The event is dedicated to Moniuszko, dubbed “the father of Polish national opera”.
Two Poles in the finals
The finalists include three singers from Ukraine, two from Poland (soprano Zuzanna Nalewajek and baritone Szymon Mechliński), and one each from Croatia, Armenia, China, the South African Republic, the United States, Mexico and New Zealand.
The programme of Saturday’s final stage comprises two arias, one each from Polish and non-Polish repertoire, performed with the accompaniment of the orchestra of Warsaw’s National Opera.
In addition to the Grand Prix and the cash prize of EUR 15,000, three prizes will be awarded in the female and male voice categories.
The winners will be decided by an international panel of judges, chaired by John Allison, editor of Opera magazine.
Also sitting on the jury are Paul Hopper, Associate Artistic Administrator of the Metropolitan Opera in New York; Peter Mario Katona, Casting Director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; and Roberto Mauro of the Canadian Opera Company; as well as prominent Polish singers: Ewa Podleś, Olga Pasiecznik and Mariusz Kwiecień.
This year’s event coincides with the 150th anniversary of Moniuszko’s death. It was contested by 97 singers from 28 countries.
All auditions were streamed live on vod.teatrwielki.pl. The final stage will also be broadcast by operavision.eu, Poland’s state-run TVP Kultura channel and Polish Radio 2.
The competition
The Moniuszko Competition was launched in 1992 by Polish soprano and opera director Maria Fołtyn, who did much to promote Moniuszko’s operas on the international scene. She died in 2012.
Held every three years, the Moniuszko Competition is one of the most prestigious events of its kind. It has been a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 2019.
The father of Polish national opera
Best known for his operas: The Haunted Manor, Halka, The Raftsman, The Countess, and Verbum Nobile, Moniuszko also wrote several operettas, over 250 songs, mass cycles, cantatas, and chamber compositions.
(mk/pm)
Source: teatrwielki.pl, operavision.eu, polskieradio.pl