Mrożek on stage: students’ perspective on “The Cynologist in Doubt”
“The Cynologist in Doubt” is a one-act comic opera by Henryk Czyż, set to a libretto by Sławomir Mrożek. The story follows the Cynologist, a dog keeper at the Society of Friends of Some Animals, who grapples with moral dilemmas and absurd situations. He falls in love with the Friend of Birds, and his unrequited passion sparks a series of comedic episodes. The opera premiered in 1967 at the Municipal Music Theatre – Opera and Operetta in Kraków, under Czyż’s own musical direction. Subsequent notable productions include the 1989 staging at the Chamber Stage of the Museum of the History of the City of Łódź, directed by Bogusław Danielewski, and a 1993 performance at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, directed by Jarosław Kilian.
In order to bring contemporary music—rarely featured in academic curricula—closer to students, the Opera Enthusiasts’ Scientific Circle at the Academy of Music in Łódź undertook a production of “The Cynologist in Doubt.” This project was realised in collaboration with artists associated with the Soul Sound Foundation – graduates of the Academy and former leaders of the Circle – who supported its inclusion in the public programme ŁÓDŹ ACADEMIC – Scientific, Creative, and Multicultural 2025, funded by the City of Łódź. Choosing “The Cynologist in Doubt” was also a tribute to Łódź, with which Henryk Czyż was professionally connected for many years. The production, shaped by the direction, scenography, and choreography of Magdalena Cieślak, Wojciech Dzwonkowski, and Wojciech Sztyk, under the musical leadership of Michał Śmiechowicz, offers students a rare opportunity to work on a complete operatic form. The Circle is supervised by the distinguished Polish mezzo-soprano, Dr hab. Bernadetta Grabias.
Who was Henryk Czyż (1923–2003), the composer of “The Cynologist in Doubt”? Henryk Czyż studied conducting and composition at the State Higher School of Music in Poznań. His distinguished career spanned both symphonic and operatic conducting, with performances in almost every European country as well as in South America and the United States. He conducted leading orchestras including the Leningrad Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic, Madrid Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Czyż’s vast repertoire gave special attention to oratorio forms and both classical and contemporary music. He introduced to Polish opera and concert halls numerous works by composers such as Stravinsky, Honegger, and Debussy. Between 1966 and 1969, he collaborated closely with Krzysztof Penderecki, conducting the world premieres of “Passion,” “Dies irae,” and “The Devils of Loudun.”
Who? What? Where? When?
“The Cynologist in Doubt” by Henryk Czyż
Performances: September 24 and 25, 2025
Venue: Concert Hall of the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź