Opera Wanda by Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa based on the lyrics of Wanda. Object in Six Images, a dramatic mystery play by Cyprian Kamil Norwid. The world premiere took place on 10 September 2021 at the Arcaded Courtyard of the Wawel Royal Castle, thus constituting a part of the celebration of the Cyprian Norwid Year established by the Senate of the Republic of Poland. Now, the Kraków Opera has decided to transfer the work to its stage in Lubicz Street with new set design, new costumes and extended choreography, however the music and the drama are obviously still there.
Not only is it the world's second completed and staged opera (after Antonin Dvořák's Vanda) devoted to the legendary Polish ruler, but, most of all, it will be the first opera by Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, an outstanding conductor and composer.
This work is an attempt to synthesise the legendary prehistory of the city of Kraków, the romantic works by Norwid and contemporary compositional thought. The rhythms of Polish national dances, such as kujawiak or krakowiak, clearly audible in the arias, play a special musical role, harmonising with the Old Slavic choral melodic line. The musical narrative of Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa's opera is derived directly from Norwid's text, complementing it to a certain extent.
Setting and multimedia: Waldemar Zawodziński
Musical direction: Michał Klauza
Costumes: Maria Balcerek
Premiere: 10 September 2021 (Wawel Royal Castle), 1 April 2023 (Kraków Opera stage)
