 of the opera “The Haunted Manor”
“Cisza dookoła”—Stefan’s aria from Act 3 of the opera “The Haunted Manor”
Mazur from Act 4 of the opera “The Haunted Manor”