In a citation, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that in his performances on the world’s most prestigious opera stages Orliński not only showcases his supreme vocal skills but also acts as a true ambassador of Poland.
He added that, with music by Polish composers occupying a prominent place in his repertoire, Orliński is doing a great deal to promote the country's culture.
In his thank-you remarks during Tuesday’s ceremony, Orliński said he is extremely proud to be a Pole.
“It is an extraordinary experience to witness how foreign audiences appreciate Polish music,” he added.
Born in 1990, Orliński is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and of the Juilliard School in New York.
Over the past 15 years, he has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after opera singers, with appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the BBC Proms in London, the Edinburgh International Festival and the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.
Orliński is an exclusive recording artist for Warner Classics/Erato.
His discography comprises ten CDs, of which “Beyond” was named one of the top classical albums of 2023 by The Times.
His latest CD, “If music…”, recorded with his long-standing collaborator, pianist Michał Biel, features songs and arias by three Baroque composers: Henry Purcell, George Frideric Handel and Johann Joseph Fux.
A versatile performer, Orliński is also an accomplished model, breakdancer and influencer.
On Wednesday, Polish Independence Day, Orliński gives a recital at Warsaw’s Temple of Divine Providence.
Later this year, he is scheduled to perform in Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, France and the United States.
Established in 2009, the Bene Merito medal is awarded by the Foreign Ministry for activities enhancing Poland’s position on the international stage.
Its past recipients include former foreign ministers Władysław Bartoszewski, Krzysztof Skubiszewski and Adam Rotfeld, historians Norman Davies and Timothy Snyder, and former Israeli ambassador to Poland Shevah Weiss
(mk/ał)