Today : world première of 'The Last Judgement' by Krzysztof Knittel in Gdansk

Today, the Opera Baltycka in Gdansk presents the world première of Krzysztof Knittel's The Last Judgement (Sąd Ostateczny), with a libretto by Miroslaw Bujko.

(c) Tomasz Paczos

It is the composer's second opera after The Heartpiece - Double Opera (composed with John King, 1999).

The opera tells the gruesome fate of one of the eminent European paintings, the "Last Judgment" by Hans Memling. It depicts the mysticism of the origins and significance of the triptych, the struggles of its creator and its audience, who could admire it in different circumstances, historical realities and cities of Europe. The wandering of the image began with the spoils that brought it to Gdansk where it is now a permanent exhibit. (freely adapted from the Opera Baltycka website)

The cast includes baritone Robert Gierlach (Memling), bass Piotr Lempa (Arago), countertenor Jan Jakub Monowid (Portinari) and soprano Anna Mikolajczyk (Katarzyna Tanagli). Szymon Morus conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera Baltycka. Pawel Szkotak directs.

May 22nd, 2015 : two new chamber operas in Warsaw

Today, the National Polish Opera presents two new chamber operas in the Chamber Music Hall (Młynarski Hall) of the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw.

First, Requiem for an Icon, composed by Katarzyna Głowicka, with a libretto by Krystian Lada.

The opera tells a story about the relations between Jackie Kennedy and Ron Galella – the legendary American paparazzo, with a libretto inspired by historical documents and photos. (reproduced from the opera house website)

The opera should last about 60 minutes and requires flute, oboe, clarinet, percussion, 2 violins, viola, violoncello, double bass, synthesizer and electronics. Soprano Patrycja Krzeszowska-Kubit sings the part of Jackie, baritone Maciej Straburzyński is Ron, actress Marta Ojrzyńska plays Jackie's double.

The second part of the evening consists of Voyager, a 'romantic opera' by Sławomir Kupczak, with a libretto by Michał Borczuch.

The opera’s libretto focuses on a utopian vision of the journey and the loneliness of the man behind the Voyager Golden Records project. Rysa, the protagonist, follows the probe’s flight from the Earth, feeling both disappointed with the whole undertaking and longing metaphysically for the traces of human civilisation flying away into emptiness. The idea here is to take NASA’s mission out of its spectacular, state-of-the art context and present it from the perspective of a human being, for whom outer space, its scale and time, are impossible to grasp or imagine. It is a juxtaposition of cosmic journey with the limits of terrestrial life. (reproduced from the opera house website)

Michał Sławecki sings the part of Rysa and Artur Janda is the Curator.

Bassem Akiki conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, and Michał Borczuch directs.

Wanted ! 2014-2015 season programs of opera houses

To complete my collection, I am still expecting paper copies of the 2014-2015 season program for the following opera houses :

- Canada : Calgary, Victoria (BC) ;
- Croatia : Zagreb ;
- Finland : Helsinki ;
- France : Caen, Compiègne, Lille, Monte-Carlo, Montpellier, Reims ;
- Germany : Staatstheater Darmstad, Theater Erfurt, Mittelsächsisches Theater Freiberg, Theater Magdeburg, Staatstheater Nürnberg, Opernhaus Wuppertal ;
- Hungary : Budapest ;
- Italy : Bari, Bolzano, Cagliari, Catania, Firenze, Genova, Milano, Palermo, Parma, Roma, Trieste, Venezia ;
- Latvia : Riga ;
- Netherlands : Enschede, Maastricht ;
- Poland : Warsaw ;
- Portugal : Lisboa ;
- Slovenia : Ljubljana ;
- Switzerland, Bern : Konzert Theater ;
- USA : Anchorage, Central City, Charlotte (Opera Carolina), Dallas, Denver (Opera Colorado), Detroit (Michigan Opera Theatre), Honolulu (Hawaii Opera Theatre), Houston, Indianapolis, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Louisville (Kentucky Opera), Miami (Florida Grand Opera), Milwaukee (Florentine Opera Company), Minneapolis (Minnesota Opera), New Orleans, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, Saint Louis, San Diego, Sarasota, Washington (DC).

I hope I will receive them before the end of the year. I guess I will have to write to them again.