Premiere of the opera “Dorian Gray” at the Grand Theatre in Poznań

On 23 November 2025, the Grand Stage of the Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theatre in Poznań will host the premiere of Dorian Gray, an operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s only novel. Directed by David Pountney and conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk, the performance depicts innocence and unspoiled beauty trapped in the cult of youth. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is a partner of the premiere.

The story of Dorian Gray – a timeless tale about the mechanisms of the human psyche

It tells the story of the mechanisms of the human psyche, the price of fulfilling one’s darkest desires, and the loss of empathy. Is “Dorian Gray” a mirror image of 21st-century society? The story of Dorian, who sold his soul in exchange for eternal youth, is as fascinating as it is tragic. Dorian’s wish to preserve the youth and beauty captured in his portrait comes true – but does this bring him true happiness, or does he sink into indifference and ruthlessness towards others?

His insatiable search for new experiences and his obsessive desire to fulfil them lead Dorian to break social norms and disregard the principles of moral order. He becomes consumed by cruelty, thereby losing his humanity. The protagonist’s unscrupulous and selfish actions hurt people, sometimes irrevocably. Each of his transgressions is reflected in the portrait – Dorian’s face and figure become distorted, losing their noble features and beauty. For the title character, however, this does not matter – he himself remains young and beautiful. But not for long…

Social media and the contemporary face of Dorian Gray’s portrait on the opera stage

Director David Pountney has transferred the action of the libretto from late 19th-century England to the present day. In his staging, Dorian’s portrait has become a photograph, and the audience has entered a virtual world flooded daily with thousands of photos – unrealistically beautiful, retouched, and manipulated with filters. The director shows how fabricated images affect emotions and senses, how creation takes precedence over truth, and how online likes become a substitute for real relationships.

The opera “Dorian Gray” was composed especially for the Grand Theatre in Poznań on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s death. The author of the work is Elżbieta Sikora, a Polish composer living in France. A wide audience will be able to see the results of the entire creative team’s work thanks to the opera’s broadcast on the OperaVision platform.

Premiere of the opera “Dorian Gray” at the Grand Theatre in Poznań – dates, cast, and creators

• Premiere:  23 November 2025

• Subsequent performances: 25 November 2025, 27 November 2025, 29 November 2025

• Venue: Main Stage, Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theatre in Poznań (Fredry 9, Poznań, Poland)

• Creators:  Jacek Kaspszyk (Musical Director), Elżbieta Sikora (Composer), David Pountney (Director), Dorota Karolczak (Costume and Set Design), Fabrice Kebour (Lighting Director), David Haneke (Projections), Diana Cristescu (Choreography), Mariusz Otto (Choir Director), Dominika Nakielna (Assistant Choir Director), Michael Poll (Assistant Conductor), Katarzyna Marek (Assistant Conductor), Barbara Poll (Assistant Director), Bartłomiej Szczeszek (Assistant Director), Waldemar Pokromski (Mask Design – “Dorian Gray – Transformation”), Marcin Baran (Sound Effects – Collaboration), Choir and Orchestra of the Grand Theatre in Poznań (Ensemble)

• Cast:  Rafał Żurek (Dorian Gray), Michał Partyka (Basil), Joanna Freszel (Sibyl), Łukasz Konieczny (James), Gosha Kowalinska (La Grise), Mateusz Sierant (Dorian’s Alter Ego)

• Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund as part of the “Composer Commissions” programme implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance. 

• The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is a partner of the premiere.

• Tickets and more information are available at: opera.poznan.pl