K. Penderecki - Ubu Rex
Anna Lubańska – Ma Ubu – mezzo-soprano coloratura
Józef Frakstein – King Wenceslas – bass-buffo
Izabella Kłosińska – Queen Rosamunde – soprano
Anna Karasińska – Boleslas – soprano
Jeanette Bożałek – Ladislas – soprano
Rafał Bartmiński – Buckheelas – tenor
Mieczysław Milun – Tsar – bass
Rafał Siwek – Tsar – bass
Piotr Nowacki – Bandog – bass-buffo
Robert Dymowski – General Lassie – bass
Andrzej Witlewski – peasant – bass
Magdalena Andreew-Siwek – Pila – first mercenary – soprano
Krzysztof Szmyt – Kotys – second mercenary – tenor
Przemysław Firek – Giron – third mercenary – bass
Jacek Parol – 4th mercenary – tenor
Czesław Gałka – 5th mercenary – bass
Ryszard Cieśla – 6th mercenary – bariton
Ryszard Wróblewski – 7th mercenary – tenor
Lech Łotocki – Messenger – speaking part
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatr Wielki – National Opera
Bogdan Gola – chorus master
Jacek Kaspszyk – conductor
RELEASE DATE: 2004
CATALOGUE NO. ACD 133
GENRE: opera music
Alfred Jarry’s schoolboy tomfoolery that is Ubu Roi with its intriguing sub-title in other words Poles has quite unintentionally become part of classical literature. (…)
Jarry created the character of Ubu as a form of patchwork: a crude mixture of Pulcinella, Polyshinell and Petrushka (and few other international pranksters), a composite of a tyrant, whistle-blower and anarchist, a fusion of a megalomaniac, coward and yob. (…)
In Ubu Rex, Penderecki embraces Jarry’s style: admitting that in this work he pokes fun at classical genres and at himself. By adopting an “airs and graces” style of a sneering author he exchanges the acerbity of the spoken word for musical humour where the finesse of instrumental and vocal ensembles of which in essence the piece consists, is French in spirit. He reads Jarry from an enticing and delectable perspective, which encourages the listener to explore musical history and venture into various epochs and styles. The macabre poetics and vulgarity captured by the poet is substituted in the music by humour, which is sometimes crude, but devoid of a facsination for ugliness and cruelty.
Małgorzata Janicka-Słysz, transl. Anna Kaspszyk
Reviews:
MusicWeb
CD 1
PROLOGUE 1:39
En route for Poland (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries, Bandog)
ACT ONE
Scene 1 8:19
The Ubu’s in Bed (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries, Bandog, Guests)
Scene 2 9:53
The Binge (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries, Bandog, Guests)
Scene 3 9:19
At the king’s place (Pa Ubu, King Wenceslas, Queen Rosamunde, Bucksheelas, Boleslas, Ladislas)
Scene 4 8:18
Conspiracy (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries, Bandog, Guests)
Scene 5 14:24
The great parade and regicide (King Wenceslas, Queen Rosamunde, Bucksheelas, Boleslas, Ladislas, Bandog, Pa Ubu, Mercenaries, The people, Ma Ubu)
Total time: 51:58
CD 2
ACT TWO
Scene 1 19:12
First royal measures to be taken (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Bandog, Vladimir Vladimirovich, The people, Mercenaries, Judge, Three Members of the Financial Advisory Committee)
Scene 2 9:34
At the Tsar’s (Tsar, Bandog, The Boyars)
Scene 3 11:40
Tax collection (Stanislaw Leszczynski, Peasants, Mercenaries, Messenger, Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu)
Intermezzo 2:13
Scene 4 15:43
The war (Polish Soldiers, Russian Army, Pa Ubu, Mercenaries, General Lascy, Messenger, Bandog, Tsar)
Scene 5 8:16
The great escape (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries, Polish Soldiers)
EPILOGUE 3:06
On the high seas (Pa Ubu, Ma Ubu, Mercenaries)
Total time: 69:48
