Soloists

For over 20 years, Zenon Kowalski has been permanently associated as a soloist with the Grand Theatre in Łódź. His magnificent, powerful voice and compelling acting are the qualities most frequently admired in his portrayals. His voice stands out with its noble tone, resonant sound, and a wealth of emotional nuances that highlight the characters he creates on stage.

 

He began his singing education in 1977 and completed his musical studies in 1987 at the Academy of Music in Warsaw. In the same year, he made his debut on stage, precisely at our theater, with the role of Germont in Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata." Soon after, he appeared in operas such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" (in the title role) and Giuseppe Verdi's "Ernani" as Don Carlos. He participated in several opera competitions, winning the 2nd Prize and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award for the best performance of a Polish aria at the Jan Kiepura Opera Arias Competition in Krynica in 1986. He was also a laureate of the Adi Sari Vocal Competition. In 1999, he took part in the Opera Festival in Wexford, Ireland, performing the role of Maciej in Stanisław Moniuszko's "The Haunted Manor."

 

Over the past 20 years, he has undertaken numerous international tours to Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland (with the Grand Theatre), as well as Scandinavia and the United States for solo concerts. He is appreciated not only by our stage and audience but also by other important theaters and directors in Poland. He has collaborated or is currently collaborating with the Wrocław Opera, Silesian Opera, Grand Theatre-National Opera in Warsaw, Opole Philharmonic, and the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice.

 

His repertoire encompasses a wide range of beautiful and challenging roles, including Escamillo in "Carmen," the titular Prince Igor in Borodin's opera, Mozart's Don Juan, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Henry Ashton in "Lucia di Lammermoor," Belcore in "The Elixir of Love," Valentine in "Faust," Alfio in "Cavalleria rusticana," the Sword-Bearer/Maciej in "The Haunted Manor," Janusz in "Halka," Dżares in "Paria," Count in "The Marriage of Figaro," King in "Madra," Marcello in "La Bohème," Sharpless in "Madame Butterfly," Scarpia in "Tosca," Ricardo in "I Puritani," Tonio in "Pagliacci," the Grand Master in "Conrad Wallenrod," as well as Amonasro in "Aida," Renato in "Un ballo in maschera," Ernani in "Don Carlos," Germont in "La Traviata," and Count in "Il Trovatore."

 

In recent seasons, he has created several outstanding roles on the theater's stage, earning him many favorable reviews. Zenon Kowalski is an excellent Rigoletto, an unforgettable Macbeth or Falstaff, and, in the last season, a superb Dappertutto in "The Tales of Hoffmann."