OLD POLISH CAROLS

The richness of Christmas traditions is reflected in the beautiful texts of Old Polish carols and pastorals, which not only recount biblical stories, but also convey their universal message, and the references to folk rituals embedded in them emphasize the deep sensitivity and wisdom of the common people. Together with the music preserved in the sources, the oldest of which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, they paint a complex picture of the December celebrations. This exceptional legacy is the basis for tonight’s performance, proving that the old customs that are the very foundation of Polish and European identity are still alive and well.

Old Polish canticles are rife with both scenes full of glory and truly terrifying imagery. In addition to the miraculous Annunciation, the extraordinary birth of Jesus, and the heartfelt joy of the shepherds, you will find descriptions of the expulsion of man from Paradise, the slaughter of the innocents ordered by Herod, or the horrid vision of Death bargaining with Satan. These and other themes will be portrayed in the colorful scenes that make up the performance. However, they will not overshadow the joyful Christmas atmosphere – after all, the Savior was born! Angels will sing Gloria in excelsis Deo, and maybe even dance a mazurka…

MUSIC DIRECTION KAROL SZWECH
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JITKA STOKALSKA
MUSIC, ARRANGEMENT JACEK URBANIAK
SET DESIGN MARLENA SKONECZKO
CHOREGRAPHY JOANNA DRABIK
LIGHTING DESIGN KAROLINA GĘBSKA
VIDEO PROJECTIONS MAREK ZAMOJSKI
TEXT EDITOR MAŁGORZATA KACZMARSKA
CHORUS MASTER JAKUB SZAFRAŃSKI
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS SŁAWOMIR JURCZAK, AGNIESZKA KOZŁOWSKA
STAGE MANAGER WANDA KARPIŃSKA

PERFORMERS

PROLOGUS ROBERT GIERLACH
EVE AGNIESZKA KOZŁOWSKA
ADAM RAFAŁ ŻUREK
MARY KAROLINA RÓŻA KOZŁOWSKA
JOSEPH SŁAWOMIR JURCZAK
DEVIL BOGDAN ŚLIWA
DEATH ALEKSANDRA KLIMCZAK
SHEPHERD MACIEK / HEROD’S HENCHMAN I JAKUB A. GRABOWSKI
SHEPHERD MATYS /HEROD’S HENCHMAN II PIOTR KĘDZIORA
SHEPHERD KUBA / INNKEEPER III JAN MACHOWSKI
SHEPHERD KIEPDAJ / INNKEEPER II GRZEGORZ ŻOŁYNIAK
SHEPHERD SOJKA / INNKEEPER I MAREK WAWRZYNIAK
SHEPHERD / INNKEEPER IV ANDRZEJ KLEPACKI
SHEPHERD PAWEŁ PIĘKOŚ
ARCHANGEL MICHAEL PAWEŁ MICHALCZUK
ARCHANGEL GABRIEL MATEUSZ ZAJDEL
HEROD WITOLD ŻOŁĄDKIEWICZ
RABBI PIOTR CHWEDOROWICZ
WISE MAN I LESZEK ŚWIDZIŃSKI
WISE MAN II PIOTR HALICKI
WISE MAN III DARIUSZ GÓRSKI
ANGEL I / ECHO IV TATIANA HEMPEL-GIERLACH
ANGEL II / ECHO III JULITA MIROSŁAWSKA
ANGEL III / ECHO II ANETA ŁUKASZEWICZ
ANGEL IV / ECHO I DOROTA LACHOWICZ
CANTO I MARTA BOBERSKA
CANTO II JUSTYNA STĘPIEŃ
CHILDREN ANIELA DZIERŻYKRAJ-STOKALSKA, LAURA GIERLACH, ZOFIA KACZOROWSKA, STANISŁAW KUTRA, HENRYK MYCZKOWSKI, MARCELINA PAPIERZ, DOBROMIR PIOTROWSKI, JUDYTA RUDZKA, BARBARA STOKALSKA, JAN SZYMAŃSKI

THE CHORUS OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA

THE ORCHESTRA OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA

CONDUCTOR KAROL SZWECH

---

Duration: approx. 2 h 30 min (with an intermission)

The seats in the auditorium are not numbered.

PLEASE NOTE: the entrance to the Royal Theatre in the Łazienki Park is located in Agrykola street.