The Sunday concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Adam Didur—a magnificent bass, visionary genius, and founder of the Silesian Opera—officially inaugurated the 5th International Adam Didur Opera Singres' Competition. It was a gathering of world-renowned artists, featuring extraordinary basses, enriched with soprano performances and a baritone surprise.
In the audience were representatives of central, regional, and local authorities, competition jurors, opera house directors, competition participants, and music enthusiasts—the ever-reliable audience of the Silesian Opera.
The official part of the event included members of the Competition's Honorary Committee, chaired by Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Polish Senator Halina Bieda read letters addressed to the competition's participants and organizers from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Marshal of the Polish Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. Offering best wishes to young singers and hoping for unforgettable musical impressions and emotions, speeches were delivered by Joanna Bojczuk, a member of the Silesian Voivodeship Board; Michał Kopański, Second Deputy Voivode; Maciej Biskupski, Deputy Mayor of Katowice, on behalf of Mayor Marcin Krupa; and Magdalena Górak, Deputy Mayor of Bytom, representing Mayor Marcin Wołosz. Numerous words of praise were directed toward the organizers and support extended to the competition participants, who are embarking on a week of vocal challenges. The importance of the event—a prestigious international vocal competition—was emphasized, highlighting its significance for the region, Bytom, and Katowice, where the competition's first-stage auditions are being held.
The concert featured internationally acclaimed artists performing a repertoire inspired by roles associated with Adam Didur.
Rafał Siwek, hailed as Poland's finest bass, captivated the audience with King Philip's aria from Giuseppe Verdi's *Don Carlo*. Siwek described the role as his favorite and the pinnacle of Italian bass repertoire. In a duet between Philip and the Grand Inquisitor, performed with Aleksander Teliga, both artists showcased their vocal and dramatic prowess. Teliga, whose illustrious international career began at the Silesian Opera, sang Zaccaria's aria "Oh, chi piange" from Verdi's *Nabucco*, a role he has performed over 800 times, first on the stage of the Silesian Opera.
The somber mood of the Verdi repertoire was illuminated by Ruslana Koval, whose dazzling rendition of "Una voce poco fa" from Rossini's *The Barber of Seville* earned sustained applause. Grzegorz Szostak impressed with the famous "La calunnia" aria from the same opera, navigating its complexities with precision and comedic brilliance. Bogdan Kurowski charmed with "Ten zegar stary" from Moniuszko’s *The Haunted Manor*, while Zbigniew Wunsch embodied Leporello in Mozart's *Don Giovanni* with the famous "Madamina, il catalogo è questo."
In *Attila*, a rarely staged Verdi opera in Poland, the title role, written for a bass, was performed phenomenally by Rafał Siwek. His aria electrified the audience, and the finale - featuring Siwek and Andrzej Dobber in the duet "Tardo per gli anni" as Ezio and Attila—provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness masterful interpretations by some of the world's greatest operatic artists.
The orchestra, choir, and ballet were conducted by Yaroslav Shemet, one of the most acclaimed young conductors, and the concert concluded with a long standing ovation.
Piotr Nędzyński, a seasoned expert in opera librettos, passionately explained the nuances of the works from the stage. Hosting alongside Katarzyna Sanocka, Nędzyński reflected on his return to this stage, where he had conducted a jubilee concert 40 years earlier to mark the Silesian Opera’s 40th anniversary. He shared heartfelt memories of conversations with the young singers, now seasoned artists, who performed brilliantly during this celebration. Many of these exchanges had been captured in his popular television program, *Around the Grand Stage*.
The concert commemorating the 150th anniversary of Adam Didur’s birth was a magnificent opening to the prestigious International Adam Didur Opera Singers' Competition. We thank our loyal audience for their presence and invite everyone to follow the competition auditions—from October 7th at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, and from the second stage onward at the Silesian Opera, both in-person and online.