Photos from the Operas come from the Bad Wildbad Festival and are used courtesy of Jochen Schönleber.

Łucja Jasińska

social media i public relation

media@royaloperafestival.com

Joanna Święszek – mezzo-soprano

She performs in Poland and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician, specializing in oratorio and cantata repertoire and songs. She graduated with honours from the vocal studies at the Academy of Music in Krakow in the class of prof. Agnieszka Monasterska and musicology studies at the Jagiellonian University. She cooperates with the Octava Ensemble under the direction of Zygmunt Magiera. She collaborates with the Collegium Zieleński group under the direction of Stanisław Gałoński, where she recorded all the works of Mikołaj Zieleński - an album awarded with Fryderyk and L'Orphée D'Or. She has also sung with other bands such as the Krakow Philharmonic, Górecki Chamber Choir or Polish Radio Choir.

Joanna Radziszewska-Sojka - soprano

She studied singing under the guidance of professors both in Poland and in Germany. She is a finalist of the Third International Competition of Early Music Canticum Gaudium. Her first opera performance was in The Fairy Queen (H. Purcell), and in 2016 she made her debut in the role of Belinda in Dido and Aeneas (H. Purcell) at the Grand Theatre in Poznań. She also sang the role of Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (WA Mozart), Marzia in Arminio (JA Hasse), Megacle in L'Olimpiade"(A.Vivaldi) and in 2019, she personated Oenone in the opera Hippolyte et Aricie (J.R. Rameau). For ten years, she has been developing her interest in film music by taking part in the Film Music Festival in Krakow.

Marek Pawełek – organist

He graduated with honours from the Academy of Music in Krakow at the Composition, Interpretation and Musical Education Faculty. He developed the skills of the organ playing under the guidance of prof. Andrzej Białko. In 2015, his music arrangements for Christmas carols were published by PWM Edition and recorded by the Choir of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. In 2016, he was the main organist during the central celebrations of the World Youth Day in Krakow. He took part in many organ concerts and festivals organized throughout Małopolska region. As an organist, he made many phonographic recordings of solo, choral and chamber music. Since 2016, he has been working at the Archdiocesan Secondary Music School.

Joanna Radziszewska-Sojka - soprano

She studied singing under the guidance of professors both in Poland and in Germany. She is a finalist of the Third International Competition of Early Music Canticum Gaudium. Her first opera performance was in The Fairy Queen (H. Purcell), and in 2016 she made her debut in the role of Belinda in Dido and Aeneas (H. Purcell) at the Grand Theatre in Poznań. She also sang the role of Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (WA Mozart), Marzia in Arminio (JA Hasse), Megacle in L'Olimpiade"(A.Vivaldi) and in 2019, she personated Oenone in the opera Hippolyte et Aricie (J.R. Rameau). For ten years, she has been developing her interest in film music by taking part in the Film Music Festival in Krakow.

Diletta Scandiuzzi - Tankred

Her musical career developed after her studies on many fields: piano, singing, foreign languages and Tecniche Artistiche dello Spettacolo at the Cà Foscari University in Venice. She began with solo parts as soprano in La sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) as Amina, Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro) in the role of Susanna or in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) as Papagena. You could hear her in many wonderful theatres, in many countries: France, Chile, Japan, Canada. While working on her skills, her voice evolved into an amazing mezzo-soprano. Since then her career has accelerated and she was able to create roles of Despina in Così fan tutte (All Women Do It), Stephano in Romeo and Juliet, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro) and many more.

Antonino Fogliani – artistic director

One of the most passionate conductors of his generation, considered one of the leading bel canto conductors. He started his career playing the piano and then he began his conducting studies at Vittorio Parisi at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. He was an assistant to Maestra Gianluig Gelmett, among others, in the work of Otello (G. Rossini) in London Covent Garden. He has conducted many excellent symphonic orchestras such as the National Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, the Rome Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Teatro Municipal in Santiago (Chile), the Sydney Symphony Orchestra or the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. Due to his musical sensitivity, brilliance and interest in live theatre, he has been the music director of the Rossini in Wildbad Festival - our artistic partner, since 2011.​​​​​​​

Performers:

Performances: Tancred by Gioacchino Rossini

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow: June 30, 2019

19:00

Concerts celebrating the 200th anniversary of Stanisław Moniuszko birthday as part of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival

Franciscan Basilica in Krakow: June 21, 2019 20:00

FREE ENTRANCE

SZCZAWNICA 

TANKRED

Written at the beginning of 1813 and performed in February of that year, at the Venetian Teatro La Fenice. Tancred was in Rossini's oeuvre the first stage work of a truly large format and at the same time the first that brought the young composer an authentic fame. Only five years later, it was put out on the Warsaw National Theatre stage by Karol Kurpiński, enchanted with Rossini's genius. However, it has been extremely rarely shown in Poland since that time. These facts alone constitute a sufficient reason to refresh (or rather to present) Tancred also for the Polish opera lovers today. If, moreover, to add an excellent cast of performers, a conductor and a director, specializing in Rossini music, we can be confident that the premiere of the Tancred opera seria will not go unnoticed in Krakow.

Rossini, in fact, functions in the consciousness of music enthusiasts almost exclusively as the creator of comic operas, while meanwhile, almost three-quarters of his stage work is opera seria. And if they are rarely performed today, little known, it's not because they are weaker than the comic ones, but because they are simply much less popular.

It is then worth to notice and promote this part of the oeuvre of the Italian master from Pesaro.

Tancred libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi and was based on the tragedy of Voltaire of the same title. For the Krakow staging, the performance director, Jochen Schönleber, decided to choose out of two possible endings - the pessimistic one - created once for the Theatre in Ferrara, where instead of the stereotypical, happy finale we will watch the thrilling scene of Tancred death, badly wounded during the heroic fight against Saracens. With the tragic version, Jochen Schönleber returns then to tradition, to the magnificent and original Voltaire's play, where romantic feelings are distorted by the power of authority and destroy beautiful, interpersonal relationships. The opera will be set in a specific historical time, although "given" to viewers in a modern way, with contemporary costumes, so distant from the historical ones. Tancred is a timeless tale, which despite over two centuries of its existence, touches the deepest and most vulnerable strings of human soul. As the love and power, the power and love, is like an oxymoron, two opposite values.

We are convinced that Tancred in the contemporary interpretation of the German director will be a spectacle of a great European class and will deserve the name of a stunning artistic event, confirming in us the feeling that our nature is unchanging and is not a subject to relativism over time.

MONIUSZKO

Greatness in humility

"It is not my fault that someone could be so stupid and console oneself with me after the loss of Chopin. I have never dared to put myself on equal footing with any legitimate and distinguished European celebrity" - we read in one of Stanisław Moniuszko's letters.

Such a statement undoubtedly confirms the great modesty of the composer. However, one cannot fail to notice and emphasize his great contribution to the Polish music. It is not without reason that he has been called the creator of the Polish national opera and artistic song.

The years in which he lived (1819-1872) were full of dramatic events and repressions in our country (including the November and January Uprisings). Each of the artists living at that time considered his patriotic duty to serve society through art. Moniuszko had a very difficult task - he had to observe the quality of music, gently emphasizing Polishness in it and fuelling national feelings. He wrote his songs, among others, to the texts of Polish poets, thanks to which the society not only learned about national literature, but also learned it by heart. This was all the more valuable, as on the greater part of Poland at that time, Polish literature did not fit into the curriculum (and sometimes was simply banned). Moniuszko's life was unfortunately determined by rather very poor living and working conditions. He did not have professional musicians and orchestras at his disposal. In addition, he was severely criticised for every harmonically more complicated work. In order to meet reality, Moniuszko was forced to write for the orchestras he had at his disposal and to adjust the technical level of music to the artists with whom he worked.

His works have been well known and frequently performed up till today. The most important among them are: operas, such as Halka, Hrabina (The Countess), Straszny Dwór (The Haunted Manor), numerous songs (12 volumes of Home Songbooks), symphonies (overture Bajka/The Fairy Tale) and many others.  

The concert celebrating the composer's 200th birthday, as part of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival, is unique because it will be focused on Moniuszko's religious works, which is a less known part of his oeuvre, however of exceptional beauty.

The most extensive form will be his Latin Mass in D flat major, very rich in all kinds of musical elements, ranging from imitation, through duets of soloists, to textural diversification of the text. Ecce lignum crucis is a motet in D minor from Piotremińska Mass, a splendid dialogue between a four part choir and a baritone solo, full of many harmonic tensions and dynamic changes. Other compositions are: Agnus Dei motet (with the words of Józef Ignacy Kraszewski), Benedictus, To God, Psalm 137 and two organ preludes, based on the themes from the song Kto się w opiekę odda Panu swemu (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High) and Gorzkie Żale (Lenten Lamentations).

Stanisław Moniuszko's religious music is full of inspiration and feelings. It is rich in various emotional shades and captivating with simplicity. It appeals to everyone and thanks to its clearness, it easily remains in listener's memory as the true greatness can be found in modesty and noble simplicity.

RZYM

Józef Michał Ksawery Poniatowski, an almost completely forgotten composer, the great-grandson of the last king of Poland, was born in Rome in 1816. He developed his impressive, creative career initially in Italy, then in Paris. It is not enough to mention that he is one of the only three Polish composers whose works were staged at La Scala in Milan. He was the author of 12 operas and many other works, very popular in his time. His style is very similar to the Rossini's, some researchers even claim that the Italian composer was at least inspired by the works of the Polish artist. Poniatowski composed part of his operas for himself and was endowed with an amazing, high, tenor voice; few contemporary people are able to reach his capabilities.

The F major Mass is one of the two reconstructed works by Poniatowski. This piece was written for the choir, soloists and symphonic orchestra and had its Polish premiere in 2015. In Rome, you will hear it in the earlier version - for the choir, 4 soloists and the organ.

June 23 2019, 19:00

Basilica Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome

Mass in F major by Józef Michał Poniatowski

Performances: Tancred by Gioacchino Rossini

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow:

June 30, 2019 19:00

Soloists:

Diletta Scandiuzzi as Tancred

Elisa Balbo as Amenaida

Patrick Kabongo as Argirio

Ugo Guagliardo as Orbazzano

Ilaria Ribezzi as Isaura

Claire Gascoin as Ruggiero

CAST:

Director: Jochen Schönleber

Artistic director: Antonino Fogliani

Conductor: Nicola Pascoli

Górecki Chamber Choir

Choir preparation: Marcin Wróbel

Passionart Symphony Orchestra

Accompanists:

Agnieszka Ignaszewska - Magiera

Wioletta Fluda

Lights: Adrianna Bystrzycka

Costumes: Claudia Möbius

Concerts celebrating the 200th anniversary of Stanisław Moniuszko birthday as part of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival

Franciscan Basilica in Krakow: June 21, 2019 20:00 Saint Wojciech Bishop and Martyr Church in Szczawnica: June 29, 2019 20:15

FREE ENTRANCE

MONIUSZKO

Concerts celebrating the 200th anniversary of Stanisław Moniuszko birthday as part of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival

Franciscan Basilica in Krakow: June 21, 2019 20:00

Saint Wojciech Bishop and Martyr Church in Szczawnica: June 29, 2019 20:15

FREE ENTRANCE

Greatness in humility

"It is not my fault that someone could be so stupid and console oneself with me after the loss of Chopin. I have never dared to put myself on equal footing with any legitimate and distinguished European celebrity" - we read in one of Stanisław Moniuszko's letters.

Such a statement undoubtedly confirms the great modesty of the composer. However, one cannot fail to notice and emphasize his great contribution to the Polish music. It is not without reason that he has been called the creator of the Polish national opera and artistic song.

The years in which he lived (1819-1872) were full of dramatic events and repressions in our country (including the November and January Uprisings). Each of the artists living at that time considered his patriotic duty to serve society through art. Moniuszko had a very difficult task - he had to observe the quality of music, gently emphasizing Polishness in it and fuelling national feelings. He wrote his songs, among others, to the texts of Polish poets, thanks to which the society not only learned about national literature, but also learned it by heart. This was all the more valuable, as on the greater part of Poland at that time, Polish literature did not fit into the curriculum (and sometimes was simply banned). Moniuszko's life was unfortunately determined by rather very poor living and working conditions. He did not have professional musicians and orchestras at his disposal. In addition, he was severely criticised for every harmonically more complicated work. In order to meet reality, Moniuszko was forced to write for the orchestras he had at his disposal and to adjust the technical level of music to the artists with whom he worked.

His works have been well known and frequently performed up till today. The most important among them are: operas, such as Halka, Hrabina (The Countess), Straszny Dwór (The Haunted Manor), numerous songs (12 volumes of Home Songbooks), symphonies (overture Bajka/The Fairy Tale) and many others.  

The concert celebrating the composer's 200th birthday, as part of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival, is unique because it will be focused on Moniuszko's religious works, which is a less known part of his oeuvre, however of exceptional beauty.

The most extensive form will be his Latin Mass in D flat major, very rich in all kinds of musical elements, ranging from imitation, through duets of soloists, to textural diversification of the text. Ecce lignum crucis is a motet in D minor from Piotremińska Mass, a splendid dialogue between a four part choir and a baritone solo, full of many harmonic tensions and dynamic changes. Other compositions are: Agnus Dei motet (with the words of Józef Ignacy Kraszewski), Benedictus, To God, Psalm 137 and two organ preludes, based on the themes from the song Kto się w opiekę odda Panu swemu (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High) and Gorzkie Żale (Lenten Lamentations).

Stanisław Moniuszko's religious music is full of inspiration and feelings. It is rich in various emotional shades and captivating with simplicity. It appeals to everyone and thanks to its clearness, it easily remains in listener's memory as the true greatness can be found in modesty and noble simplicity.

TANCRED

Performances: Tancred by Gioacchino Rossini

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow: June 30, 2019 19:00

Written at the beginning of 1813 and performed in February of that year, at the Venetian Teatro La Fenice. Tancred was in Rossini's oeuvre the first stage work of a truly large format and at the same time the first that brought the young composer an authentic fame. Only five years later, it was put out on the Warsaw National Theatre stage by Karol Kurpiński, enchanted with Rossini's genius. However, it has been extremely rarely shown in Poland since that time. These facts alone constitute a sufficient reason to refresh (or rather to present) Tancred also for the Polish opera lovers today. If, moreover, to add an excellent cast of performers, a conductor and a director, specializing in Rossini music, we can be confident that the premiere of the Tancred opera seria will not go unnoticed in Krakow.

Rossini, in fact, functions in the consciousness of music enthusiasts almost exclusively as the creator of comic operas, while meanwhile, almost three-quarters of his stage work is opera seria. And if they are rarely performed today, little known, it's not because they are weaker than the comic ones, but because they are simply much less popular.

It is then worth to notice and promote this part of the oeuvre of the Italian master from Pesaro.

Tancred libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi and was based on the tragedy of Voltaire of the same title. For the Krakow staging, the performance director, Jochen Schönleber, decided to choose out of two possible endings - the pessimistic one - created once for the Theatre in Ferrara, where instead of the stereotypical, happy finale we will watch the thrilling scene of Tancred death, badly wounded during the heroic fight against Saracens. With the tragic version, Jochen Schönleber returns then to tradition, to the magnificent and original Voltaire's play, where romantic feelings are distorted by the power of authority and destroy beautiful, interpersonal relationships. The opera will be set in a specific historical time, although "given" to viewers in a modern way, with contemporary costumes, so distant from the historical ones. Tancred is a timeless tale, which despite over two centuries of its existence, touches the deepest and most vulnerable strings of human soul. As the love and power, the power and love, is like an oxymoron, two opposite values.

We are convinced that Tancred in the contemporary interpretation of the German director will be a spectacle of a great European class and will deserve the name of a stunning artistic event, confirming in us the feeling that our nature is unchanging and is not a subject to relativism over time.

ROME

Mass in F major by Józef Michał Poniatowski

Basilica Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome:

June 23, 2019 19:00

Józef Michał Ksawery Poniatowski, an almost completely forgotten composer, the great-grandson of the last king of Poland, was born in Rome in 1816. He developed his impressive, creative career initially in Italy, then in Paris. It is not enough to mention that he is one of the only three Polish composers whose works were staged at La Scala in Milan. He was the author of 12 operas and many other works, very popular in his time. His style is very similar to the Rossini's, some researchers even claim that the Italian composer was at least inspired by the works of the Polish artist. Poniatowski composed part of his operas for himself and was endowed with an amazing, high, tenor voice; few contemporary people are able to reach his capabilities.

The F major Mass is one of the two reconstructed works by Poniatowski. This piece was written for the choir, soloists and symphonic orchestra and had its Polish premiere in 2015. In Rome, you will hear it in the earlier version - for the choir, 4 soloists and the organ.

Performers:

Conductor: Marcin Wróbel

Organ: Marek Pawełek

Katarzyna Guran - soprano

Joanna Święszek, alto

Bartłomiej Chorąży - tenor

Maciej Drużkowski - baritone

Górecki Chamber Choir

Presenter: Katarzyna Coufał-Lenczowska

Marek Pawełek – organist

He graduated with honours from the Academy of Music in Krakow at the Composition, Interpretation and Musical Education Faculty. He developed the skills of the organ playing under the guidance of prof. Andrzej Białko. In 2015, his music arrangements for Christmas carols were published by PWM Edition and recorded by the Choir of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. In 2016, he was the main organist during the central celebrations of the World Youth Day in Krakow. He took part in many organ concerts and festivals organized throughout Małopolska region. As an organist, he made many phonographic recordings of solo, choral and chamber music.

Joanna Święszek – mezzo-soprano

She performs in Poland and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician, specializing in oratorio and cantata repertoire and songs. She graduated with honours from the vocal studies at the Academy of Music in Krakow and musicology studies at the Jagiellonian University. She cooperates with the Octava Ensemble . She collaborates with the Collegium Zieleński group under the direction of Stanisław Gałoński, where she recorded all the works of Mikołaj Zieleński - an album awarded with Fryderyk and L'Orphée D'Or. She has also sung with other bands such as the Krakow Philharmonic, Górecki Chamber Choir or Polish Radio Choir.

Bartłomiej Chorąży - tenor

His musical journey began with the viola playing, but over time he began his vocal career. He has been developing his skills under the supervision of Jacek Ozimkowski PhD, collaborating also with Dariusz Grabowski. His artistic achievements include solo parts in the J.S. Bach cantatas and in the W.A. Mozart C-Major Mass as well as parts from the The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto and Traviata operas. He sang during many festivals, including: the Misteria Paschalia Festival, the Actus Humanus Festival or during the International G.G.Gorczycki Festival - presenting together with the Cracow Singers Ensemble the works of Polish masters of the Baroque music.

Katarzyna Guran - soprano

She graduated with honours from the Voice and Drama Faculty at the Academy of Music in Krakow in the vocal class. Since then, she has been constantly improving her vocal skills under the guidance of excellent professors. In 2010, she made her debut in the concert performance of Richard Wagner's Parsifal under the baton of Gabriel Chmura as one of the Flower Maidens. She could also be heard in the role of Papagena in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, W.A. Mozart) at the Krakow Opera. Since 2014, she has been cooperating with the IWIA Musical Theatre, where she performs in operetta performances and revues. The singer of the Nocą Umówieni project.

Maciej Drużkowski – baritone

Having graduated from the Academy of Music in Krakow, in the solo singing class of Jacek Ozimkowski PhD, he improved his vocal skills by participating in many master courses and vocal workshops conducted. He debuted in 2009 with the role of Achilla in the opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt, GF Haendel). Then he created, among others, the following roles: Schaunard in La Bohème (G. Puccini), Germont in La Traviata (G. Verdi) and numerous solo, oratorio parts. His artistic achievements include numerous radio and CD recordings, including the first ever recording of Stanisław Moniuszko's Latin Mass in D flat major.

Ilaria Ribezzi - Isaura

She began learning to play the piano and singing already at a very early age. She studied under the supervision of B.M. Casoni, a mezzo-soprano, which allowed her to continue her education at the Academy of Coro Teatro Alla Scala in Milan and in many others. Her talent was noticed during the International Sacred Music Competition, with her getting the first prize. With her amazing mezzo-soprano voice, she sang various repertoire, from early music (Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart) to romantic and contemporary music (Saint-Saens, Liszt). She performed solo parts in such works as: Stabat Mater (Vivaldi), Paukenmesse (Haydn) or the Ninth Symphony (Beethoven).

Jochen Schönleber - director

In the first years of his artistic career, after graduating from the studies at Tübingen and a scholarship in Naples, he became an assistant to the Russian director Juri Ljubimow at the National Opera in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. He also collaborated with Helfrid Foron, a theatre and pantomime director, as his assistant. He was the production manager of the Landeskunstwochen in Tübingen. In 1987-1993, thanks to his experience gained, he was responsible for international concerts and productions of chamber operas in Sindelfingen. He has directed many theatrical plays, including works by Beckett, Wolf or Schiller as well as opera artists such as Zimmermann, Henze, Rossini, Mayr, Meuerbeer and Mercandante. Many of them have been presented in a modern version during the Rossini in Wildbad Festival, of which he has been the artistic director since 1992. He is also the director of the BelCanto Academy.

Jochen Schönleber – director

In the first years of his artistic career, after graduating from the studies at Tübingen and a scholarship in Naples, he became an assistant to the Russian director Juri Ljubimow at the National Opera in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. He also collaborated with Helfrid Foron, a theatre and pantomime director, as his assistant. He was the production manager of the Landeskunstwochen in Tübingen. In 1987-1993, thanks to his experience gained, he was responsible for international concerts and productions of chamber operas in Sindelfingen. He has directed many theatrical plays, including works by Beckett, Wolf or Schiller as well as opera artists such as Zimmermann, Henze, Rossini, Mayr, Meuerbeer and Mercandante. Many of them have been presented in a modern version during the Rossini in Wildbad Festival, of which he has been the artistic director since 1992. He is also the director of the BelCanto Academy.

Marcin Wróbel - Art PhD in conducting.

In his case, the title means much more. The Artistic Director of our Festival, he has made over a dozen of phonographic recordings mainly for a cappella choir. As a result of it, he was awarded with the Fryderykprize by the Polish Phonographic Industry and L'Orée d'Or, awarded by the Académie du Disque Lyrique in Paris. He managed the International Festival of Male Voice Choirs - Krakow Spring and subsequently built the Male Vocal Ensemble of Cracow Philharmonic. He is involved in constant artistic activity, travelling with music to many corners of the world, such as the United States, China, Japan, Australia and most European countries.

Nicola Pascoli – conductor

He started with playing the piano and then studied singing at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, in the Maestro Franco Ghitti class, followed by graduation with honours from the Jacopo Tomadini Conservatory in Udine. As a tenor, he performed contemporary compositions in Italy, France, England and the Netherlands. But his musical career is not only connected with singing. He participated in the international orchestral conducting course in Milan under the supervision of Maestro Julius Kalmar. And it is conducting that has become his current passion, to which much of his attention is devoted. His enthusiasm and constant improvement of skills enabled him to conduct many great works. He has also been a choir conductor for many years.

Elisa Balbo – Amenaida

She is one of the most promising young opera singers. Her beautiful, delicate voice and passion for sacred and symphonic music have translated into many wonderful performances, appreciated by critics. Her professional, opera career began with the role of Alice Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, presented as part of the Ravenna Festival. Since then, she has been singing major roles in the operas of Verdi or Puccini. In addition, you could see her as a performer of: Anna Erisso in Maometto II (G. Rossini) or Violetta in La traviata (G. Verdi). She also sang alongside Andrea Bocelli and was a soloist during the gala devoted to Luciano Pavarotti. She graduated from the Conservatory of Giuseppe Verdi in Milan.

Patrick Kabongo – Argirio

He has been passionate about music since he was a child, but it was only during his studies that he began to pursue his passion. His dreams of singing, and at the same time an amazing musical adventure, began to come true after receiving a scholarship at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. There, under the guidance of Marcel Vanaud, he trained his amazing voice. He has already had many great roles, including: debut as Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea, C. Monteverdi), Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, WA Mozart), Jano in Jenůfa (L. Janáček), Guglielmo in Viva la Mamma (G. Donizetti) or Gastone in the opera La Traviata (G. Verdi). During the development of his skills, he cooperated with excellent teachers, which resulted in achieving a great success with the main role in Le Comte Ory (G. Rossini), followed by international cooperation proposals.

Claire Gascoin  - Ruggiero

This young French-Dutch mezzo-soprano found out in early childhood that she loved music and theatre. She developed her skills in the Radio France children's choir in Paris, followed by her studies and graduation win honours at the Paris Conservatory. At the same time, she made a debut as Ottone inL'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea). Her repertoire includes the works such as: J.S. Bach oratories and cantatas, a part in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or Duruflé Reqiuem. In addition, she had the title role of Cinderella in Cenerentoli by G. Rossini - a children's version of this story.

Diletta Scandiuzzi - Tankred

Her musical career developed after her studies on many fields: piano, singing, foreign languages and Tecniche Artistiche dello Spettacolo at the Cà Foscari University in Venice. She began with solo parts as soprano in La sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) as Amina, Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro) in the role of Susanna or in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) as Papagena. You could hear her in many wonderful theatres, in many countries: France, Chile, Japan, Canada. While working on her skills, her voice evolved into an amazing mezzo-soprano. Since then her career has accelerated and she was able to create roles of Despina in Così fan tutte (All Women Do It), Stephano in Romeo and Juliet, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro) and many more.

Maciej Drużkowski – baritone

Having graduated from the Academy of Music in Krakow, in the solo singing class of Jacek Ozimkowski PhD, he improved his vocal skills by participating in many master courses and vocal workshops conducted, among others by: prof. Ryszard Karczykowski, Dariusz Grabowski, Paul Esswood or Marek Rzepka PhD. He debuted in 2009 with the role of Achilla in the opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt, GF Haendel). Then he created, among others, the following roles: Schaunard in La Bohème (G. Puccini), Germont in La Traviata (G. Verdi) and numerous solo, oratorio parts. His artistic achievements include numerous radio and CD recordings, including the first ever recording of Stanisław Moniuszko's Latin Mass in D flat major.

Katarzyna Guran - soprano

She graduated with honours from the Voice and Drama Faculty at the Academy of Music in Krakow in the vocal class. Since then, she has been constantly improving her vocal skills under the guidance of excellent professors. In 2010, she made her debut in the concert performance of Richard Wagner's Parsifal under the baton of Gabriel Chmura as one of the Flower Maidens. She could also be heard in the role of Papagena in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, W.A. Mozart) at the Krakow Opera. Since 2014, she has been cooperating with the IWIA Musical Theatre, where she performs in operetta performances and revues. The singer of the Nocą Umówieni project.

Bartłomiej Chorąży - tenor

His musical journey began with the viola playing, but over time he began his vocal career. He has been developing his skills under the supervision of Jacek Ozimkowski PhD, collaborating also with Dariusz Grabowski. His artistic achievements include solo parts in the J.S. Bach cantatas and in the W.A. Mozart C-Major Mass as well as parts from the The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto and Traviata operas. He sang during many festivals, including: the Misteria Paschalia Festival - performing works from the Polish and English Baroque literature; the Actus Humanus Festival - performing Bartłomiej Pękiel works; or during the International G.G.Gorczycki Festival - presenting together with the Cracow Singers Ensemble the works of Polish masters of the Baroque music.

Ugo Guagliardo – Orbazzano

He is one of the most sought-after bass in Europe, performing Baroque, Classical and Bel canto music. He graduated from the Vincenzo Bellini Conservatory in Palermo at the piano and vocal class. He made his debut in 2014 with the role of Alidoro in La Cenerentola (Cinderella, G. Rossini) at the Salzburg Festival, where he was positively evaluated by both critics and the audience. He also played the title role and the part of Masetto in Don Giovanni (WA Mozart), Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte (All Women Do It, WA Mozart), Colline in La boheme (Puccini), Blansac in La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder, Rossini), Samuel in Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball, Verdi) and many more.

Marcin Wróbel

Art Director

dyrektorart@royaloperafestival.com

Mateusz Prendota

Director of the Festival

dyrektor@royaloperafestival.com

Karolina Jacek

Festival Office

biuro@royaloperafestival.com

Rossini in Wilbad Belcanto Festival - Cooperation with the Festival with an established reputation

The festival solid presence on the cultural map of Germany and Europe has been built up for thirty-one years. The festival, which the highest artistic rank is undeniable, is one of the two most important events devoted to Rossini's work in the world. Excellent CD and DVD releases (cooperation with the renowned NAXOS company). Radio broadcasts and TV. The festival takes place in a beautiful spa resort in Black Forest - Bad Wilbad (land of Baden-Württemberg). The General Director of the Festival is the well-known German director Jochen Schönleber. The Artistic Director is marvellous Antonio Fogliani, the world's leading conductor of the Italian opera. World-famous soloists.

Main Partner Witold Kozłowski

Marshal of Małopolska Voivodeship

Katarzyna Coufał

Public Relations

pr@royaloperafestival.com

SZCZAWNICA - MIASTO FESTIWALU

Druga lokalizacja Festiwalu, uzdrowisko Szczawnica, także nie jest przypadkowa. Stanowi swoistą oś symetrii dla Festiwalu Bad Wildbad, który przed laty ukształtował się w tym mieście na pamiatkę tam włoskiego kompozytora. Oba miasta więc mają rys bliźniaczy ze względu na ich kuracyjny charakter.

Polskie doświadczenia jasno pokazują, że publicznść docenia, a nawet uwielbia te kurorty, zwłaszcza w porze letniej, a wydarzenia kulturalne odbywające się w tym czasie cieszą się ogromną popularnością.

Szczawnica ma szansę, podobnie jak Krynica, rozwinąć skrzydła w dziedzinie popularyzacji muzyki klasycznej, a w perspektywie dalszej także i inne tereny Małopolski.

Mass in F major by Józef Michał Poniatowski

Basilica Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome

June 23, 2019 19:00

Performances: Tancred by Gioacchino Rossini

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow: June 30, 2019 19:00

Concerts celebrating the 200th anniversary of Stanisław Moniuszko birthday as part

of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival

Franciscan Basilica in Krakow: June 21, 2019 20:00 FREE ENTRANCE

Krakow historical links with the opera date back to 1628, when one of the publishing houses issued the first opera libretto in Polish. Since then, the opera has been enjoying an unflagging sympathy of the Cracovians, which is proven by filled to the brim opera halls .

There is no better place than Juliusz Słowacki Theatre for the premiere of the Royal Opera Festival. The opera performances took place on the city theatre stage thanks to the arrival of the Lviv Opera team to Krakow, which became regular in the years 1872-1918.

A reference to the old opera tradition of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, displaying the work of Rossini's Tancred, in addition to the 201 anniversary of the premiere of this spectacle in our country, will certainly be an apt combination of genius loci with the outstanding work of an Italian composer.

KRAKÓW

ROME - THE FESTIVAL CITY

It is difficult to find a better place than Rome that could be more associated with the opera. The city, almost from the very beginning of this musical genre, has belonged to its most important centers. It was there that in 1671 one of the first opera theatres in the world was established. Gioacchino Rossini was also related to this city for some time - he composed several operas for the local theatre.

One of the oldest Roman churches - the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere - is the place strongly associated with music, with historic interior characterized by excellent acoustics, significantly improving the quality of any concert reception. The Eternal City is therefore a perfect place, fitting into the idea of the Royal Opera Festival - combining Rossini opera and Józef Michał Poniatowski, who was born there.

The initiator of the Royal Opera Festival is the Krakow PASSIONART Association, which for 8 years and with the largest possible involvement as its name suggests, has been organizing large and small cultural projects of the highest quality.

The guiding principle of the organization is to shape a sensitive, civil society based on cultural and educational activities, as well as to support creativity, preserve tradition and popularize classical music. Thanks to its interesting and diverse forms of communication, the events organized by PASSIONART have already been watched by tens of thousands of viewers in Poland and Europe.

Many institutions have trusted us over the years: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, National Center for Culture, Institute of National Remembrance, Marshal Offices of the Małopolska, Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie Voivodships, numerous renowned festivals and cultural institutions.

The quality of undertakings carried out by PASSIONART is confirmed by numerous awards and distinctions. Two of them in particular are the pride of us. The Górecki Chamber Choir, operating at the Association, was nominated twice for the Fryderyk Award: for the album From the Church Songs by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and in collaboration with the Warmian-Masurian Philharmonic, for the album Quo Vadis by Feliks Nowowiejski.

We are convinced that our latest cultural offer will satisfy your expectations and will help building of the Małopolska Brand by a harmonious combination of a wise and thoughtful cultural product at the highest level, aimed at a sophisticated viewer, together with fantasy and flair that is guaranteed through a contact with art, especially opera.

Gioacchino Rossini TANCRED

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow, 30.06.2019

The festival solid presence on the cultural map of Germany and Europe has been built up for thirty-one years. It is one of the two most important events devoted to Rossini's work in the world and its highest artistic rank is undeniable. The festival takes place in a beautiful spa resort in Black Forest - Bad Wilbad (land of Baden-Württemberg). The General Director of the Festival is the well-known German director Jochen Schönleber. The Artistic Director is the excellent Antonio Fogliani, the world's leading conductor of the Italian opera. The world-famous soloists:

The main idea of the first edition of the Royal Opera Festival is to combine two great opera artists of the nineteenth century, Gioacchino Rossini and Stanisław Moniuszko as part of one musical project. Although both seem to come from very distant musical traditions, the core of every art, and music in particular, is pure beauty, independent of the geographical and cultural context. This is the reason why we decided to combine the reception of their works in one place. 201 years ago Rossini's opera was put out for the first time in Poland. It was opera seria Tancred. Two hundred years ago, the father of the Polish national opera, Stanisław Moniuszko, was born, and on this occasion, the Polish parliament declared 2019 the Year of Stanisław Moniuszko. Two centuries after the Polish premiere of Tancred, there will be a great opportunity to see the contemporary version of this opera, featuring world class artists, at the Julliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków. The second city of the Festival will be Szczawnica, a not coincidentally chosen spa resort for a place dedicated to the operas of Rossini and Moniuszko. This will be a clear reference to Bad Wildbad, a resort in the Black Forest, often visited by the Italian composer. Thanks to the 9-year cooperation between the organizer of the ROF, the Passionart Association and the Rossini in Wildbad Belcanto Opera Festival in Germany - an event of renowned reputation and fame in Europe, we have the opportunity to create a musical undertaking of the highest artistic and world-class level. We are convinced that the Royal Opera Festival in Krakow will become a fairly distinguished and popular event, particularly valued by music enthusiasts.