Waltzes, jazz songs and carols

January opens with a whirlwind of New Year concerts at the iconic Pegasus-topped building, alongside Viennese galas held at the Muzyczny Theatre, the Apollo Cinema Theatre, and the University Auditorium. Meanwhile, Kuba Badach's Jazzy Christmas and the highland carols of Mała Armia Janosika add extra sparkle to the schedule.

The Wielki Theatre hosts a week-long New Year Concert marathon (2-11 January), inspired by the cherished tradition of the Vienna Philharmonic's performances, which famously close with the Radetzky March as a staple encore. Poznań's opera adds its unique twist by transforming a purely philharmonic concert into a full-scale spectacle featuring choir, ballet, and orchestra. Karolina Sofulak directs the series, Antonello Allemandi returns to the conductor's podium, and Jaromir Trafankowski leads as host. These concerts in the Moniuszko building have become a beloved January tradition - familiar yet brimming with fresh energy each evening. An experience not to be missed!

For devotees of genuine Viennese charm, there is a wealth to enjoy - ranging from musical-style performances to refined costume productions. On 4 January at 5 p.m., the Muzyczny Theatre presents The Grand Viennese Gala - Johann Strauss and Friends - showcasing elegant waltzes, spirited polkas, and dazzling arias, all brought to life in a setting that gives equal weight to music, costumes, and choreography. Soloists from Polish and international opera houses will join the Royal Strauss Orchestra, specialists in Viennese classics. Their music evokes the splendour of 19th-century Vienna: ballrooms, late-night dances, and a world where social life moved to the rhythm of dance. Grand Royal Ballet soloists complete the scene with choreography that is graceful, playful, and full of the cheeky flourishes you'd expect.

The following evening (5 January at 7 p.m.), the Apollo Cinema Theatre will host artists from the Ukrainian operetta scene. The New Year Viennese Carnival will spotlight tenors. Among them is Mykhail Gumennyi, an international-award-winning singer and former soloist of the Kyiv National Operetta, whose repertoir includes Figaro in The Barber of Seville and Basilio in the musical Dorian Gray. Also appearing is Evgenyi Prudnyk, likewise associated with the Kyiv National Operetta, who pairs expressive vocals with undeniable stage charisma, having performed roles such as Fred Graham (Petruchio) in Kiss Me, Kate, Gomez in The Addams Family, and Florindo in the operetta Truffaldino from Bergamo. The soprano roles will be shared by two outstanding performers: Iryna Marko, a leading operatic voice of Kyiv's theatres and philharmonics, and Eleonora Djulik, an Honoured Artist of Ukraine and soloist of the Kharkiv Operetta Theatre, who tours regularly across Belgium, France, Italy, and Kazakhstan.

Those keen to experience Viennese concerts on a truly spectacular scale should mark 25 January in their calendars, when the Princesses Orchestra takes over the University Auditorium. Their New Year Viennese Concert (5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) combines a young, all-female string ensemble with an expanded vocal line-up, ballet, and carefully designed visuals. Leading the cast are sopranos Anna Ciereszko, Sylwia Frączek, Agnieszka Grabowska, and Karolina Jędrzejczyk, joined by tenors Aleksander Kruczek and Tomasz Tracz. The instrumental section is guided by concertmaster Andrzej Tulik, with Piotr Łukaszczyk on the piano. The programme features excerpts from The Csárdás Princess, The Bat's Revenge, The Gypsy Baron, The Merry Widow, and The Land of Smiles, as well as classics such as Usta milczą, dusza śpiewa  (Lips Are Silent, the Soul Sings) and the ever-popular O sole mio.

Sooner, on 18 January, audiences will be treated to a jazz-flavoured take on the festive season. Celebrated vocalist Kuba Badach brings his Jazzy Christmas project to Poznań, performing two evening concerts (5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) on Poznań International Fair grounds. The programme revisits songs that are inseparable from the holiday period, including It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Let It Snow. Swing will be front and centre, alongside Anglo-American standards and Polish Christmas favourites such as Jest taki dzień and Zanim święta. Badach will be accompanied by a band of accomplished musicians, among them Andrzej Piaseczny, Andrzej Lampert, and Dorota Miśkiewicz.

Our final recommendation is the performance by Mała Armia Janosika, scheduled for 24 January at 5 p.m. (Poznań International Fair (MTP) grounds, Pavilion 5). This ensemble functions as a large highlander orchestra, a folk group, and an artistic collective in one, bringing together nearly 300 young performers from southern Poland. At its helm is Damian Pałasz - violinist, musician, and visionary - who founded a programme for teaching highlander violin and bass in Raba Wyżna.

Sebastian Gabryel

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2025