Polyeucte, directed by Jorge Lavelli, written by Zygmunt Krauze, conducted by Ruben Silva and performed by the Warsaw Chamber Opera orchestra and choir, premiered in October 2010 in Warsaw. The debut performance featured countertenor Jean-Jacques Monowid (as Polyeucte) and tenor Alexander Kuna (as Neark) as soloists. In France the opera took the stage at the Theatre Capitole in Toulouse in November 2011.
The prize is an annual award given by the Syndicat de la Critique de Theatre de Musique et de Danse, established in 1877. It distinguishes the best recent opera productions. Krauze's version of the tale is thoroughly modern, with little reference to antiquity and classical instrumental motifs. Opera is a particular passion of the composer Krauze, with many of Witold Gombrowicz's works, such as Operetta and Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy, adapted for the form.
The action of Polyeucte is set the third century in Armenia, a time when the country accepted Christianity, but was still ruled by the Roman Empire. The title character is a gentleman married the daughter of the governor of Armenia. Influenced by his friend and lover at the same time, Nearka, Polyeucte converts to Christianity and becomes an ardent student of the new faith. Together they destroy places of worship in the Roman temple. Both heroes are in danger of drawing severe punishment, but Polyeucte stands ready to sacrifice his life for their faith. The authors of the latest libretto for the opera was written by Alice Choińska and Jorge Lavelli.
In a review of the opera on webthea.com critic Caroline Alexander also underlines the fact that Krauze has abandoned the classic sounds of French opera, opting instead for a wide range of percussive rhythms - marimba, bass drum, tam-tam - and various woodwinds, even an accordion. "One thinks of Kurt Weill but also to Debussy. Some rare glimpses break with the bias tone overall, including the impressive solo of Polyeucte imprisoned at the start of the fourth act for which Krauze actually decided against a tenor," writes Alexander, remarking the composer's drive to be different.
Zygmunt Krauze (born in Warsaw on the 19th of September 1938) is an award-winning pianist and composer. He has performed concerts as a pianist in Europe and the United States, performing mainly contemporary works. In 1967 he founded the Warsztat Muzyczny ensemble. For many years Krauze was involved in teaching alongside composing, lecturing on composition and piano at a number of academic centres around the world. In 1970-71 he was a piano professor at the Cleveland State University, and in 1973-74 stayed in Berlin at the invitation of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. He was a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm in 1975, the International Summer School of New Music in Darmstadt in 1976, Indiana University in Bloomington and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1978, the Basel Academy of Music in 1979, Yale University in New Haven in 1982.
Editor: Agnieszka Le Nart
Source: PAP, webthea.com