Story of masses: A mega opera with mega heroine

‘A Man of Manufactory’

IBy Cezary Owerkowicz

t is nothing about drags but maybe about addiction: to opera. In just a few days we will know who is awarded the Opera Oscars at the London Int’l Opera Awards.

The Opera people hold their breath as they wait for results in several disciplines as well as to know who will receive the honorary scholarships including the prestigious opportunity of appearance and cooperation with leading Opera houses. Sometimes it is really crucial for young artistes waiting for the door of their careers to open. Let’s say, it is a golden key to the door mainly because it is not so easy to open.

The Opera people hold their breath but Opera houses are continuously vibrant with life. The machines are working on the highest turns preparing new productions. Every decade expectations, than the level of difficulties while the costs are higher, because of that, even leading Opera houses, like even New York Metropolitan cooperates between themselves with new mega-productions, including intercontinental! Isn’t it amazing?

If we look back at the centuries the Opera libretto contains mainly sort of love story, mainly melodrama with a crystal good female heroine delicately saying, not so good male hero: cruel or just a beast in drama, silly in comedy. Of course: ‘all generalizations are wrong…’, especially this one, but am I totally wrong? With time, even quite modern history as American opera Nixon in China! Such and other events entered the Opera stage, but also the thread of personal connections between heroes was expected and appreciated.

Owerkowicz

Changed

Nowadays everything has to be changed. (Really? Some people claim that changes are rather happening in costumes and decors, not the essence of things!) I found the interesting event as a sample. In the center of my native Poland is a big city whose name is impossible to read and pronounce but for not the Slavonic speakers: Lodz. (It pronounces something like: Woodge). It is the third largest city of the country and former industrial hub. It is also a.k.a. ‘the Manchester of Poland’ – a smoking industrial behemoth since the 19th century, the center of textile industry. The industry collapsed together with the socialist system and after years of real misery, Lodz is amazingly changing its picture.

It is a city of cinematography with studios, famous festivals and strong Academy (Oscar winners A. Wajda or R. Polanski graduated it), the city of modern art famous for its Modern Art Museum collection and the same of street art, like fantastic murals.

The renovated old, huge factories are changed into malls, cultural centers and postindustrial apartment buildings but palaces the textile tycoons transformed into a film, art and music academies. The Main Piotrkowska Street became the cult place but since 2010, LadyPresident Eng Hanna Zdanowska was elected again to the office with 80% of votes.

It is also the Music City with Academy, Philharmonic and Grand Theater of Opera. That Opera house started a new production of MegaOpera: A Man from Manufactory. The 80 orchestral musicians, 50 persons choir, 30 persons ballet, children ensemble, soloists, more than 200 artistes on the stage. The project is under preparation since a few years already and still growing, says the coordinator, Korwin Piotrowski. The premiere was on Feb 2.

Musicians were ready earlier. At the last moment the spectacular was prepared from the scenography point of view, adequate for momentum of spectacle with many mass scenes. The stage of the Grand Opera is big but on May 18, A Man of Manufactory will have also an outdoor premiere on the huge scene of Female Weavers Square in Manufactory, a gargantuan Gothic factory now stylishly renovated into a boutique shopping and entertainment village with audience of few thousand people capacity.

On Polish ‘Lodz’ is a female gender name. Women were total majority of textile workers. (In previous centuries were also children!) And this Opera has a unique heroine – The City – Lodz. – the first time ever, as far as I know.

In October 2017 the jury headed by the famous composer K. Penderecki gave his verdict in Opera competition: The Grand Prix awarded the local composer and conductor, Rafał Janiak. Libretto was written by Malgorzata Sikorska – Miszczuk, cooperating with National Grand Opera Theater in Warsaw. Libretto has not based on already existing literary prototype. She composed the original drama story from the beginning, from A to Z. Very ambitious.

Resonate

‘We liked to compose the story about the city as a pretext to considerations of workers, manufacturers, capitalism, about everything determined world of work. This opera would resonate also in such places as Chicago, Detroit or Manchester. Some situations are repeatable, universal. This opera is not about certain persons. If we omit the name’ Lodz’, it would be a story about interpersonal relations, difficult relations between employer and employee, relations always ambiguous’ – says the author.

The composer adds: Already reading libretto after signed up to competition, I realized that it is opera about Lodz, the city and – textile industry – totally a unique attempt. I remember that my dad, and whole family worked in the textile industry, and I heard from them how hard it was. I saw hard working hands of my grandparents. My family still leaves here and they follow my work and as a result I feel my responsibility, chance and – mission to tell the history of my ancestors.

The Opera tells us about two epoques. First is about tycoon Poznanski, one of co-founder of the city prosperity, second – about its collapse after communist era transition, about social and personal costs paid at the time of ‘edges of eras’, like historical earthquakes – very high costs.

My grandma and all her cousins worked at the treads factory Ariadne. My great grandpa was a weaver master, my grandma and great grandma worked in the spinning section. Their story circulated among family – the mezzo soprano singer, Agnes Makówka, creating leading female roles: French socialist activist and suffragist in the first part and leader of the strike in the second. She sings it alternately with world known singer, Malgorzata Walewska. (She was mentioned in the American Time magazine among the List of the Ten Most Known Poles.)

Challenge

The brother of my mom asked me once: Do you know that your family was building Lodz? After it I found on the Freedom Square the plaque with name of my grandpa’s sister, who was shot during WW I. I was educated here and I was working at the Music Academy settled at Poznanski Palace, where I am lecturing now, – says baritone singer Stanislas Kierner, performing two leading male roles in both Opera parts (Poznanski and Factory Director). The creation of this artwork is a huge challenge but I believe that the final effect will be resplendent! There is something able to move heart not only native citizens, but also hearts of any human from anywhere. Yes, it is like mainly about the city, its spirit and beginnings but it is also just a refined message to everybody. I am coming to this work with special humbleness.

The attitude of known soloist musicians should wonder and look for good prognosis. I haven’t yet heard (and watched) A Man of Manufactory. The critics’ opinions are that it is both – difficult but beautiful. In modern music attitude plays a very important role. In every music is, but in modern – especially the performer, interpreter is more coauthor of artwork.

I share the opinion that for a majority of us sample of personal fate is more engaged and convincing that story about masses. However I would like soon to listen to and watch it because it is new and a rare attempt of Opera to penetrate new ways to our ears, eyes but – first of all – hearts.

To hearts means by love?

Editor’s Note: Cezary Owerkowicz is the chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Philharmonia and talented pianist. He regularly organises concerts by well-known musicians for the benefit of music lovers and to widen the knowledge of music in Kuwait. His email address is: cowerkowicz @ yahoo.com and cowerkowicz@ hotmail.com