Krzysztof Penderecki has the ability to build fascinating worlds in his operas. His third work for the stage, The Black Mask, transports the audience into the future, to a Lower Silesian town of Bolkenhain (now: Bolków).

The Black Mask

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

Dead End is a singular work: an opera exploring current issues, written by two prominent Polish artists, Krzysztof Meyer and Antoni Libera.

Krzysztof Meyer is considered one of the most prominent present-day composers. He was a noteworthy student of Krzysztof Penderecki, then a pupil of Nadia Boulanger and Witold Lutosławski, and finally, a professor of composition of the Cologne University of Music, now retired. As an eminent expert on Shostakovich, he penned a monograph on the composer and composed the third act of The Gamblers. A composer of mainly large-scale symphonic pieces and chamber music, he also wrote a youthful opera after Stanisław Lem’s The Cyberiad. The composer has a number of prestigious awards to his name.

Dead End

In the 2021/2022 season, the stage of the Grand Theater - National Opera was taken over by Barbara Radziwiłłówna thanks to her concert performance of Henryk Jarecki's opera. This time, an equally legendary figure will appear - Beatrix Cenci. However, while Barbara is shown as innocence incarnate who becomes a victim of crime, Beatrix is ​​her opposite - a pure heroine forced to commit a wicked act.

Beatrix Cenci (concert Version)

Blind Track is a unique work - an opera on a contemporary, even current topic, written by two outstanding Polish artists: Krzysztof Meyer and Antoni Libera.

Blind Track

Everything in Barrie Kosky’s production of The Magic Flute seems like a fairytale and each subsequent idea is a proof of the director’s enormous sense of humour: the composer must have had a lot of fun working with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s score. The red curtain opens to reveal nothing but a white screen where all the frolics will soon take place – the director will juggle elements of silent film, slapstick comedy and cartoon art. His collaborators, Suzanne Andrade and Paul Barritt, also known as “1927”, mixed film animation with live theatre. The effect is stunning. Papageno, the boisterous bumpkin portrayed here as a sad clown channelling Buster Keaton, gets drunk onstage in the company of pink elephants quaffing cocktails from flute glasses. The Queen of the Night is a huge spider, Monostatos appears as a pale vampire dressed as Count Dracula, while Pamina’s black wig with a fringe makes her look like Louise Brooks, the iconic silent film actress and dancer.

Magdalena Pluta

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 29, 2024 - Feb 1, 2025

The Magic Flute · Polish National Opera

Past events

22 - 29 Nov, 2024

The Black Mask · Polish National Opera

5 - 6 Oct, 2024

Dead End · Polish National Opera

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