Name: Thumbelina
Start: 2026-04-29T13:00:00
Location: Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

The Polish National Opera is set to captivate audiences with an exciting lineup of events, offering something for everyone. From the enchanting musical tale of Thumbelina to interactive workshops like 'Touch the Theater,' and enlightening sessions such as 'Belcanto, or knowledge about opera,' the upcoming season promises to be a feast for the senses. With a variety of performances, workshops, and concerts designed for both young and old, the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera in Warsaw is the place to immerse yourself in the arts.

Discover the Alluring World of Music and Theatre at the Polish National Opera

The Polish National Opera has curated a diverse lineup of events that invite both young and old to immerse themselves in the world of music and theater. From the whimsical musical journey of 'Thumbelina' to workshops designed for visually impaired individuals, and the iconic 'Carmina Burana', these events offer a fresh perspective on cultural engagement. This article takes you through a variety of performances and experiences, each offering a unique lens into the rich tapestry of performing arts.

Exploring the Stage: A Journey Through Unique Events at the Polish National Opera

Ewa Bukała

Anna Lobedan

Magdalena Czuba

Marcin Przybylski

Przemysław Kowalski

Aleksander Zwierz

Franciszek Kmita

Jakub Gawlik

Michał Zuń

Michał Bator

Kamila Bukańska

Karolina Gębska

Polish National Opera

What's it like to work on the main stage before the curtain rises? The Open Rehearsal program is a unique opportunity for organized groups from primary and secondary schools to watch a fragment of a musical rehearsal. Artists reveal a glimpse of the performance, inviting students into their creative world.

Open trial

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

Detective Bemol will introduce children to the world of music, full of excitement and challenges. Together, they will discover the musical secrets of the Grand Theatre – National Opera, learn the sounds of instruments playing in the orchestra, and – as befits little detectives – solve many musical puzzles. Magnifying glass in hand, and let's set off on a musical mission!

Detective Bemol on the Trail of Sounds

The beloved story of Cinderella told through music and dance. We invite children and their guardians to a ballet performance presented on the Chamber Stage of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, choreographed by Antonio Lanzo, performed by young ballet students from the Roman Turczynowicz Secondary Ballet School in Warsaw.

Cinderella

Sunday concerts for families with children, encouraging entire families to experience music together. In the friendly atmosphere and space of the Redutowe Rooms, children can take their first steps as little music lovers and discover the most beautiful works of musical literature.

Big for the little ones

Joint activities for children and adults that develop their musical, dance, and artistic imaginations. These sessions help discover children's dormant talents and build intergenerational bonds. These musical activities, exploring the world of sound and movement, are led by charismatic guides – instrumentalists and ballet masters.

Family fun in Wielki

In 2020, the National Opera in Warsaw celebrated the 55th anniversary of the reconstruction of its historic home on Teatralny Square. The ambitious project of raising the theatre from ruins was completed 20 years after the war, with the grand opening of the modernized Grand Theatre on November 19, 1965. Shortly thereafter, the Warsaw Opera ensemble, including its distinguished choir, moved in from its temporary home on Nowogrodzka Street.

Chorus Opera

Simon Boccanegra was written in the 1850s, a period when Giuseppe Verdi, inspired by his growing fame, was challenging operatic tradition. It is a dark work, dominated by low voices, with a baritone as the protagonist, and no supporting female roles. The world premiere in 1857 was not well-received; towards the end of his life, Arrigo Boito and the composer made far-reaching changes to the work, and only this 1881 version achieved success on opera stages.

Simon Boccanegra

A beautiful Indian fairy tale about love whose power transcends death. Legendary ballet star Natalia Makarova staged La Bayadère at the Bolshoi Theatre , following the finest examples from St. Petersburg. She meticulously recreated and refined the original choreographic version by the great Marius Petipa from 1877, while preserving his unparalleled choreography of the Kingdom of the Shades scene – one of the phenomenal aspects of classical ballet. She created her La Bayadère first for the American Ballet Theatre in New York and then performed it several times with the finest classical dance companies. This colorful, romantic spectacle captivates with its grandeur, is deeply moving, and leaves a lasting impression. It is full of soloistic displays and magnificent ensemble scenes. It is a perfect test of the academic artistry of any ballet company, including the Polish National Ballet and its leading soloists.

La Bayadère

We invite you to a family workshop during which children and their guardians will discover the magic of shadow theatre and together travel back to the beginnings of the Polish state. In the first part of the workshop, participants will learn the secrets of shadow theatre – one of the oldest theatrical forms in the world. They will learn how to use light, movement, and simple shapes to tell extraordinary stories. They will also watch a short presentation of various techniques and inspiring examples. Next, we will recall a Polish legend – about Lech, Czech, and Rus or Piast Kołodziej – and together we will create our own mini-performance. In groups, we will design characters, create shadow props and sets, and finally present our version of the legend in the form of a shadow theatre performance.

In the world of legends

III Balcony

Verdi's last work, in the popular tradition, is a lighthearted comedy about a fat drunkard who cynically seduces two women and is severely punished by them. However, when one carefully examines the Shakespearean original and carefully analyzes the extraordinary richness of the musical motifs, one discovers a darker undercurrent to this mysterious work, which the aged, accomplished composer consciously wrote as a farewell to his immense legacy, his own impressive life, and the world he philosophically viewed as the creator's painful joke on people and their actions. Reaching this undercurrent and revealing its supreme artistic beauty seems worth departing from the stereotype of a protagonist supposedly engaged solely in enjoying the remnants of the pleasures of table and bed, and in fairground clowning.

Falstaff

A special evening dedicated to the memory of Gustaw Holoubek. Following a tradition spanning over a decade, we invite you to experience the work of one of the greatest Polish actors of all time. This time, we will explore his artistry, recalling excerpts from his great performances, recorded by the Television Theatre. This collage , composed by Maciej Wojtyszka, will lead us into a world of masterful theatre and magnificent acting, providing an opportunity to reflect on the essence of the performing arts.

Gustaw Holoubek in memoriam

A new initiative by Krzysztof Pastor, director of the Polish National Ballet, is an attempt to bridge the gap between the work of ballet schools and the quantitative and qualitative expectations of our theaters. Therefore, we have created a ten-person junior group at the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera ballet company. The members will work separately for a year or two, honing their technical and artistic skills to achieve the qualifications necessary for eventual regular employment with the PBN or another Polish ballet company. Selected juniors, primarily students of Polish ballet schools, will receive special mentoring from experienced PBN artists during this period. We will also provide them with master classes led by invited international ballet masters. They will participate in dedicated artistic programs on our chamber stage, which will then be presented in other theaters across the country, as well as in daily activities across the PBN and in our theater's ballet performances. Over time, they will have the opportunity to join the PBN company or apply for positions with other theaters.

Juvenalia 5

This is a musical tale based on Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale. A story told through songs. Whether we are little Thumbelina or the mighty Goliath, our dreams, imagination, and need for closeness, to be noticed and appreciated are the same. Our emotions and experiences have no dimensions. They are equally important to each of us, and sometimes they overwhelm us. This concert was created with the youngest audiences in mind, but those slightly older will also be invited on this fairytale, musical journey. After all, even in adulthood, there are times when we feel small. Each of us is Thumbelina from time to time and would like to live in a nutshell... A host of extraordinary characters will tell us about this in their songs, including the titular Thumbelina, Toad, Mole, Mouse, and Swallow.

Thumbelina

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