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{{Short description|Theatre and opera complex in central Warsaw, Poland}}

[[Image:Warszawa Teatr Wielki.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The restored Teatr Wielki]]

{{About|a building|an institution|National Theatre, Warsaw|ballet company|Polish National Ballet}}

The '''Teatr Wielki''' (now known as '''Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera''') is an [[opera]] company and theatre complex located on historic Teatralny (Theatre) Square in [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]].

{{Infobox venue

| name = Grand Theatre and National Opera in Warsaw

| native_name =

| image = Warszawa, ul. Senatorska 21, 25 20170516 001.jpg

| image_size = 250

| logo_image = Grand_Theatre,_Warsaw.png

| logo_size = 90

| caption =

| address = 1 [[Theatre Square (Warsaw)|Theatre Square]]

| city = [[Warsaw]]

| country = [[Poland]]

| coordinates = {{Coord|52.243|N|21.011|E|source:dewiki_type:landmark_region:PL-14|display=title,inline}}

| designation =

| architect = [[Antonio Corazzi]], [[Chrystian Piotr Aigner]], [[Bohdan Pniewski]]

| owner =

| capacity = over 2000 seats

| type =

| opened = {{Start date and years ago|1833|2|24}}

| yearsactive = 1833–present

| demolished = September 1939

| rebuilt = 1965 (entirely)

| closed =

| othernames =

| production =

| publictransit = {{Plain list|

* {{Rint|warsaw|M1}} {{stl|Warsaw Metro|Ratusz Arsenal}}

* [[File:Ico bus (1).png|16px|[[Bus transport in Warsaw]]]] {{color box|Purple|Plac Teatralny 01, 02, 04}}

}}

| currentuse =

| website =

}}

The '''Grand Theatre, Warsaw''' ({{langx|pl|Teatr Wielki w Warszawie}}), or the '''Great Theatre—National Opera''' ([[Polish language|Polish]]: ''Teatr Wielki—Opera Narodowa''),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://culture.pl/en/place/the-grand-theatre-national-opera-in-warsaw|title=Grand Theatre and Polish National Opera|access-date=2013-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102031956/http://www.culture.pl/web/english/other-institutes/-/eo_event_asset_publisher/sh2A/content/the-grand-theatre-national-opera-in-warsaw|archive-date=2013-11-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a theatre and [[opera]] complex situated on the historic [[Theatre Square (Warsaw)|Theatre Square]] in central [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]. The Warsaw Grand Theatre is home to the [[Polish National Ballet]] and has a seating capacity of over 2,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.communications-unlimited.nl/the-grand-theater-in-warsaw-one-of-the-largest-theatres-in-europe-and-one-of-the-biggest-stages-in-the-world/|title=The Grand Theater in Warsaw: one of the largest theatres in Europe and one of the biggest stages in the world –|date=27 May 2016 |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

[[Gioacchino Rossini|Rossini]]'s ''[[Il barbiere di Siviglia]]'' was the first opera to inaugurate the theatre on [[24 February]] [[1833]]. Since the bombings and almost complete destruction of the [[Second World War]], the theatre has been rebuilt, and the present one reopened on [[19 November]] [[1965]] after being closed for over twenty years.

The Warsaw Grand Theatre was inaugurated on 24 February 1833 with a production of [[Gioacchino Rossini|Rossini]]'s ''[[The Barber of Seville]]''. After the building's bombing and near-complete destruction in [[World War II]], it was rebuilt and reopened on 19 November 1965 after having been closed for over twenty years. The original building was designed in a [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] style by architects [[Antonio Corazzi]] and [[Chrystian Piotr Aigner]], and later restored by [[Bohdan Pniewski]].

==Performance venues and facilities at the present-day Polish National Opera==

There are two auditoriums and the Museum:

==History==

* The '''Stanisław Moniuszko Auditorium''' , which seats 1,841, is the primary venue for opera, ballet and theatre performances which run annually from October to June.

===From 1833===

The Theatre was built on [[Warsaw#Culture|Theatre Square]] between 1825 and 1833, replacing the former building of [[Marywil]], from [[Polish classicism|Polish classicist]] designs by the Italian architect [[Antonio Corazzi]]<ref name="warsawvoice.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/WVpage/pages/article.php/25869/article|title=The Warsaw Voice|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> of [[Livorno]], to provide a new performance venue for existing opera, ballet, and drama companies active in Warsaw. The building was remodeled several times and, in the period of Poland's political eclipse from 1795 to 1918, it performed an important cultural and political role in producing many works by Polish composers and choreographers.

===Evolution of Polish opera===

* The '''Emil Młynarski Auditorium''' which seats 248.

[[Image:Theatre Square Warsaw about 1900.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Theatre Square in [[Warsaw]] between 1890 and 1905]]

It was in the new theatre that [[Stanisław Moniuszko]]'s two best-known operas received their premieres: the complete version of ''[[Halka]]'' (1858), and ''[[The Haunted Manor]]'' (1865). After [[Frédéric Chopin]], Moniuszko was the greatest figure in 19th-century Polish music, for in addition to producing his own works, he was director of the Warsaw Opera from 1858 until his death in 1872.<ref name="warsawvoice.pl"/>

* The '''National Museum''', created from former ballrooms on the main floor, is the country’s only Theatre Museum.

While director of the Grand Theatre, Moniuszko composed ''The Countess'', ''Verbum Nobile'', ''The Haunted Manor'' and ''Paria'', and many songs that make up 12 ''Polish Songbooks''.

In front of the building there are two statues by Jan Szczepkowski, one of [[Wojciech Bogusławski]], the father of Polish National Theatre, and of [[Stanisław Moniuszko]], the father of Polish National Opera.

[[File:Grand Theatre, Warsaw interior July 7th 2010.jpg|thumb|left|The theatre's interior]]

==Opera in Warsaw prior to the Teatr Wielki==

Opera was brought to Poland by Prince Ladislaus IV Vasa within twenty years of the first opera presentations in [[Florence]]. In [[1628]] he invited the first Italian opera company to Warsaw. Upon ascending the Polish throne in 1632, he then constructed a theatre in his castle, and regular opera performances were produced there by an Italian company directed by [[Marco Scacchi]].

Also, under Moniuszko's direction, the wooden Summer Theatre (seating 1,065) was built close by in the [[Saxon Garden]]. Summer performances were given annually, from the repertories of the Grand and Variety (''[[Warsaw Variety Theatre (historical)|Rozmaitości]]'') theatres.

From 1774 on, opera, theatre and ballet performances were held in the Radziwill Mansion (today the home of the Polish Head of State). The first Polish opera was produced there on [[11 July]] [[1778]] by a company of Polish artists. It was [[Maciej Kamieński]]'s ''[[Poverty Made Happy]]'' with [[Wojciech Boguslawski]]'s libretto based on a comedy by [[Franciszek Bohomolec]].

[[Józef Szczublewski]] writes that during this time, even though the country had been partitioned out of political existence by its neighbors, the theatre flourished: "the ballet roused the admiration of foreign visitors; there was no equal troupe of comedians to be found between Warsaw and Paris, and [[Helena Modjeska|Modrzejewska]] was an inspiration to drama."

In 1779-1833 performances took place in a new theatre building on Krasiński Square, later called the National Theatre. Known as the father of Polish National Theatre, Boguslawski, was a renowned actor, singer, director, playwright and entrepreneur of considerable talent. Also, at the National Theatre from 1785 a troupe of His Majesty's Dancers (headed by the ballet masters [[François Gabriel Le Doux]] from [[Paris]] and [[Daniel Curz]] from [[Venice]]) began its activity.

The theatre presented operas by [[Władysław Żeleński (musician)|Władysław Żeleński]], [[Ignacy Jan Paderewski]], [[Karol Szymanowski]] and other Polish composers, as well as ballet productions designed by such choreographers as Roman Turczynowicz, [[Piotr Zajlich]] and Feliks Parnell. At the same time, the repertoire included major world opera and ballet classics, performed by the most prominent Polish and foreign singers and dancers. It was also here that the Italian choreographer [[Virgilius Calori]] produced ''[[Pan Twardowski]]'' (1874), which (in the musical arrangement first of [[Adolf Sonnenfeld]] and then of [[Ludomir Różycki]]) has for years been part of the ballet company's repertoire.

==The Teatr Wielki since 1833==

The Theatre was constructed on [[Warsaw#Culture|Teatralny Square]] (Theatre Square) between 1825 and 1833 from [[Polish classicism|Polish classicist]] designs by the Italian architect [[Antonio Corazzi]] of [[Livorno]] to provide a new performance venue for the existing national opera, ballet and drama companies active in Warsaw.

The building was remodeled several times and, in the period of cultural and political disturbances between 1795 and 1918, it performed an important cultural and political role by producing many works by Polish composers and choreographers.

During the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|1939 battle of Warsaw]], the Grand Theatre was bombed and almost completely destroyed, with only the classical façade surviving.<ref name="teatrwielki">{{cite web|url=http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia&nlang=en |title=The Theatre's history |work=www.teatrwielki.pl |year=1998 |access-date=2008-02-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418103152/http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia&nlang=en |archive-date=2008-04-18 }}</ref> During the [[Warsaw Uprising]] of 1944 the Germans shot civilians in the burnt-out ruins.<ref name="teatrwielki" /> The plaque to the right of the main entrance commemorates the suffering and heroism of the victims of fascism.<ref name="teatrwielki" />

===The evolution of Polish National opera===

In the new theatre [[Stanislaw Moniuszko]]'s two best-known operas were produced for the first time. They were the complete version of ''[[Halka]]'' (1858) and ''[[The Haunted Manor]]'' (1865). After [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]], [[Moniuszko]] was the greatest figure in 19th-century Polish music, for in addition to performances of his compositions, he became Director of the Warsaw Opera from 1858 until his death in 1872.

While he was the director of the Teatr Wielki, Moniuszko wrote ''The Countess'', ''Verbum Nobile'', ''The Haunted Manor'' and ''Paria'', and many songs that made up 12 ''Home Songbooks''.

===Building's restoration===

Also, under Moniuszko's direction, the wooden Summer Theatre (which seated 1,065) was built close by in the Saski Garden. Summer performances from the repertory of the Wielki and Rozmaitości theatres were given each year.

Between 1945 and 1965, the company performed on other stages while the theatre building was being restored and expanded to the designs of [[Bohdan Pniewski]], under the supervision of [[Arnold Szyfman]]. When the restored theatre was opened to the public on November 19, 1965, it was one of the most imposing and best-equipped state-of-the-art theatres in Europe. The Polish National Opera was the largest theatre in the world.

[[Józef Szczublewski]] writes that during this time, even though the country was partitioned, the theatre flourished: "the ballet roused the admiration of foreign visitors; there was no such troupe of comedians to be found all the way to Paris, and Modrzejewska was the inspiration of drama".

[[File:Grand Theatre in Warsaw, 2022, 02.jpg|center|800px|thumb|Grand Theatre, Warsaw]]

===Completion of façade===

The theatre presented operas by [[Władysław Żeleński]], [[Ignacy Jan Paderewski]], [[Karol Szymanowski]] and other Polish composers, as well as ballet productions designed by such choreographers as Roman Turczynowicz, Piotr Zajlich and Feliks Parnell. At the same time, the repertoire included major world opera and ballet classics, performed by the most prominent Polish and foreign singers and dancers. It was also here that the Italian choreographer Virgilius Calori produced ''[[Pan Twardowski]]'' (1874) which (in the musical arrangement of first [[Adolf Sonnenfeld]] and then [[Ludomir Różycki]]) has for years been in the repertoire of the ballet company.

[[Image:Warsaw 2023 195 Grand Theatre Quadriga.jpg|right|220px|thumb|[[Apollo]]'s [[quadriga]]]]

According to [[Antonio Corazzi]]'s 1825 plans, the Grand Theatre's front façade was meant to feature a triumphal sculpture of Apollo, patron of the arts, driving a chariot drawn by four horses. However, the defeat of the [[November Uprising]] caused the idea to be abandoned. The platform above the main entrance meant for the [[quadriga]] remained empty for nearly 200 years.

During the battle of Warsaw in 1939 the Teatr Wielki was bombed and almost completely ruined with only the classical façade surviving.

Finally, in 2002, at the initiative of the Grand Theatre's then-general director, Waldemar Dąbrowski, the sculpture that had been envisioned many years earlier came to adorn the façade. The new, contemporary [[quadriga]] was designed by professors at the [[Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts]], the rector, [[Adam Myjak]], and the dean of the sculpture department, [[Antoni Janusz Pastwa]]. The sculpture was unveiled by Polish President [[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]] on May 3, 2002, to mark Constitution Day.

===Restoration, 1945 to 1965===

Between 1945-1965 the company performed on other stages while the theatre building was being restored and expanded according to designs by [[Bohdan Pniewski]], under the supervision of [[Arnold Szyfman]]. The restored theatre was opened to the public on [[19 November]] [[1965]]. At that time it was one of the most imposing and best-equipped theatres in Europe, provided with state-of-the-art installations and equipment.

===The Company today===

===Completion of the Theatre’s façade===

For over 170 years the Grand Theatre (now "the Grand Theatre and Polish National Opera") has been Poland's grandest opera and ballet institution.

According to Antonio Corazzi's plans in 1825, the façade of the Teatr Wielki was supposed to have featured a triumphal sculpture of Apollo, patron of the arts, driving a chariot drawn by four horses along its front. However, the defeat of the November Uprising caused the idea to be abandoned and the pedestal at the top of the main façade of the Teatr Wielki remained empty for nearly 200 years.

* Opera: The Polish National Opera at the Grand Theatre continues its 200-year tradition, producing works by Polish composers from [[Karol Kurpiński]], through [[Stanisław Moniuszko]], to [[Krzysztof Penderecki]]. However, classic operas are also well represented: the company's repertoire includes the best operas by the major figures of opera, past and present.

Finally, when the time came to fill the gap in the architectural image of Teatralny Square, at the initiative of the Teatr Wielki's then general director, Waldemar Dąbrowski, the sculpture envisaged many years ago finally adorns the Teatr's façade. The new, contemporary quadriga was designed by professors from the [[Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts]], the rector, [[Adam Myjak]], and the dean of the Sculpture Department, [[Antoni Janusz Pastwa]]. The sculpture was unveiled by Polish President [[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]] on [[3 May]] [[2002]] to mark Constitution Day.

* Ballet: [[Polish National Ballet]] (formerly Ballet of Teatr Wielki - Opera Narodowa) has worked with major international figures in the world of ballet as well as with many Polish choreographers, such as [[Leon Woizikovsky]], [[Stanisław Miszczyk]], [[Witold Gruca]] and [[Emil Wesołowski]]. Currently, works under direction of [[Krzysztof Pastor]].

The 2023 [[International Opera Awards]] took place at the Grand Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners 2023 |url=https://operaawards.org/archive/2023/ |website=International Opera Awards |access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>

==The Company today==

For 170 years Teatr Wielki (today called the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera) has been Poland's grandest opera and ballet institution.

==Facilities at the National Opera==

The National Opera features two auditoriums and a museum:

* Opera: The Polish National Opera in the Teatr Wielki continues its 200-year tradition and produces works by Polish composers from [[Karol Kurpiński]], through [[Stanisław Moniuszko]] to [[Krzysztof Penderecki]]. However, classic operas are also well represented: the company has in its repertoire the best operas by the major figures of opera past and present.

* The '''Stanisław Moniuszko Auditorium''', which seats 1,841, is the primary venue for opera, ballet and theatre performances, which run annually from September through June/July.

* Ballet: The Warsaw Ballet Company has worked with major international figures in the world of ballet as well as many Polish choreographers, such as [[Leon Woizikovsky]], [[Stanisław Miszczyk]], [[Witold Gruca]], and [[Emil Wesołowski]].

* The '''Emil Młynarski Auditorium''' seats 248.

* The '''[[Theatre Museum in Warsaw|Theatre Museum]]''', accommodated in former main-floor ballrooms, is the country’s sole theatre museum.

Before the building stand two statues by [[Jan Szczepkowski]], of [[Wojciech Bogusławski]], the father of Polish National Theatre, and of [[Stanisław Moniuszko]], the father of Polish National Opera.

==See also==

* [[Irene Adler]]

* [[List of opera houses]]

* [[Marywil]]

* [[Stanisław Moniuszko]]

* [[Wojciech Bogusławski]]

The Teatr Wielki plans to inaugurate each new opera season with a Moniuszko Gala in honor of the composer and Opera Company Director.

==References==

=== Citations ===

[[Józef Szczublewski|Szczublewski]], Józef, “Teatr Wielki in Warsaw 1833-1993”. Warsaw: 1993

{{Reflist}}

=== General and cited references ===

* {{Cite book |author=Józef Szczublewski |year=1993 |title=Teatr Wielki w Warszawie, 1833-1993 |trans-title=Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, 1833–1993 |___location=Warsaw |publisher=Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy |isbn=9788306023275 |oclc=30831923 |language=pl}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Grand Theatre in Warsaw}}

*[http://www.teatrwielki.pl/ Teatr Wielki's official website, in English and Polish, with Virtual Tour]

* {{Official website|http://www.teatrwielki.pl}}

* [https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/teatr-wielki-opera-narodowa Polish National Opera at Google Cultural Institute]

{{Warsaw landmarks}}

[[Category:Opera companies]]

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[[Category:Opera houses]]

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[[Category:Opera houses in Poland|Wielki, Warsaw]]

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[[Category:1833 establishments in Poland]]

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[[Category:Theatres completed in 1833]]

[[Category:Music venues completed in 1833]]

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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Warsaw]]

[[Category:Theatres in Warsaw]]

[[Category:Music in Warsaw]]

[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in Warsaw]]