Company

Singer

Soprano

Sylwia Stępień

Galatea

Dorota Szczepańska

Countertenor

Jacek Szponarski

Acis

Łukasz Baltazar Kózka

Bass

Mikołaj Bońkowski

Polyphemus

Paweł Michalczuk

Tenor

Aleksander Rewiński

First Damon

Sylwester Smulczyński

Warsaw

Poland

Polska Opera Królewska

Krzysztof Garstka

Conductor

Stage director

Natalia Kozłowska

Set designer

Marianna Oklejak

Costume designer

Paulina Czernek-Banecka

Lighting designer

Video designer

Marek Zamojski

Muzeum Łazienki Królewskie

Teatr Królewski w Starej Oranżerii

The Chorus Of The Polish Royal Opera

The Period Instruments Ensemble of the Polish Royal Opera Capella Regia Polona

Acis and Galatea

Maria Złotek

Character/Vocal

Marta Schnura

Andrzej Klepacki

Mikołaj Zgódka

Samuel Ferreira

Małgorzata Rudnicka

Joanna Talarkiewicz

Jakub Grabowski

Paweł Kowalewski

Grzegorz Żołyniak

Public

Opera

Approved

Acis and Galatea Händel

Stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses became the inspiration for many Baroque works. That is hardly surprising, since the ancient Roman poem abounds in delightful stories full of symbolism, and the title motif of transformation gives the creators room for various interpretations. A perfect example is the mythical love story of the shepherd Acis and the nymph Galatea, which, reforged by John Gay (probably with the help of other poets) into an excellent libretto, became the basis for George Frideric Handel’s one-act opera. A new stage interpretation of this work glistening with baroque chiaroscuro was undertaken by Natalia Kozłowska.

The plot of the opera is seemingly simple. The young love each other, but their happiness is interrupted by the cruel attack of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Rejected by the nymph, the giant takes Acis’s life. However, Galatea transforms her lover into a stream with her magical powers, making him immortal. How beautifully does Handel’s music reflect the feelings tormenting the characters! On the one hand, we hear resounding love, happiness, and fulfillment, on the other – the thunders of disappointment and rage. The lively and joyful arias of the lovers crowned by the duet Happy we! contrast with the ominous chorus Wreched lovers, abounding in musical symbols – from galloping imitations to chords interrupted by rests. In the end, the enchanting sound of Galatea’s final aria, kept in a pastoral mood, brings solace and faith in the invincible power of love.

Acis and Galatea by Georg Friedrich Händel, From Polska Opera Królewska (2023/2023), Directed by Natalia Kozłowska,, Conductor Krzysztof Garstka

Credits (Cast & Crew)

Polska Opera Królewska

Krzysztof Garstka

Natalia Kozłowska

Cast

Sylwia Stępień

Dorota Szczepańska

Jacek Szponarski

Łukasz Baltazar Kózka

Mikołaj Bońkowski

Paweł Michalczuk

Aleksander Rewiński

Sylwester Smulczyński

Maria Złotek

Marta Schnura

Andrzej Klepacki

Mikołaj Zgódka

Samuel Ferreira

Małgorzata Rudnicka

Joanna Talarkiewicz

Jakub Grabowski

Paweł Kowalewski

Grzegorz Żołyniak

Crew

Marianna Oklejak

Paulina Czernek-Banecka

Natalia Kozłowska

Marek Zamojski

Ensemble

The Chorus Of The Polish Royal Opera

The Period Instruments Ensemble of the Polish Royal Opera Capella Regia Polona

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos 37

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues 6