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The world premiere of the opera “Solaris” based on the novel by Stanisław Lem will take place on February 1 at the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS as part of the Opera Rara Kraków festival. The music for the production directed by Waldemar Raźniak was composed by Karol Nepelski. The opera is a co-production of the Opera Rara Kraków festival, the National Old Theatre im. H. Modrzejewska, the Hashtag Ensemble music cooperative and the Warsaw Theatrical Society.
In the face of catastrophe, to whom should one pray today? To one of the gods, or perhaps to artificial intelligence? Perhaps to it, since faith in humanity fails, nature, recently supposedly tamed, has begun to rebel anew, and the paradoxes of human existence despite centuries of scholarly contemplation remain unresolved? The human mind in moments of weakness suggests what it has always used − folk tales, beliefs, traditions, conspiracy theories − in new and old incarnations. This is easier, because faith in science requires time and sacrifice; there are no simple recipes here.
At the intersection of these worlds: science and faith, the practical and the transcendent, the verifiable and the intuitive, Kris Kelvin begins his journey. Science fiction, mythical Contact, the existence of an unknown civilization and the influence of inexplicable forces: all of this merges on Lem’s planet-ocean studied by scientists at the Solaris station. By analyzing its radiation and morphology, they are essentially putting themselves to the test, their emotions and past, limitations and will to survive. But what if the unbridgeable otherness they must confront actually has its source within themselves?In the opera “Solaris,” the place of traditional operatic singing is taken by singing generated using a computer algorithm, assisted by artificial intelligence and evoked by the voices of actors. Singing is also present in the form of improvisation by a vocalist, who by weaving herself into the instrumental fabric comments, as it were, on the pulsing and constantly changing sound world of Solaris. The instrumental ensemble is an integral part of the Solaristic world, and the orchestral texture is written in such a way as to flexibly accompany the stage action, in some places taking on a narrative function.
The production is a co-production of the Opera Rara festival, the National Old Theatre im. H. Modrzejewska, the Hashtag Ensemble music cooperative and the Warsaw Theatrical Society. Partners of the production are the Jagiellonian University and the Hashtag Lab Contemporary Music Space.
Creators:
music: Karol Nepelski
libretto and direction: Waldemar Raźniak
musical direction: Lilianna Krych
set and costume design: Barbara Guzik
lighting: Ada Bystrzycka
sound: Marek Suberlak
video coordination: Tadeusz Pyrczak
production coordination: Dorota Grzywacz-Kmieć, Wioletta BrzęckaPerforming:
Roman Gancarczyk − Gibarian
Krzysztof Globisz − Older Man
Adam Nawojczyk − Snaut
Karolina Staniec − Rhea
Krzysztof Zawadzki − Kris Kelvinand
Hashtag Ensemble with lineup:
Ania Karpowicz − flutes
Paweł Janas − accordion
Marta − voice
Marta Piórkowska − violin
Aleksandra Demowska-Madejska − viola
Mateusz Loska − double bass
Magdalena Kordylasińska-Pękala − percussionguest performers:
Krzysztof Guńka − saxophones
Aleksander Wnuk − percussion
Robert Dacko − cello
Piotr Madej − live electronics.
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