Czech Chamber Music Society • Jakub Józef Orliński

One of the most beloved and celebrated opera stars of this decade, Jakub Józef Orliński has established himself as one of the world’s leading artists, triumphing on stage, in concert, and on recording. His sold-out concerts and recitals throughout Europe and America have attracted new followers to the art form. An exclusive artist on the Warner Classics/Erato label, his most recent recording accompanied by friend and pianist Michał Biel entitled “Farwell” earned him the prestigious Opus Klassik award for Male Singer of the Year (2023). His new album “Beyond” will be released in October 2023 and will tour throughout the world next season with Il Pomo d’Oro.

Highlights of next season include the highly anticipated 20 dates European tour of the new album in the Fall, and an American tour during the spring. Jakub Józef Orlinski will also return on the operatic stage at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées, Paris in a new production of L’Olimpiade by Vivaldi. He will then join his long-time musical partner, pianist Michał Biel for exclusive recitals throughout Europe.

In the 2022‒2023 season, the Polish countertenor went to Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris for a sold out run of the Robert Carsen production of Orfeo ed Euridice followed by another new production of the same opera at San Francisco Opera by Matthew Ozawa. Mr. Orlinski also joined Pomo d’Oro on a tour to sing the title role in Tolomeo, Re d’Egitto on major stages throughout Europe including Teatro Real, Madrid and Paris. Outside the operatic stage, the public had the opportunity to watch the new 1-hour long documentary Music for a while about him that was released during spring on Arte and got the most views for cultural documentary on the European TV channel.

Pianist and tutor Michał Biel graduated from the Juilliard School in New York, studying with Brian Zeger, Margo Garrett, Jonathan Feldman and J. J. Penna. He also studied with Eytan Pessen at the Opera Academy at the Grand Theatre National Opera in Warsaw, and with Andrzej Jasiński and Grzegorz Biegas at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. 

He has performed in the world’s most famous concert halls, such as Wigmore Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Berliner Philharmonie and Carnegie Hall as well as some of the most prestigious opera houses including: Oper Frankfurt or Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. 

He regularly collaborates with countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, with whom he gives concerts all over the world, also taking part in renowned festivals such as: Verbier Festival, Life Victoria Barcelona and Festival de Lacoste Pierre Cardin. Their performances have been repeatedly broadcast.

As accompanist of American bass, Alexander Rosen, he won the 2nd prize in the Hugo Wolf International Song Competition in Stuttgart (2018). Both artists are also laureates of the Orsay-Royaumont Academy, which brought them to release the album ‘Le Promenoir Des Amants’ together. 

His competition record reflects a number of achievements, including the award for outstanding young pianist at the Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition in Warsaw, the title of best young accompanist at Le Grand Prix de l’Opéra in Bucharest, and the award for outstanding accompaniment at the Ludomir Różycki National Vocal Competition in Gliwice. 

As a pianist and coach, he has worked with singers in the Department of Vocal Arts at the Juilliard School in New York, the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie in Neumarkt, and the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua. He was also associated with the Piano Chamber Music Department at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. Since 2020, he has been a lecturer at the Opera Academy operating in the Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw, where he regularly conducts classes for vocalists and pianists. 

He has been a part of two album recordings: “Farewells” (recorded with Jakub Józef Orliński with Dolby Atmos technology), which was nominated for the “Fryderyki” award in the Best Polish Album Abroad category and won the Opus Klassik award for Best Singer (Michal check the title of the prize); and “Kraina” with soprano Alexandra Nowakowski, an album of songs by Polish composers.