On November 9, 2024, at 6:30 PM, the Cracow Opera will host the world premiere of Zygmunt Krauze's two-act opera Bona Sforza, directed by Michał Znaniecki. This production is a collaboration between the international Teatro Petruzzelli and the Cracow Opera.
The work not only portrays a significant historical figure but also reflects the cultural context of the time. The composer has depicted the three different facets and stages of the life of the Polish-Italian queen through the roles of three soloists, in three languages: Polish, Italian, and Latin. Audiences will witness Bona as a young woman preparing for her role as queen, then as the wife of Sigismund I the Old, Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and finally as a betrayed woman returning to Bari, where she was likely poisoned. The libretto by Vincenzo de Viva reveals the complexity and controversy surrounding her character.
The main roles will be performed by Magdalena Barylak, Agnieszka Kuk, Zuzanna Caban, and Wołodymyr Pańkiw. The Orchestra and Choir of the Cracow Opera will be conducted by Piotr Sułkowski, and the stage will also feature ballet artists.
This event is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund, a governmental targeted fund as part of the "Music" program implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
The event is under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, Łukasz Smółka.
