The production is directed by Mariusz Treliński, Artistic Director of the National Opera in Warsaw, and Poland’s Łukasz Borowicz conducts the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien.
The part of Halka is sung by American soprano Corinne Winters. She is partnered by two world-famous Polish singers, tenor Piotr Beczała as Jontek and baritone Tomasz Konieczny as Janusz.
The opera is sung in Polish with German surtitles. It is a co-production with Warsaw’s National Opera, where “Halka” is to premiered on February 11.
The Vienna production of “Halka” is one of the highlights of Moniuszko Year, with a wide range of events marking the bicentenary of the composer’s birth.
Premiered in Warsaw in January 1858, “Halka” is considered one of the greatest works by the father of Polish national opera.
A tale of jealousy and sacrifice, it tells the story of the highlander girl Halka, who is loved by Jontek, a boy from her village, but is seduced by the nobleman Janusz, who abandons her when she becomes pregnant.
In addition to “Halka”, the output of Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) includes the operas “The Haunted Manor”, “The Countess”, “Verbum Nobile”, several operettas, over 250 songs, religious works, and chamber compositions.
(mk/pk)