Time 19:00
The Royal Theatre in the Old Orangery in the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw
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“The common people, therefore, celebrate Forefathers’ Eve secretly in chapels or empty houses near the cemetery […]” – wrote Adam Mickiewicz in the introduction to the second part of the famous drama Dziady. Perhaps he himself once participated in this popular rite in which pagan customs blended with Christian tradition. It is possible that Moniuszko also had the opportunity to participate in the rite of Dziady (Forefathers’ Eve), although today it is difficult to find evidence supporting this hypothesis.
There is no doubt, however, that the composer was inspired by Mickiewicz’s poetry – in his work The Phantoms (with the original title Widma), Moniuszko flawlessly brings out the natural musicality inherent in the ritual described by Mickiewicz. The strong integration of the literary and musical elements makes this work one of the finest examples of a romantic cantata.
The first mentions of plans to set the drama of the national poet to music can be found in Moniuszko’s letters at the beginning of the 1850s. The world premiere of the completed cantata took place in the Redutowe Rooms of the Grand Theater on the second anniversary of the January Uprising – the 22nd of January 1865. The audience was delighted by the composition. In that same year, The Phantoms got an equally enthusiastic reception in Lviv. What a strong impression must such a vivid memory of the old rites have had on a nation enslaved by the partitioning powers…
The message hidden in Mickiewicz’s verses is universal, and the fascination with the mysterious rituals continues to this day. This is evidenced by the unwavering popularity of this production, with which the Polish Royal Opera inaugurated its first season.
MUSIC DIRECTOR TADEUSZ KAROLAK
STAGING, SET DESIGN, DIRECTION RYSZARD PERYT
COSTUMES MARLENA SKONECZKO
CAST
FORMER ACTOR SŁAWOMIR JURCZAK
GUŚLARZ ADAM KRUSZEWSKI
OLD MAN BOGDAN ŚLIWA
JÓZIO THE ANGEL ANDRZEJ GRĘZIAK
RÓZIA THE ANGEL ANNA PARYSZ-LIUBAJEVA
GHOST WITOLD ŻOŁĄDKIEWICZ
RAVEN MATEUSZ BURDACH
OWL MONIKA SZWAJNOS
MAIDEN JULITA MIROSŁAWSKA
THE CHORUS OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA
THE ORCHESTRA OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA
CONDUCTOR TADEUSZ KAROLAK
Duration: 1 h 30 mins (no intermission)
The seats in the auditorium are not numbered.
PLEASE NOTE: the entrance to the Royal Theatre in Łazienki Park is located in Agrykola street.
One hour before the performance as well as for an hour after it is finished, the audience can use the electric cart running between the Royal Theater and the Łazienki Gate at the corner of Myśliwiecka / Agrykola streets.
We kindly encourage you to read the rules of participation in cultural events organized by the Polish Royal Opera:
- If you are not feeling well, are ill, or had contact with an infected person – stay at home.
- Please, take a face mask with you. On entering the Theatre building, you are obliged to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose.
- At the entrance to the building, please have your temperature taken.
- Disinfect your hands after entering the Theatre building.
- Please remember to sign the Participant Declaration. If possible, please bring the printed and signed declaration with you, if not – fill it in in the Theatre, in the area shown by the staff.
- Take the seat assigned to you by the staff.
- Please come earlier – latecomers will not be allowed into the auditorium.
We care about the safety of our Guests!
- Disinfectants are available at the entrance to the building.
- At the entrance to the building, staff may take your temperature.
- The common spaces and sanitary rooms are disinfected regularly.
- Only 75% of the seats in the auditorium will be available. Persons vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 who voluntarily show a QR code confirming their vaccination with a double dose of the vaccine on the day of the event do not count towards the limit.
Should you have any questions, we are at your disposal on site of the event or at the phone number +48 500 309 424.
