KING ROGER

The centenary of the premiere of “King Roger” in June 2026 prompts the commemoration of the anniversary of the presence of this contemporary opera on stages around the world. The music of Karol Szymanowski combines the features of opera, musical drama and mystery (oratory). Szymanowski's work has conquered the most famous stages and remains the most famous Polish opera work. The challenge of facing the musical material and the subject matter presented in Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's libretto prompted the creators of the world format to realize the work. In the history of the Bydgoszcz Opera “King Roger” will be staged for the first time, directed and choreographed by Robert Bondara.

In November 2025, the premiere of the production of one of the most important works of Karol Szymanowski - “King Roger” took place on the stage of Opera Nova. It is an opera that has fascinated directors and viewers around the world for years with its unusual music and ambiguous message.

The Bydgoszcz production, directed and choreographed by Robert Bondara, shows the drama of a ruler who, having everything, faces the most difficult question: Who am I really and where am I going?

The story of the eponymous King Roger is not only a story about power and religion, but above all about a man trapped within the framework of various dependencies imposed by the world and the force that breaks these frames. In the hero's life comes the Shepherd, a multidimensional figure who will not only shake the kingdom, but will also become a mirror of Roger's inner desires and fears.

Robert Bondara's stage vision combines monumentality with intimacy, creating a spectacle that takes place simultaneously on the plane of socio-political transformations as well as in the interior of man. It is a journey through order and chaos, disintegration and rebirth — to the question of whether true freedom is possible.

And although the action of “King Roger” takes place somewhere at the height of power, as Robert Bondara points out - each of us in the form of the title character can find our own desires and anxieties.

“King Roger” - an opera that moves, shakes and remains in memory. A story about power, faith and the desire for freedom in Opera Nova!