Michał Dobrzyński's approach to composition follows the idea of a quasi-imaginary scene. This “scenic” aspect is too nuanced to be labeled with the restrictive term “opera composer.” Although his musical language is rich in emotion and highly expressive, the break with what is commonly perceived as “scenic” according to Aristotelian tradition is evident. The epic repeatedly interrupts the scenic storyline. In Dobrzyński's work, this determines the dramaturgy less than it makes the semantics of his music more haptic, as it were, like virtual stage scenery.
The audience rewarded the operas with numerous standing ovations. Dobrzyński's operas are also appreciated by critics: Tango, based on Sławomir Mrożek's drama of the same name, was named “Opera Revelation of the Year 2017” in the “Best Music” category. In 2024, the Polish Royal Opera hosted the world premiere of Dobrzyński's latest opera, Hi§tory, based on the manuscripts (including previously unpublished fragments) of Witold Gombrowicz's drama History, which were made available to the composer personally by Rita Gombrowicz (the writer's widow). Operette, an earlier opera by Dobrzyński (also based on Gombrowicz's drama), was broadcast worldwide by ARTE Concert (translated into five languages) from Vienna.
Programme
[01] Orestes 2nd String Quartet (2013)
[02] MonoQuartet for string quartet (2024)
[03] InGarden 4th String Quartet (2020)
[04] Crumbs of Memory for string quartet (2022) Live recording
[05] Albertina’s Aria for soprano and string quartet (2024)
from the opera Hi§tory, based on manuscripts by Witold Gombrowicz
NeoQuartet
Karolina Piątkowska-Nowicka, 1st violin
Paweł Kapica, 2nd violin
Michał Markiewicz, viola
Krzysztof Pawłowski, cello
Joanna Freszel, soprano [05]
First recordings
Biographies
Polish composer Michał Dobrzyński (born 1980) belongs to the young generation of artists selected by Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki for the program “Young Composers in Memory of Fryderyk Chopin.” Dobrzyński is a professor of composition at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. His works are part of the repertoire of outstanding soloists, conductors, and renowned ensembles, and have been performed in Poland, the USA, Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Italy, Moldova, South Korea, Malta, Czechia, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, China, Cyprus, and North Macedonia. Michał Dobrzyński has won prizes at many composition competitions. Operas occupy a special place in the composer's oeuvre. In recent years, they have been performed more than 30 times on many stages, such as the Estonian National Opera, MuTh (Vienna), Vilnius, the Warsaw Chamber Opera, the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, the Krakow Opera, and the Polish Royal Opera.
More information
Catalogue number: NEOS 12519
EAN: 4260063125195
