PIOTR BECZAŁA

One of today's most internationally renowned tenor was born and studied in Poland, but soon moved to Switzerland, where he began his career in the opera houses of Linz and Zurich. In the early 2000s, Piotr Beczała's name was soon recognised by audiences in all the major theatres of Europe, and in 2006 he made his debut at the San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan in New York, where he has been a regular guest ever since. His popularity is attributed not only to the sheer beauty of his voice, but also to the commitment he demonstrates in every role he performs. In addition to his extensive operatic repertoire, he is a regular soloist in operettas and choruses. Many of his performances can be enjoyed on recordings and film, and he also regularly produces thematic CDs, with his album Slavic Opera Arias being named as the best recording of 2011 by Opera News. The Polish singer was first seen at the Erkel Theatre in the role of the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto, and later performed at various opera galas in Budapest. After a series of large-scale performances, he returns to the stage of the Opera House in the intimate series of Star recitals with piano.

PROGRAMME:

Mieczysław Karłowicz:
Zawód (Disillusion) op. 1 Nr. 4
Rdzawe liście strząsa z drzew (Tearing red leaves from the trees) (1896)
Idzie na pola (It goes over fields) op. 3 Nr. 3
Zasmuconej (To a sorrowful girl) op. 1 Nr. 1.
Mów do mnie jeszcze (Speak to me still) op. 3 Nr. 1
Najpiekniejsze piosnki (The most beautiful songs) op. 4.
Pamiętam ciche, jasne, złote dnie (I remember quiet, clear golden days) op. 1 Nr. 5

Stanisłav Moniuszko: Straszny dwór – Aria with the strike of a clock – Stefan's aria from Act 3

Antonín Dvořák:
Zigeunermelodien op. 55 (Gipsy Songs)
   Als die alte Mutter (Songs my mother taught me)
   Reingestimmt die Saiten (The strings are tuned)
   In dem weiten, breiten, luft’gen Leinenkleide (Wide sleeves and wide trousers)
   Horstet hoch der Habicht auf den Felsenhöhen (Give a hawk a pure gold cage)

Antonín Dvořák: Rusalka – The Prince's aria from Act 1

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Нет, только тот, кто знал... (None but the lonely heart) op. 6 Nr. 6
Отчего? (Why?) op. 6 Nr. 5
Средь шумного бала  (Amid the din of the ball) op. 38 Nr. 3
То было раннею весною (It was in early spring) op. 38 Nr. 2
Хотел бы в единое слово (I should like in a single word)
Нам звёзды кроткие сияли (Gentle stars shone for us) op. 60 Nr. 12
День ли царит (Does the day reign) op. 47 Nr. 6

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin – Lensky's aria from Act 2

Sergei Rachmaninoff:
Сон (Dream) op. 8 Nr. 5
Сирень (Lilacs) op. 21 Nr. 5
Не пой, красавица, при мне... (Oh, never sing to me again...) op. 4 Nr. 4
Весенние воды (Spring waters) op. 14 Nr. 11