The Haunted Manor (Straszny dwor) by Stanislaw Moniuszko

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Great to see you back, Maciek! I'll check out those links later.

[Maciek]

Hi, Johan! Share your thoughts. There's even more in the two other threads (Halka and less known operas). And I've found even more interesting Halka clips since yesterday.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

There are some very nice bits from The Haunted Manor to be found on youtube.

Andrzej Hiolski singing the Polonaise in act I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2rh6suoQE0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_vB5SpLeZc

Bernard Ladysz in Skoluba's aria:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnKGHJG2oHU

Jacek Janiszewski's odd performance of same aria (pirate recording by R2D2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-WxoINs_8I

Adam Didur singing Zbigniew's arioso from act III (excerpt):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYTDEK0KMzI

Iwona Hossa singing Hanna's recitativo and aria from act IV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXAOKFY1ZWw

Finale primo - recording from the Poznan Opera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ju_54YVcAQ

Listened to all the fragments. Some great singing here. Especially Ladysz and Hiolski are amazing. The music is very appealing. Moniuszko sounds at times like a Polish Verdi, the same rhythmic drive and melodic flair. His orchestration is good, too. I listened again to Stefan's recitativo, and that passage with the woodwinds (iirc) is quite magical. I really must hear the whole piece when I find the time (one Polish guy you might know once sent it to me...)

[Maciek]

Yeah, you got my intentions perfectly. Ladysz and Hiolski are fantastic and I was going to post only the two of them at first.

But then I found the Adam Didur, who is legendary - even if this specific snippet is not an especially famous or exciting piece of music.

And then I felt I should at least include one lady (even though the opera is not particularly famous for the female parts) - Hossa was the best I could find. Not entirely satisfactory, but good enough (though I'd much rather include a good Jadwiga's Dumka). Finally, the finale is there just for curiosity's sake - to show an ensemble section from the opera.

Do check out the Zylis-Gara clip from Paria on "less famous operas". As well as the clips on the Halka thread!

[Maciek]

I wish there were some recordings available of Bogna Sokorska in Moniuszko (if she ever made any). YouTube has some nice examples of her singing (as well as a botched Queen of the Night). For instance this Alabiev or the bell aria from Lakme or... this!

[Sean]

Hi Maciek, I know the piece from the recording and I thought it certainly a minor masterpiece, very sectional, a series of inspired ideas and constructions that ought to be far better recognized. Makes a strong impression on first listening and stays with you.

[Maciek]

The Polish National Opera is starting a streaming service (http://vod.teatrwielki.pl/), to be inaugurated tomorrow (19th Nov.). At 19:00 (CET!) they'll be streaming a performance of Straszny dwor, directed by David Pountney (short promotional interview with him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ITWYy7OUHg).