One of the most important Polish operas – a moving story of love, exclusion, and social indifference – will grace the Main Stage of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in May. Tickets for Moniuszko’s Halka in this unique, international version have just gone on sale.

Halka is one of the most universal stories in the history of Polish opera – the drama of an individual entangled in a ruthless social order. –The idea of using Halka stems from the need to reread this masterpiece – not as a historical opera, but as a vivid, emotional, and still relevant drama about loneliness, injustice, and a lack of sensitivity to others – emphasizes Professor Violetta Bielecka, director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic. –That’s why in this new production of Moniuszko’s work, we will emphasize the emotions and relationships between the characters, rather than a realistic recreation of the world presented.

The production is being prepared by the acclaimed director Michał Znaniecki, whose previous work at the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic includes: The Merry Widow by F. Lehár and Vesper by G. Guthman. Halka will be presented in two language versions – Italian and Polish. The Italian version opens Moniuszko’s score to an international context and brings out the opera’s timeless dimension, while the Polish performance allows us to hear the work in its original sound. The musical direction of the production is provided by Maestro Fabio Biondi – an outstanding conductor and violinist, founder and artistic director of the Europa Galante ensemble, who ranks Moniuszko alongside Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. The Halka cast will feature a group of distinguished soloists, including Marcelina Román, Natalia Rubiś, Matheus Pompeu, Paweł Skałuba, and Adrian Domarecki. The performance will feature the Orchestra and Choir of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic and alongside artists from the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Ballet, the Kurpie Zielone Song and Dance Ensemble will also make a guest appearance.

The world premiere of the Italian-language version of the opera is scheduled for May 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The premiere of the Polish-language version will take place on May 16. Subsequent performances are scheduled for May 17 (Italian version), and then May 23, 24, 30, and 31 (Polish versions). Tickets for all performances are now available online and at the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic box office.