The Moniuszko bicentenary celebrations were officially opened on Saturday, 5 January 2019 by Professor Piotr Gliński, Poland's deputy PM and culture minister and Waldemar Dąbrowski, general manager of the Polish National Opera who the minister appointed his representative in charge of the bicentenary programme. Held, at the Teart Wielki, the home of the Polish National Opera and the Polish National Ballet, the opening gala featured a concert performance of Moniuszko's Halka sung in Italian. Fabio Biondi led international soloists, the Europa Galante orchestra and the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir in a historically-informed rendition of the opera. Previously, the work was performed in this version last year's Chopin and his Europe Festival in Warsaw. A recording of that performance will be released on 15 February 2019 by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute. More on www.nifc.pl.

Cast:
Tina Gorina Faz – Halka
Monika Ledzion-Porczyńska – Zofia / Sofia
Matheus Pompeu – Jontek
Robert Gierlach – Janusz / Gianni
Rafał Siwek – Stolnik / Alberto
Karol Kozłowski – Young Man

Choir soloists:
Mateusz Stachura – Dziemba / Gemba
Kiryll Lepay – Dudarz / Zampognaro, Gość / Contadino
Paweł Cichoński - Gość / Contadino

Fabio Biondi – conductor
Europa Galante
Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir
Violetta Bielecka – chorus master

(photo: Łukasz Kowalski)