THEATRE
The Mazovian Musical Theater was established by Resolution No 42 of the Parliament of Mazovian Voivodeship of 25 April 2005. Originally called “Operetta”, now bearing the name of Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theatre in Warsaw [Mazowiecki Teatr Muzyczny im. Jana Kiepury w Warszawie]. Since October 17, 2016, Theater’s Director is Iwona Wujastyk.
The first premiere took place on 17 September 2005. This was the operetta “Die Fledermaus” [Zemsta nietoperza] under the musical direction of Jerzy Maksymiuk and stage direction of Andrzej Strzelecki. The subsequent premieres were: “Merry Widow” [Wesoła Wdówka] directed by Andrzej Strzelecki, “The Csardas Princess” [Księżniczka Czardasza], „Countess Maritza” and „Édith and Marlene” directed by Márta Mészáros.
An important element of the Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theater’s activities are also concerts. The most important of these, which can be called the flagship projects of the Theater are New Year’s concerts, organized for 12 years at the Warsaw Philharmonic, one of the most important artistic events in the Polish capital as well as gala concerts of the Jan Kiepura Musical Theatre Awards.
In 2017, was held the 11th edition of Theatrical Music Awards – the only one nationwide competition, that integrates the musical theatres milieu in Poland. The idea of this competition is to reward the most outstanding Polish artists working in the field of theater and music. In 2017, artists were awarded in 18 categories i.a. best opera singers and musical vocalists, best dancers, best choreographers, best scenographers, best conductors and best directors as well as best theatrical and musical posters.
One of the most important events organized by Mazovian Musical Theater, which were recognized by the audience, were concerts including: “Polish Tenors in Memory of Jan Kiepura”, “Concert – Operetta for Easter for Varsavians ”, “Music of Polish Baroque” in cooperation with the “Poznan Nightingales” [Poznańskie Słowiki] choir directed by Prof. Stefan Stuligrosz, “Soldiers’ Requiem” by Mark Sewen, “Irena Santor’s Birthday Concert”, “Beatus vir” (concert dedicated to Pope John Paul II, directed by Jerzy Maksymiuk) and many others.
The theater’s phonographic oeuvre contains 7 albums, two of which , „Polscy tenorzy pamięci Jana Kiepury” [Polish Tenors in Memory of Jan Kiepura] and „Muzyka polskiego baroku” [Music of Polish Baroque] were nominated for the Fryderyk award.
The latest album of the Mazovian Musical Theater is a two-disc record of the New Year’s Concert which was held on January 1, 2017 with a DVD attached to the album, where you can watch and listen to outstanding opera singers and instrumentalists: Edyta Piasecka, Marcelina Beucher, Krystian Krzeszowiak, Wojciech Sokolnicki, Marcin Bronikowski, Szymon Kobyliński, Anna Wandtke, Bogdan Kierejsza, Daniel Wnukowski and Grzegorz Bożewicz.
The director of the Mazovian Musical Theater Orchestra during the 12th New Year’s Concert was Piotr Sułkowski and Jerzy Maksymiuk, honored that evening with the Pro Masovia medal.
The premises of the Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theater’s activity is the Bielany Chamber Hall, which, thanks to cooperation with the Self-Government of Bielany District, has become a permanent center of cultural activity of the Theater, in an intimate formula, enjoying the growing recognition of the Warsaw Audience.
The Mazovian Musical Theater is making every effort to be as present as possible outside Warsaw. In the spring 2017, during the celebration of the Women’s Day in Mazovia held under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Mr. Adam Struzik, the Theater hosted the “Brunettes, Blondes” concerts in Radom, Siedlce and Płock. On March 8, 2017 at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Andrzej Lampert, Damian Aleksander, Wojciech Gierlach and Grzegorz Bożewicz along with the Mazovian Musical Theater Orchestra conducted by Janusz Przybylski gave their performance at the Warsaw Royal Concert on the occasion of the Women’s Day.
Mazovian Musical Theater along with Best Art Concept Sebastian Wypych is a co-organizer of the “Wisłostrada Sztuki” Festival, organized as part of the celebration of the Year of the River Vistula. During the Festival, which takes place from June to mid-September 2017, the Mazovian and Warsaw Audience has the opportunity to take part in musical concerts and workshops, bringing classical and jazz musicians closer to Mazovian citizens.
The Theater is also a co-producer of the series of programs broadcast on TVP3 Warsaw – “Masters” – meetings with the most prominent figures of Polish culture, with the greatest artistic achievements. This is a reference to the project “Evenings with Masters”, originated by the first director of the Mazovian Musical Theater, Włodzimierz Izban, which was carried out successfully in recent years.
