EUPHONY FESTIVAL: Kristine Opolais | Rafał Kłoczko

The world opera star for the first time in Poland — on the stage of the Teatr Wielki in Łódź!

Kristīne Opolais, one of the most respected soprano artists of our time, will perform at the opening concert of the 8th Eufonie International Festival of Music of Central and Eastern Europe. The artist, admired at the Metropolitan Opera, Milan's La Scala, London's Royal Opera House and Vienna's Staatsoper, will meet Polish audiences in Łódź. It will be accompanied by the Orchestra of the Grand Theatre in Łódź under the baton of Rafał Kłoczko.

On the stage that hosted Alexandra Kurzak, Pretty Yende, Kiri Te Kanawa, Plácido Domingo and Angela Gheorghiu, another great voice of world opera will sound. Opolais impresses with a combination of vocal artistry and extraordinary acting strength: her interpretations allow you to live any story up close, to feel the hope, longing and despair of opera heroines. This evening will be a unique opportunity to experience this art live.

The program will include the most famous arias from the great works of opera literature: Adriana Lecouvreur, Gioconday, Andra Chénier, The Power of Destiny, Madama Butterfly and Rusalka. We will hear, among others, the poignant “La mamma morta”, full of drama “Pace, pace, mio Dio”, illuminated by hope “Un bel dì, vedremo” and the captivating Song of the Weasel to the Moon. The orchestra will complete this musical world with Ponchielli's spectacular Dance of the Hours or the moving Intermezze with Puccini's Manon Lescaut.

However, the program of this concert opens up a much broader perspective. What was happening in Central and Eastern Europe when Italian opera conquered the world? How, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, did the composers of our region talk about great emotions and search for their own musical language? The answer will be the works of Henryk Jarecki, Roman Statkowski and Zygmunt Noskowski, combined with the music of Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and Zoltán Kodály. Far too rarely performed fragments of Polish operas will sound alongside world masterpieces, allowing you to hear both their common inspirations and a wealth of different traditions. Such meetings are the essence of Euphonia — a festival that invites you to discover the music of Central and Eastern Europe.

A great voice, an excellent orchestra and a program that combines beloved arias with the joy of discovery. We invite you to the evening, which will become one of the exceptional events of the jubilee, 60th season of the Grand Theatre in Łódź.

PROGRAM

Roman Statkowski

Overture to the opera Maria [9']

Francesco Cilea

Adriana's aria “Io son l'umile ancella” from the first act of the opera Adriana Lecouvreur [4']

Lyrics: Arturo Colautti

Amilcare Ponchielli

Dance of the Hours from the third act of the opera Gioconda [10']

Gioconda's aria “Suicide” from the fourth act of the opera Gioconda [5']

Lyrics: Arrigo Boito

Henryk Jarecki

Introduction to Act III of the opera Mindowe, King of Lithuania [4']

Umberto Giordano

Maddalena's aria “La mamma morta” from the third act of Andrea Chénier's opera [5']

Lyrics: Luigi Illica

Giacomo Puccini

Prelude to La Tregenda from the second act of the opera Vily/Le Villi [7']

Giuseppe Verdi

Aria Leonora “Pace, pace, mio Dio” from the fourth act of the opera Power of Destiny/La forza del destino [7']

Lyrics: Francesco Maria Piave

*** break [20′]

Zygmunt Noskowski

Prelude to Act II of the opera Livia Quintilla [5']

Alfredo Catalani

Aria Wally “In this? Ne andrò lontana” from the first act of the opera La Wally [4']

Zoltan Kodaly

Suite from the opera Háry János, part. V. Intermezzo [5']

Richard Strauss

Cecylia/Cäcilie, No. 2 from the cycle Four Songs Op. 27 [3']

version for orchestra

Lyrics: Heinrich Hart

Intermezzo to the third act of the opera Manon Lescaut [5']

Aria Cio-Cio-San “Un bel dì, vedremo” from the second act of the opera Madame Butterfly [4']

lyrics: Luigi Illica, Giuseppe Giacosa

Leos Janacek

Starodávný I, nr 1 from the cycle Tańce Laskie/Lašské dances [7']

Antonin Dvorak

Rusałka's song “Měsíčko na nebi hlubokém” from the first act of Rusałka's opera [7']

Lyrics: Jaroslav Kvapil

The organizer of the event is the National Cultural Center.

The co-organizer of the event is the Grand Theatre in Łódź.