Krynica-Zdrój invites opera lovers for the 58th edition of the “boy from Sosnowiec” – Jan Kiepura Festival
Since 1967, the festival has celebrated the memory of the outstanding Polish tenor Jan Kiepura (1902–1966). At the height of his fame in the 1930s, the singer decided to build a guesthouse called “Patria” in Krynica-Zdrój. At the time, he had no idea the investment would forever link his name with the famous spa town. This year’s 58th edition of the festival will run for eight days – from August 9th until August 16th.
Although the event traditionally focuses on operetta and musical theatre repertoire, this year’s program includes two full-scale operas. It features “Aida” (August 10) and “The Haunted Manor” (August 15), both performed by the Kraków Opera. These operatic works, which require a large orchestra, choir, ballet, and soloists, will be staged in The Main Pump Room, the main venue for the evening shows. Due to its technical limitations, the performances will likely be adapted versions of the Kraków Opera’s original productions.
Rounding out the lineup of full-scale performances will be a production of Franz Lehár’s operetta “The Land of Smiles”, presented by the Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theatre in Warsaw. The final concert will be performed by the Silesian Opera, featuring soloists Ruslana Koval, Aleksandra Orłowska, and Stanislav Kuflyuk. Additionally, on August 13, the choir and orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Kraków will perform the zarzuela “La tabernera del puerto.”
The program of the festival features four events per day. Evening concerts and performances will take place in the Main Pump Room, while outdoor events will be held along the Krynica promenade. Other festival events will be hosted at the amphitheatre at Nikifor Krynicki Street.
The Opening Concert on the first day of the festival (August 9) will feature the Orchestra and Choir of the Kraków Philharmonic, along with soloists Edyta Piasecka, Monika Korybalska, Tadeusz Szlenkier, and Wojciech Gierlach. The concert will be conducted by Piotr Sułkowski.
The evening concert (August 11), featuring Grażyna Brodzińska, Łukasz Gaj, Ewelina Szybilska, and Anna Sokołowska-Alabrudzińska, as well as the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Orchestra from Kraków under the direction of Sławomir Chrzanowski, will showcase the repertoire of Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth. Another tribute to Jan Kiepura’s repertoire will be a concert (August 12) featuring four tenors: Adam Sobierajski, Adam Zdunikowski, Tomasz Kuk, and Łukasz Gaj, accompanied by the Adam Wroński Krynica Zdroj Spa Orchestra, conducted by Sławomir Chrzanowski.
Afternoon concerts at the Amphitheater include:
“An Afternoon with Strauss” (August 10), performed by Barbara Mościcka, Michał Ryguła, and Jacek Jaskuła, accompanied by the Strauss Ensemble under the direction of Artur Jaroń.
“An Afternoon with Czardas” (August 13), featuring Vadim Brodski (violin), Ewelina Szybilska (soprano), and the Adam Wroński Krynica Zdroj Spa Orchestra.
“An Afternoon with Kálmán” (August 16), with performances by Iwona Socha and Adam Szerszeń, accompanied by the Krynica Zdroj Spa Orchestra.
The host of the 58th Jan Kiepura Festival is the City of Krynica-Zdrój. The event is organized by the Cultural Center in Krynica-Zdrój in cooperation with the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Kraków, the Paderewski Center in Kąśna Dolna, and the Kraków Opera.
The full event program is available on the Jan Kiepura Festival website: festiwalkiepury.pl