Performers
Zbigniew Graca
The conductor Zbigniew Graca studied violin with Tadeusz Wroński as well as orchestra and opera conducting with Stanisław Wisłocki at Warsaw’s Chopin Academy (now University) of Music. He won third prizes in the Danish Malko-konkurrencen and the Viennese Hans-Swarowsky-Dirigentenwettbewerb.
In Poland, Graca has appeared in many renowned opera houses and with leading symphony orchestras. He has also conducted throughout Europe, in Japan, the United States, and Israel. He worked with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (POR) in 1975–1980. Later he was the concert master and conductor of the German Sinfonieorchester Aachen. In 1985–1988 he worked at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater). He held the posts of artistic director at Wrocław Opera (in the 1989/1990 season) and full-time conductor at Warsaw Chamber Opera (1989–2017), also co-organising its Mozart Festival from 1991. In the early 1990s he regularly led the orchestra of the Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theatre in Poznań. Since 2017 he has collaborated with the Polish Royal Opera.
As guest conductor, Graca worked with Turkish orchestras in Ankara (the Presidential Symphony and State Opera and Ballet). He is particularly well-known to the Latvian audience for his interpretations of operas at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet as well as regular appearances with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta Rīga chamber orchestra.
In Poland, Graca has appeared in many renowned opera houses and with leading symphony orchestras. He has also conducted throughout Europe, in Japan, the United States, and Israel. He worked with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (POR) in 1975–1980. Later he was the concert master and conductor of the German Sinfonieorchester Aachen. In 1985–1988 he worked at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater). He held the posts of artistic director at Wrocław Opera (in the 1989/1990 season) and full-time conductor at Warsaw Chamber Opera (1989–2017), also co-organising its Mozart Festival from 1991. In the early 1990s he regularly led the orchestra of the Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theatre in Poznań. Since 2017 he has collaborated with the Polish Royal Opera.
As guest conductor, Graca worked with Turkish orchestras in Ankara (the Presidential Symphony and State Opera and Ballet). He is particularly well-known to the Latvian audience for his interpretations of operas at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet as well as regular appearances with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta Rīga chamber orchestra.
