Śpiewnik Domowy / Stanisław Moniuszko by Moniuszko, от (2022/2022), Режисиран от Andrzej Strzelecki, Sanocki Dom Kultury, Sanok, Poland

Stanisław Moniuszko – “the father of the Polish national opera”, a bard, distinguished educator, and composer, who has been awarded many honorary titles. Apart from being highly active in the professional sphere, he also led a happy family life. And, as music continued to be a source of joy throughout his life, he wanted to share his passion with all the nation. Hence, as a young man in his early twenties, he began to write songs – at various levels of difficulty – to be performed at home, as he knew perfectly well that making music together helps build the community, and that beautifully arranged Polish verses will strengthen the patriotic spirit. “My songbook will contain a collection of songs for a single voice with piano accompaniment. I tried to choose poems from the best of our poets (…) ”. This is how Moniuszko announced the publication of the first Home Songbook, which was finally published in Vilnius in 1843. Six volumes were published during Moniuszko’s lifetime, while six more were published after the composer’s death, amounting to a total of 267 songs. It was this work that Aleksander Poliński probably had in mind when he wrote that Moniuszko was a “modest village lyrist” who “spoke only Polish most beautifully”. After all, this composer had the unique ability to appreciate the beauty of folk simplicity and the natural melody hidden in the poetic text. The rich variety of pieces composed by Moniuszko stimulates the imagination. The Polish Royal Opera would like to revive the 19th-century tradition of home music-making and invite you to a gathering at the piano. You will hear beloved popular melodies, but also less known songs. The light, catchy compositions will be embellished with an intriguing narrative, as the songs have been selected in such a way as to tell an enchanting love story, created by the late and great Andrzej Strzelecki – an excellent director, actor and satirist.