Who? What? Where? When? Our recommendations for July 2025 opera events
The interdisciplinary project “WINTERREISE Schubert/Müller/Baczyński” opens the Baltic Opera Festival in Gdańsk; the charismatic Venezuelan soprano Samuel Mariño gives a recital in Świdnica; the contemporary opera “Night of the Ravens” by Zygmunt Krauze premieres in Warsaw; and an exceptional concert with baritone Artur Ruciński and soprano Gabriela Legun also takes place in the capital. Here is our selection of the most exciting opera events at this year’s summer festivals.
The third edition of the Baltic Opera Festival will take place in the Tri-City area from July 10 to 16, 2025, opening with an interdisciplinary performance combining singing, dance, and pantomime: “WINTERREISE Schubert/Müller/Baczyński“. Based on Franz Schubert’s “Winterreise” song cycle set to poems by Wilhelm Müller, the piece is accompanied by the poetry of Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński (1921–1944). On July 10, at the 100cznia stage in Gdańsk, the audience will see a collective composed of Łukasz Konieczny (vocals and direction), Borys Randzio (dance and choreography), and Nikolaus Rexroth on piano. The songs will be performed in German, with Polish translations provided either as subtitles or printed materials translated by Łukasz Konieczny. The performance will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes without intermission.
Samuel Mariño, the Venezuelan soprano known for his extraordinary vocal range and perfectly honed coloratura, is capable of tackling the most demanding baroque and classical repertoire. When he first appeared at the Bach Festival in Świdnica, he was at the start of a career that would soon take him to Europe’s most prestigious stages and lead to a contract with the legendary Decca label. Mariño has performed in Poland three times at the Opera Rara Festival in Kraków (2021, 2022, 2024). Now, he returns for two concerts as part of the 26th Bach Festival. On July 28, in the Church of St. Jadwiga in Walim, he will sing two cantatas by J.S. Bach: “Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut” BWV 199 and “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” BWV 51, accompanied by the Bach Academy. Two days later, on July 30, he will appear at the Church of Peace in Świdnica, performing a program of Handel arias from the operas “Rodelinda,” “Giulio Cesare,” “Semele,” and “Lotario.” He will be joined by Capella Cracoviensis on period instruments under the baton of Jan Tomasz Adamus.
On July 14, during the 25th jubilee edition of the Ryszard Kubiak Music Gardens Festival, an extraordinary recital will take place in the courtyard of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, featuring the rarely heard in Poland baritone Artur Ruciński and soprano Gabriela Legun. Accompanied on piano by Marek Ruszczyński, the artists will perform a selection including Malatesta’s aria from “Don Pasquale” by Gaetano Donizetti, Renata’s aria from “Un ballo in maschera” by Giuseppe Verdi, Riccardo’s aria from “I puritani” by Vincenzo Bellini, the “Willow Song” and “Ave Maria” from “Otello” by Verdi, and an aria from “Rusalka”. The concert will also feature the duet of Germont and Violetta from Verdi’s “La Traviata”.
To conclude its 7th Summer Festival, the Polish Royal Opera invites audiences to the world premiere of “Night of the Ravens“, a new opera commissioned from one of Poland’s most prominent contemporary composers, Zygmunt Krauze. The libretto by Małgorzata Sikorska-Miszczuk draws on Adam Mickiewicz’s “Ballads and Romances” as well as “Dziady” (“Forefathers’ Eve”). The ballads’ characters are summoned by the Guślarz (sorcerer) and the people observing the ancient Dziady ritual. The atmosphere of mystery and foreboding is heightened by recurring motifs of tango—a dance where passion intertwines with tragedy and excitement with heartbreak. The opera will be performed on July 18th and 19the at the Royal Theatre in the Old Orangery at the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw.