Aleksandra Kurzak returns to Wroclaw
The excellent soprano rarely performs in her hometown. However, fans remember each of her concerts and shows, such as the premiere of the Wroclaw Opera with her participation – ‘Rigoletto’ by Verdi in December 2007 and ‘Figaro’s Wedding’ by Mozart in January 2009. In September 2009, she also sang at an open-air concert during the Wratislavia Cantans festival under the direction of Paul McCreesh. ‘I have a really nice memory of this collaboration’, admits Aleksandra Kurzak.
Aleksandra Kurzak (right) with her mother Jolanta Żmurko sang together in ‘Figaro’s Wedding’ on the stage of the Wroclaw Opera in 2009/photo: Marek Grotowski
Roberto Alagna for the first time in Poland
In two years the Polish opera star and the English maestro will meet again during the Singing Europe concert. ‘I’m very happy that I can return to Wroclaw after many years,’ says the artist with express satisfaction. On the specially arranged stage at the Wroclaw Stadium, Aleksandra Kurzak will perform together with one of the most famous tenors in the world – Roberto Alagna, who is also her partner in private life and the father of their almost one-year-old daughter Malena. ‘We have never performed together in Poland, and Roberto has never even sung in Poland, even though he’s just celebrating 30 years of his artistic career,’ stresses Aleksandra Kurzak.
‘Singing Europe’ in 2016
What repertoire will we hear at the Wroclaw Stadium in 2016? ‘The programme is prepared by Paul McCreesh, but it will include mainly opera music,’ says Andrzej Kosendiak, the director of the National Forum of Music and the originator of the Singing Europe project. He adds that the detailed programme will be announced next year so that choirs participating in the project have enough time to prepare. ‘There will certainly be arias and duets,’ assures Aleksandra Kurzak. ‘The organisers would like to make use of the unusual vocal potential of choirs engaged in ‘Singing Europe’, so we will think of works that would meet these expectations,’ announces the Polish soprano. For the time being, she does not want to go into details. ‘The concert will take place in two years, and that’s a lot of time. Many things can happen, and after the pregnancy I surprise myself and I see how my voice has changed and developed,’ says Aleksandra Kurzak.
Concert with a few thousand choirmen
Singing Europe is another project dedicated to the development and promotion of singing after Śpiewający Wrocław [Singing Wroclaw] and Śpiewająca Polska [Singing Poland]. It was included in Wroclaw’s successful application for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2016 and turned out to be one of its biggest advantages. The first edition of the project started in August this year. Paul McCreesh conducted ‘Requiem’ by Giuseppe Verdi, and choir parts were sung jointly by academic ensembles from Poland. Apart from the big concert, another was held at Wroclaw Market Square, when choirmen engaged local inhabitants and tourists in singing various songs, such as Queen’s hits. European choirs are expected to join the project next year, and the culmination point of Singing Europe is planned for the year 2016, with Wroclaw being the European Capital of Culture at that time.
Choirmen from various parts of Poland during the August concert of the Singing Europe project in the St. Mary Magdalene Church/photo: Bogusław Beszłej
Choirmen from Europe in Lower Silesia
In August 2016, a few thousand young people singing in various choir ensembles from Europe will arrive in Wroclaw and a few other cities in Lower Silesia for a week, or maybe even for longer. ‘They will perform in the city and in the region with their own programmes, but they will also participate in joint workshops, the choir competition and preparations for a number of big concerts,’ enumerates Andrzej Kosendiak.
The most important concert will take place at the Wroclaw Stadium. The Youth Symphony Orchestra will play with the support of the Orchestra of the National Forum of Music under the direction of Paul McCreesh, with Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna as special guests, and half of several thousand seats on the stands will be occupied by choirmen. The other half of the stands is designated for the audience. ‘With the participation of world-famous opera stars and so many young choirmen, filling the stadium should not be a problem,’ assures Kosendiak.
One day before this concert, the general rehearsal will take place at the square in front of the National Forum of Music. ‘There is an idea for having fun late into the night,’ announces Kosendiak. ‘Apart from popular songs, we will introduce classical works as well in order to prove that a party with classical music can be as good as a party with pop hits,’ argues the director of NFM.
The start date of the sale of tickets or entrance passes for the concert at the Wroclaw Stadium is not known yet. ‘We will distribute them, but the rules will be announced at a later date,’ informs Andrzej Kosendiak.
Magdalena Talik
