Work of the Week – Krzysztof Penderecki: The Black Mask

Is there justice and retribution? This question is at the heart of Krzysztof Penderecki’s opera The Black Mask (original German title: 'Die schwarze Maske'). On November 22, 2024, David Pountney’s production premieres at Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, performed by the Polish National Opera’s choir and orchestra under the direction of Bassem Akiki.

Dance of Death: A Powerful Opera on Fate

The Black Mask, based on Gerhart Hauptmann’s drama, was composed in 1986 for the Salzburg Festival. Set in 1662, the opera explores a world of disease and suffering. Mayor Schuller invites 13 guests to a carnival party, including a mysterious masked figure. As the night unfolds, the celebration turns into a dance of death, with only one guest surviving. After eight years, the opera returns to the stage.

Penderecki’s music amplifies the drama, using virtuosic orchestral passages and delicate chamber elements to convey both intensity and vulnerability.

"Like a burning mirror, the mayor’s house brings together distant events in time, polarizing them across the assembled characters. In the end, equality reigns within the ruined world." – Wolfram Schwinger

Why You Should See The Black Mask

Penderecki masterfully explores themes of justice and vengeance through his music, immersing audiences in a world that feels both distant and disturbingly close. A must-see for opera lovers and those who relish confronting profound questions!

Experience The Black Mask live

Following the premiere on November 22, 2024, there will be three additional performances on November 24, 27, and 29 in Warsaw. Don’t miss this captivating work!

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Further Information

Composer Profile for Krzysztof Penderecki on Schott Music Website

Work Page for The Black Mask on Schott Music Website

Event Page at Teatr Wielki

_{photo: Teatr Wielki}