Site-specific opera with music by Wojciech Błażejczyk, Teonika Rożynek, Rafał Ryterski, Dobrawa Czoher, Roman Padlewski, directed by Krystian Lada
D’ARC according to the concept and directed by Krystian Lada is a contemporary opera divided into three timelines and dreams, in which the heroines of this story meet: Joan – a photographer from Paris, daughter of Polish emigrants; Joanna – a Warsaw cellist and also an Uprising Fighter, and Giovanna – a French national heroine, the Maid of Orleans. What unites the characters of this story is their readiness to dedicate themselves to a vision greater than life.
Krystian Lada is a director who collaborates with the most important opera houses in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. This artist’s productions often take place in unconventional spaces, such as production halls, buildings of former hospitals or city squares. Specially for the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Krystian Lada creates a production that encompasses the museum space, as well as the museum’s Freedom Park and the nearby architecture, in which Warsaw’s Wola becomes a portal to the past and future.
The libretto for the opera is written by multiply awarded authors: Anka Herbut and Łukasz Barys. Their texts are based on motifs from the diaries of artists who participated in the Warsaw Uprising and the history of Joan of Arc. Leading Polish composers of the young generation – Dobrawa Czocher, Teonika Rożynek, Wojciech Błażejczyk and Rafał Ryterski – create new works for chamber orchestra and soloists. In addition to world premieres of their compositions, the audience will also hear rarely performed works by Julius Eastman and Uprising artist Roman Padlewski. Musical direction will be led by conductor Lilianna Krych, and among the performers will be the leading contemporary music ensemble Hashtag Ensemble.
During one evening, following the heroines of this story, viewers will visit Paris in 2024, Warsaw in 1944, and Rouen in 1429. Through the world that was, that is, and the one that happens only in dreams, we will be guided by cellist Dobrawa Czocher as Joanna, actress Agnieszka Grochowska in the role of Joan, soprano Gabriela Legun as Giovanna, and baritone Szymon Komasa as the Angel of History.
The production, organized on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, is not only a tribute to our ancestors. It is also a journey through musical and theatrical conventions, within which the creators experiment with form, structure and space.
Credits:
Libretto – Anka Herbut | Łukasz Barys
Music – Dobrawa Czocher | Teonika Rożynek | Wojciech Błażejczyk | Rafał Ryterski | Julius Eastman | Roman Padlewski
Musical director, conductor – Lilianna Krych
Director, set designer, scenario author – Krystian Lada
Set design collaboration – Łukasz Misztal
Costumes – Natalia Kitamikado
Lighting – Aleksandr Prowaliński
Choreography collaboration – Wojciech Grudziński
Director’s assistant – Magdalena Milczarska
Production – Warsaw Uprising Museum – Marta Kuźmiak (production manager) | Iwa Ostrowska | Beata Spodarek
Performers:
Joan – Agnieszka Grochowska
Joanna – Dobrawa Czocher
Giovanna – Gabriela Legun
Angels of History – Szymon Komasa | Dominik Bobryk | Michał Adam Góral | Wojciech Grudziński
Hashtag Ensemble: Wojciech Błażejczyk (electric guitar) | Aleksandra Demowska-Madejska (viola) | Adam Eljasiński (bass clarinet) | Paweł Janas (accordion) | Krzysztof Kozłowski (synthesizers) | Mateusz Loska (double bass) | Małgorzata Mikulska (bass flute) | Dominik Płociński (cello) | Olga Przybył (percussion) | Kamila Wąsik-Janiak (violin)
Match Match Ensemble: Małgorzata Bartkowska (alto) | Ewa Kijewska (alto) | Michał Kijewski (bass) | Andrzej Klepacki (tenor) | Paweł Kowalewski (tenor) | Marzena Lewandowska (alto) | Michał Malec (bass) | Konstancja Molewska (soprano) | Jakub Prasał (tenor) | Daria Sawczuk (soprano) | Adrianna Żołnierczuk-Malec (soprano)
Cellists: Nadia Bojadżijew | Dobrawa Czocher | Katarzyna Drzewiecka | Jadwiga Jaworska | Martyna Kępińska | Urszula Lalek | Joanna Marczyk | Tatiana Przybylska | Katarzyna Stasiewicz | Hanna Szczęsna
The production features the following works:
Dobrawa Czocher, Opowieść Joanny – Sonata in one part for solo cello
© Bosworth Music GmbH, Berlin
Julius Eastman, The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc (version for 10 cellos) and Prelude to The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc arranged by Clarice Jensen. Performances take place with permission from G.SCHIRMER INC.
Co-financed by ZAW STOART
Museum Patron: PZU
Strategic Partner: PGE Group