The Secret Life of Pictures

We invite you to a unique event that combines the beauty of music and painting of the Baroque era — an unusual meeting of fragments of the operas of Monteverdi, Handel and Vivaldi with the masterpieces of painting of that time. Arie and the ensemble from operas such as Rinaldo, Ariodante and Alcina, taken out of the totality of the works and the stage context, will become the canvas of the story woven around the paintings. We will penetrate the world depicted on the canvases to discover secret stories and emotions.

What did Vermeer's “Reading Letter” find out? What does Rembrandt's “Jewish Bride” think about? Who will catch the maid's slipper from the painting “The Swing” by Fragonard? Answers to these and many other questions that bother art lovers will be given by The Secret Life of Paintings.

The performance is a co-production of the Teatr Wielki - the National Opera and the Polish Royal Opera. The soloists of the TW-ON OPERA ACADEMY and the Early Instruments Ensemble of the Polish Royal Opera CAPELLA REGIA POLONA under the direction of Krzysztof Garstka will perform.

Music direction: KRZYSZTOF GARSTKASDirector and director: EWA RUCIŃSKACHOREOGRAPHY: ILONA MOLKAVideo projections: PIOTR MAJEWSKILights: MACIEJ IGIELSKICostumes and styling: ELŻBIETA TOLAK

GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDELINDA Opera tour

CLAUDIO MONTEVERDiaria Neptune Superbo è l'huom from the opera The Return of Ulysses to the Motherland

GEORG FRIEDRICH Händelaria Armidy Furie terribili from the opera Rinaldo

Aria Ariodanteg Dopo notte from the opera Ariodante

Duet of Geneva and Ariodante Bramo aver mille vite from the opera Ariodante

Agrippina's aria L'alma mia fra le tempeste from the opera Agrippina

Alcina's Aria Si son quella from the opera Alcina

Aria by Morgana Tornami and vagheggiar from the opera Alcina

The duet of Armida and Argante Al trionfo del nostro furore from the opera Rinaldo

Aria Apolla Come rosa sul la spina from the cantata Apollo and Daphne

Arioso Ginevry Vezzi, lusinghe e brio from the opera Ariodante

Ariodante's aria Scherz infida from the opera Ariodante

Aria Pena tyrant from the opera Amadigi di Gaula

Cleopatra Piangerò's aria la sorta mia from the opera Julius Caesar in Egypt

ANTONIO VIVALDISINFONIA from the opera Olympiad

Recitative and aria Cessate, omai cessate/Ah ch'infelice sempre from Cantata Cessate, omai cessate

Aria Vagausa Armatae face et anguibus from the oratorio Judith Triumphant