Rafal Bartminski, Piotr Lempa, Monika Swiostek, Violetta Gawara, Marcin Gesla, Marcin Janusz

The Polish Social and Cultural Association POSK presents Halka. Opera in Four Acts. Music by Stanislaw Moniuszko. Libretto by Wlodzimierz Wolski.

A cast of internationally recognised soloists perform Moniuszko's masterpiece - Poland's first national opera "Halka" to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Polish Social and Cultural Association POSK in London.
Halka received its first performance in Vilnius in 1848. 9 years later for the Warsaw National Opera premiere of 1857 the 2 act opera was enlarged to 4 acts to include national dances Polonaise, Mazur and Tance Goralskie as well as specially composed arias reminiscent of Polish folk songs.

Poland did not exist as an independent country and therefore its very creation was a revolutionary act, as under Tsarist Russian rule any artistic activity was subject to censorship. The composer was determined to create this work against all odds and the music and texts are enthused with Polish national musical rhythms and melodies.