This production of Beethoven’s only opera, described by the Met as the composer’s “stirring paean to freedom,” has been praised by critics for its moving story of sacrifice, courage, love, as well as freedom, injustice, and human dignity. It tells the story of a woman who, disguised as a man, saves her husband from the clutches of tyranny.
Konieczny was joined by Lise Davidsen (Leonore), David Butt Philip (Florestan), and René Pape (Rocco). A critic for Opera Wire wrote: “Vocally, no one was more consistent than Tomasz Konieczny as Pizarro. He was aggressive, crude, and his voice always expressed a demonic confidence throughout ‘Ha, welch ein Augenblick.’ That cruelty was also on display in all of his interactions with Rocco; you always sensed who was in control. But with Konieczny, there was a certain magnetism, his imposing presence further accentuating the dramatic stakes.”
The Opera Wire critic added: “In the confrontation with Leonore and Florestan, the bass-baritone poured out his voice with abandon, matching Davidsen moment for moment, the two resounding in the space. But from there, his potency crumbled, and his body language depicted none of the pride or confidence from the early scenes. He looked beaten, disheveled, and cowardly.”
According to The New York Times, “Tomasz Konieczny had a loud, reverberating speaking voice, similarly penetrating when he sang, that slowly revealed itself as posturing bluster; he remains one of the great acting talents at the Met.”
According to the Polish state news agency PAP, New York critics are captivated by Tomasz Konieczny's performance at the Metropolitan Opera (photo: PAP screen grab)
In an interview with the Polish state news agency PAP, Konieczny said that the vocal parts in Beethoven’s music, including in the Ninth Symphony and Fidelio, pose special demands on performers, both technically and vocally.
“What makes the part of Pizarro particularly difficult is his one-dimensional character. He is a villain from start to finish, and it requires great effort to imbue Pizarro with depth and add some elements of humor, grotesque or fascination,” Konieczny said.
There are two more performances of Fidelio this week, on Wednesday and Saturday. The latter will be transmitted globally in the Met: Live in HD series.
In the 2025/26 Metropolitan Opera season, Tomasz Konieczny will appear as Kurwenal in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and as Mandryka in Richard Strauss’ Arabella.
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Source: PAP/The New York Times