Milan Kundera called Xenakis “the prophet of insensitivity”. The composer himself described his oeuvre as mathematical music. He based his compositions on non-musical structures, including probability theory, laws of kinetics, game theory, Brownian motions. Xenakis’ music is described as strongly abstract, raw, and non-semantic. Xenakis developed the libretto for Oresteia from the original text by Aeschylus, thus invoking his Greek roots and youthful memories. The work blends the sound of contemporary classical music, ancient Greek tragedy, Japanese Noh theatre with the singing heard in Orthodox churches. Michał Zadara’s directorial vision moves the action from the beginnings of Athenian democracy to the times of People’s Poland, but the essence is the same. Oresteia aims to speak about the source of our political identity, about a country emerging from a great war.

“Michał Zadara, the wonder child of Polish theatre, entered the world of opera for the first time and did what other directors of the new generation lacked the courage to do. He didn’t change the reality of the libretto, maintaining at least a semblance of compatibility between the onstage imagery and the original, but he invented a completely new story”.

Jacek Marczyński, Rzeczpospolita

“Zadara’s expansive ideas often go their own way, but when - especially in the second part of the show - the climate of the music starts to harmonize with them, theatre of the highest class is born. Credit for this is due to the French conductor Franck Ollu, the brilliant chorus of the Polish National Opera and the Alla Polacca choir, and Michał Zadara himself. I look forward to his next opera production”.

Jacek Marczyński, Rzeczpospolita 
 

Poster for the production, designed by Adam Żebrowski
Photo: Krzysztof Bieliński

TERYTORIA (TERRITORIES). A series for the Chamber Hall. Presentation of 20th ans 21st century works of opera and ballet which are almost absent from Polish theatres. Modern, sophisticated, contemporary, exploring extreme, sometimes ultimate emotional states, they are usually inspired by great works of literature, while their music does not let one easily forget itself.

TERYTORIA (TERRITORIES) is an attempt to seek new aesthetic qualities and forms of expression, to delineate innovatory veins, to release unknown visions and associations. To collaborate on the pieces, Polish National Opera invites the most interesting contemporary musical, theatrical and visual artists.

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