Rare Polish Gems
meeting Zelenski

Zelenski is considered to be a chief operatic composer of the post-Moniuszko era. He wrote 4 operas, including 3 based on literary works penned by the greatest coryphaei of the Polish literature:Adam Mickiewicz, Julius Slowacki and Josef Ignacy Kraszewski. Goplana was Zelenski's second opera. Its premier performance took place in Krakow in 1896, and two further years it was staged in Warsaw. Here Zelenski juxtaposes grotesque folk dances with a coloratura waltz and the peasant's mazur. The waltz is a highly sophisticated piece of music. It opens with a four-bar passage introduction. The main theme proceeds with a simple melody, supported by a conventional accompaniment. After it has faded away, there appear two subsequent thematic sequences, more waltzes, ushering in textural variety (changes of the accompanying formula into a figurative one, octave shouts in the high register). Before the main theme comes back, there is a typically operatic linking passage with some illustrative tremolando chords. The leading theme of the waltz returns in a different, richer textural robe, strengthened with octaves an chords. The ornamental passages, four times linking the melodic themes, are the same coloratura progressions that were mentioned above.

sample of the waltz

 not given permission of original uploader to upload whole piece

Apologies.

Music from Polish label