Wroclaw. The voivodeship board has appointed new directors of the Wrocław Opera

A month ago, the board of the voivodship passed a resolution on the intention dismissal of Halina Oldakowska from the position of director of the Wrocław Operaand in mid-March they finally said goodbye to her. Violation of the law on public finance discipline was cited as the reason. Since then, there has been a transitional period, which will most likely end soon.

The artistic season is in full swing, and it could take several months to organize a competition for a director and conduct it. In the face of the crisis in the media and within the unit itself, the management board – in consultation with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage – decided to carry out the procedure of appointment to the position without competition. The intent resolution of March 27 recommends the appointment of a duo composed of: Michał Znaniecki as deputy artistic director and Tomasz Janczak – director.

– The opera faces three major challenges. First, getting your finances in order. Secondly, rebuilding, gluing together the artistic team, breathing hope and motivation into it. Thirdly, the expansion of the opera building began. We want to appoint two directors to divide the tasks and responsibilities. Everyone will be responsible for different spheres – says Krzysztof Maj, member of the Board of the Lower Silesian Voivodship, responsible for culture in the region.

In the communiqué sent out by the marshal’s office, Znaniecki is advertised as “a name recognizable in the world of opera, guaranteeing the maintenance of the appropriate reputation of the Wrocław Opera”. His qualifications and merits include studying at the University of Bologna with Umberto Eco or Giorgio Strehler at the Teatro Piccolo di Milano. In addition, over 25 years of experience on stages in Poland, ItalyFrance, Spainchina, ArgentinaCroatia, on Hungary or Kuba, over 200 performed performances and cooperation with such big names as Daniel Oren, Placido Domingo, Jose Cura, Maurizio Begnini and Piotr Beczała.

– His candidacy results, among other things, from conversations with part of the crew who had the opportunity to work with him at the Wrocław Opera years ago. In addition, he is a very good director, has wide contacts in the environment. To heal the situation, you need to start working with the team on a daily basis. Michał Znaniecki agreed to move to Wrocław permanently – Maj points out.

On paper, Tomasz Janczak is a talented and effective manager of culture. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Wrocław at the vocal and acting department, in 2011 he obtained the title of theater director, and in 2013 he obtained a doctorate in musical arts in the discipline of vocal studies. He collaborated as a soloist with the Musical Theater in Łódź and the Musical Theater in Lublin, he sang as the first tenor in the Musical Theater-Wroclaw Operetta. However, what may be more important for his future employers, in 2006 he obtained a diploma of completion of post-graduate studies at the Faculty of National Economy of the Wrocław University of Economics and the title of Effective Manager of a Modern Company.

In the years 2009-2023, he held directorial positions successively at the Musical Theater in Lublin, the Sudecka Philharmonic in Wałbrzych and the Lower Silesian Philharmonic in Jelenia Góra, where he demonstrated his skills in running a coherent financial economy.

– In terms of management, we focused on a person who has already proven himself in this role. Tomasz Janczak performed all duties related to the formal and legal operation of the institution in a correct and timely manner and effectively obtained additional financial sources for its operations. His competences as the managing director are crucial for the proper functioning of the Wrocław Opera – explains Krzysztof Maj.

It seems that only formalities remain for the new deal at the opera. The voivodeship board will now officially apply to the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for consent to the appointment (which has already been agreed) and for an opinion from the trade unions operating at the Wrocław Opera and professional and creative associations, which – as Krzysztof Maj says – have no nothing against new candidates.

I’ve spoken to all the unions. We are to receive approval from them in the short term, I have a promise that they will flow to us quickly. We hope that within two weeks we will be able to appoint Tomasz Jańczak as director, and then he will appoint Michał Zaniecki. This is how it will formally look like, says Maj.

The previous director of the Wrocław Opera, Halina Ołdakowska, took up the position in September 2020, replacing Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski. In his case, control NIK also showed irregularities the auditors stated that in 2017 alone he earned over half a million zlotysand four other conductors could be hired for the additions to their conducting salaries alone.

Ołdakowska was to put things in order after her predecessor. She decided that she could only do it with world-class players. That is why she hired the opera singer, internationally renowned soloist Mariusz Kwiecień and the excellent conductor Bassem Aikiki, whom she made the opera directors. No contest. Single-handed procurement mode was used. The new director took a risk. And later, in its audit, NIK indicated these contracts as one of its main offenses. Bassem Aikiki left after two years, last year. Mariusz Kwiecień resigned at the beginning of March 2023.

All these events coincided with the famous birthday party of Bartosz Rybak, a former associate of the Minister of Education, Przemysław Czarnek. Unofficially, it is said that it was she who was supposed to pour the cup of bitterness and weigh on the future of Ołdakowska.

At the end of February, “Fakt” reported that Rybak celebrated a grand birthday at the Wrocław Opera. The event was to be attended by Minister Czarnek and his wife, as well as m. cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, deputy commander-in-chief of the State Fire Service, rectors of universities, including Rector of the Wrocław University of Technology and the Academy of Music, local PiS politicians, such as Deputy Marshal Marcin Krzyżanowski or the leader of the Bayer Full band Sławomir Świerzyński.

The birthday party at the opera house began with Giacomo Puccini’s “La bohème”, for which guests received free tickets. After the performance, the birthday party initially celebrated in the opera foyer, but eventually the birthday party was moved to the main stage.

– There was “Sto lat”, a queue with gifts for Bartosz, and Mr. Sławomir from Bayer Full sang “Knickers in dots” on the opera stage. Those of us who heard and saw it were devastated – writes “Fakt”, quoting one of the opera’s employees.

Eventually, Bartosz Rybak lost his position as the plenipotentiary of the Minister of Education and Science for NGOs and Polish diaspora organizations.