Agnieszka Rehlis – mezzo-soprano Agnieszka Rehlis – mezzo-soprano
ARTISTIC CURRICULUM VITAE
Agnieszka Rehlis – mezzo-soprano, in 1996 completed with honours the studies in the Faculty of Vocal Performance and Acting in the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, under professor Barbara Ewa Werner. Between the years 1993 – 1996 she was the stipendiary of the Ministry of Culture and Art.
Being a student, she became the winner of the first prize in the Franciszka Platerówna Vocal Competition in Wrocław, and in 1994 she received the third prize in the oratorio category as well as the special prize for performing ”Principes persecuti sunt” from ”Communio” by W. Żeleński in the III Interuniversity Vocal Competition in Duszniki-Zdrój.
On several occasions she participated in the masterly courses, conducted, inter alia, by Krystyna Szostek – Radkowa, Adele Stolte, Christian Elsner and Gerhard Kahry, which were crowned with the concerts within the confines of the International Festival of Oratorio – Cantata Music ”Wratislavia Cantans” as well as the Chopin Festival in Duszniki – Zdrój.
In 1996, on the stage of Wrocław Opera House she made her debut as Jadwiga in ”The Haunted Manor” by Stanisław Moniuszko conducted by A. Straszyński, directed by Adam Hanuszkiewicz, staged on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Opera. Besides she appeared in the role of Fenena in ”Nabucco” and Magdalena in Verdi’s ”Rigoletto”, Siebel in Ch. Gounod’s ”Faust”, Cherubin in W. A. Mozart’s ”The Marriage of Figaro” and II lady in ”The Magic Flute”, Mercedes in G. Bizet’s ”Carmen”, Meg Page in ”Falstaff”, Flora in G. Verdi’s ”Traviatta”, Eurydyka in Z. Rudziński’s ”Antygona” or in the performance ”Viva Verdi”. Many times she performed those roles during Opera’s tour in Germany (among others the International Festival in Xanten), Holland (Theater Caree in Amsterdam or Royal Theater in Haga), England (Manchester Bridgewater Hall, London Royal Festival Hall, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall), Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy and the National Theater Taipei in Taiwan. In the last years she took part in great opera spectacles taking place in Hala Ludowa in Wrocław („Carmen”, ”Nabucco”, ”Trubadur”, ”The Haunted Manor”, ”Fiedler on the Roof”, ”Gold of Rhein”) conducted by Ewa Michnik. Apart from the above she masterly performed the part of princess Ebola in G. Verdi’s ”Don Carlos” and the part of Aza in Paderewski’s ”Manru”, which was recorded and published on CD by record company Dux (this is the first recording in the world phonography).
Her concert activity includes mainly oratorio concerts. The artist has got in her repertoire over 60 oratorio – cantata compositions, from J. S. Bach to K. Penderecki. Her repertoire includes, among others, Verdi’s and Mozart’s ”Requiem”, L. van Beethoven’s ”Missa solemnis” and ”IX Symphony”, Rossini’s, Dvorak’s or Pergolesi’s ”Stabat Mater” or other compositions by Bach, Haendel, Haydn and many others. She participated in many international festivals, inter alia ”Easter Festival in Cracow” – she performed K. Szymanowski’s ”Stabat Mater” conducted by K. Kord, annually ”Wratislavia Cantans”, Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdrój, International Meetings East – West in Zielona Góra, the Baltic Countries Festival in Toruń, ”George Enescu” International Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Schleswig – Holstein Music Festival, International Music Festivals ”Contrasts” in Lvov. She performed in numerous concert halls in Poland (including the National one) and in Europe: in Germany (among others K. Penderecki’s ”Credo” with participation of Bamberger Symphoniker or the CD recording of Beethoven’s ”Missa Solemnis” in Munster – conducted by Urlich Grosser), Holland, France (among others performing in K. Szymanowski’s ”King Roger” together with the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Strasbourg conducted by Jan Lathan – Koenig), Italy, the Ukraine, Lithuania (the Vilnius National Philharmonic – ”Credo” conducted by K. Penderecki), Austria, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, Spain (K. Penderecki’s ”Seven Gates of Jerusalem” with participation of RTVE in Madrid). Many times she also performed ”Te Deum”, ”Polish Requiem” and A. Dvorak’s ”Requiem” conducted by K. Penderecki and with participation of ”Sinfonia Varsovia”. In January 2000 she performed K. Penderecki’s ”Seven Gates of Jerusalem” conducted by the composer at the music fair ”Midem Classique 2000” in Cannes in France and this spectacular event can be watched on the DVD.
In March 2003 she made her debut in the Teatr Wielki (The Great Theater) in Warsaw (170th anniversary of the Teatr Wielki) as Fenena in G. Verdi’s ”Nabucco” conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk. In April 2003 she performed in Cracow L. van Beethoven’s IX Symphony conducted by Lawrence Foster. In June 2003 she took part in the premiere performance of A. Ponchielli’s ”Gioconda” recorded by the Polish Television and staged on the Odra River in Wrocław, singing the part of Laura. At the end of the year 2003 she performed in two concerts broadcast by the second channel of the Polish Television, i.e. K Penderecki’s ”Te Deum” conducted by Gabriel Chmura and ”Credo” conducted by K. Penderecki with participation of NOSPR, which was recorded on the DVD. Few times she also performed ”Credo” in Hamburg with the participation of the Symphony Orchestra NDR, which was recorded on CD for the record company EMI. She as well performed the same composition during the Usedomer Music Festival in Penemunde, conducted by the composer on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Moreover, she took part in the German premiere of R. Wagner’s ”Gold of Rhein” presented in the Hala Ludowa in Wrocław singing the part of Fricka. Among the most important music events she participated in this year one should include the 8th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, where she performed A. Dvorak’s ”Stabat Mater” conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk in the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, performing G. Mahler’s II Symphony with participation of the China Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Long Yu in Peking, Beethoven’s IX Symphony with the participation of the National Philharmonic conducted by A. Wit in Warsaw, performing in Passau (Germany) K. Penderecki’s ”Credo” conducted by the composer at the concert of the „Kultur am Goldenen Steig” series with the participation of the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in Warsaw, singing at the concert finishing artistic season of the Ukraine National Philharmonic in Kiev or performing G. Mahler’s song series ”Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen” during the ”Festival Pablo Casals” in Prades (France).