Jacek Kaspszyk, Poznań Opera House Orchestra - Stanisław Moniuszko: Paria (2023)

Renowned in his native Poland, and increasingly recognised internationally as an opera composer of significance, Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872) could always be relied on for superb music drama. Despite this reputation, his final opera Paria long remained his least frequently staged. Now, however, its touching story of love, exclusion and the power of social rules can be relished in this concert version that was awarded First Prize in the Rediscovered Work category at the 2021 International Opera Awards. Conducted by internationally acclaimed Jacek Kaspszyk, and with a star cast in an all-Polish production from the superb Poznań State Moniuszko Opera Orchestra and Chorus, this is an opportunity to savour a rarely recorded work.

Performer:
Idamor - Dominik Sutowicz
Neala - Iwona Sobotka
Ratef - Piotr Friebe
Akebar - Rafał Korpik
Jares (Dżares) - Stanisław Kuflyuk
Priestess (Kapłanka) - Aleksandra Kiedrowska
Poznań Opera House Chorus and Orchestra
Conductor - Jacek Kaspszyk

Tracklist:
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872)
Paria (1859-69)
CD1:
01. Overture
02. Act I: Introduction
03. Act I Prologue Scene 1: Wśród cieniów nocy (Amid the shadows of night) (Ratef, Idamor)
04. Act I Prologue Scene 2: Chwytać go! (Catch him!) (Warriors, Idamor)
05. Act I Prologue Scene 3: Recitative: Paria! (Pariah!) - Cavatina: W lasach Orissy (In Orissa woods) (Idamor)
06. Act I Tableau 1 Scene 1: Spod gwiaździstej noc opończy zwalnia jasny dzień (From under a starry mantle, the night releases a bright day) (Female Brahmins, Priestess, Neala)
07. Act I Tableau 1 Scene 2: Recitative: Czystego ducha wznosić korne modły! (Send humble prayers from purest soul!) - Cavatina with Chorus: Słońce wspaniałe (Oh, mighty sun) (Neala, Chorus)
08. Act I Tableau 1 Scene 3: Duet: Mój drogi! - O, droga! (Oh, my dear! My dearest one!) (Neala, Idamor)
09. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 1: O, Surja wspaniały! (Oh! Great Surya!) (Male Brahmins)
10. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 1: Invocation: Braminowie, wezwałem was w ważnej sprawie (Brahmins, I have called you as the matter is vital) (Akebar, Male Brahmins, Neala)
11. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 1: Aria: Jest jedno słowo (There is one word) (Akebar)
12. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 1: Przedwieczny! Przedwieczny! (Eternal God! Eternal God!) (Male Brahmins, Neala, Akebar, Female Brahmins)
13. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 1: Co dziś postanowisz, dokonaj niezwłocznie (Whatever you decide today, enact without delay) (Male Brahmins, Akebar)
14. Act I Tableau 2 Scene 2: Idamor! (Brahmins, Neala, Akebar, Idamor)
CD2:
01. Act II Scene 1: Synu! On moim ojcem? (Son! Should he be my father?) - Scene 2: Duet: Idamor! Więc dziś jeszcze żoną twą zostanę (Idamor! So, today I shall become your wife.) (Idamor, Neala)
02. Act II Scene 3: Nealo, Nealo! Czemuś ty nie z nami? (Neala! Why are you not with us?) (Female Brahmins, Neala)
03. Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Paria! On Paria! (Pariah! He is a pariah!) - Romance: Snują się z dala groźne widziadła (Dangerous phantoms float from afar) (Neala)
04. Act II Scene 5: Dialogue: Przybył tu jakiś starzec podróżny (An old wanderer has arrived here) (Ratef, Neala)
05. Act II Scene 6: Canto: Znam gród wspaniały (I know a splendid town) (Jares, Neala, Ratef)
06. Act II Scene 6: Trio with Chorus: Lecz próżno, ach próżno tak chodzę (Yet in vain I have wandered) (Jares, Female Brahmins, Neala, Ratef)
07. Act II Scene 7: Duet: To on! To on! On sam! (It is! He himself!) (Jares, Idamor)
08. Act III Scene 1: Chorus: Już ołtarz gotów pod gwiazdę świata (The altar is set for the star of the world) (Chorus, Common Women, Brahmins)
09. Act III Scene 2: Prayer: Bogowie miłości, bogowie rozkoszy (Gods of love, gods of delight) (Akebar)
10. Act III Scene 2: Ballet
11. Act III Scene 3: Co widzę?! To mój ojciec! (What do I see?! My father!) (Idamor, Akebar, Jares, Chorus, Male Brahmins)
12. Act III Scene 3: Milczycie? Niewdzięczni! (You say nothing? You ungrateful creatures!) (Idamor, Akebar, Male Brahmins, Jares)
13. Act III Scene 3: O biedne dziecię! (O my poor child!) - Scene 4: Los daje jej w zamianę za miłość czarę łez (Fate gives her a spell of tears in exchange for love.) (Akebar, Male Brahmins, Women, People, Ratef, Warriors)
14. Act III Scene 5: Ach! - Jak pojąć straszną zmianę? (How to comprehend a change so terrible?) (Neala, Chorus, Akebar, Women)
15. Act III Scene 5: Cavatina: To nie był sen! (It was not a dream!) (Neala, Chorus, Akebar)
16. Act III Finale: Słyszysz ten grom nad twa głową? (Can you hear the thunder above your head?) (Akebar, Male Brahmins, Jares, Neala, Female Brahmins, Common Women)