ARTISTIC STAFF

Adrian Sylveen Mackiewicz (Artistic Director, Conductor): Conductor and virtuoso violinist Adrian Mackiewicz is a graduate of Paderewski Music Academy in Poznan, Poland and of the Yale University School of Music. His awards include First Prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Lodz, Poland, the President of the Republic of Poland's Award For Outstanding Achievement "Primus Inter Pares" and the Polish Department of Education National Scholarship. Mr. Mackiewicz has performed extensively in Poland, former USSR, Germany, and the United States, where he has resided since 1992. In 1997 Maestro Mackiewicz founded the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra (CLO's accompanying orchestra in this and future productions), a New Britain based orchestra dedicated to presenting and preserving the traditions of chamber music, both traditional and contemporary. In addition to his duties with CLO and the Virtuosi, Mr. Mackiewicz is Artistic Director of the New Britain Chorale and Artistic Director of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Pawel Jura (Chorus Master): Chorus Master Pawel Jura has spent many years working with choral groups in New England as well as participating in many musical capacities with a wide variety of stage productions, from plays to musicals to operas. He also maintains an active concert schedule as a pianist and organist. Mr. Jura has studied at the Hartt School and at the Juilliard School, with degrees in piano, composition, and music theory. In addition, he has extensively studied organ and choral directing. He is currently Chorus Master of the New Britain Chorale and Music Director of the Unitarian Universalist Society: East, in Manchester, Connecticut.

 

OPERA FACT

The stereotypical image of a fat woman in a horned helmet screaming in a foreign language is not really seen much anymore.

Today's trend in opera is for singers to be believable in their roles in size, stature, voice and dress.