No Polish opera written before 1858 was as successful as Stanislaw Moniuszkos Halka . Capella Cracoviensis presents the first two-act version of Halka , which premiered in 1848 in Vilnius. The Vilna version is the first orchestral version of this opera, the score of which has not survived our time. In this dramaturgically very dynamic composition, individual musical episodes are designed as part of the scenes; Recitatives, arias and choirs are combined.

The romantic, melodious opera "Halka" by Stanislaw Moniuszko is the national opera of Poland and is available for the first time in the original version on historical instruments in the new recording of Capella Cracoviensis. »Halka« belongs to the tradition of lyrical-romantic operas of the 19th century with a tragic outcome - comparable to Bellini's »La Somnambula«. Stanislaw Moniuszko composed the story of a peasant girl between a noble admirer and an equal lover with melodious arias, wonderful choral scenes and a variety of dances such as polonaise and Polish coloring. The Capella Cracoviensis with excellent soloists now presents the two-act version on historical instruments, which premiered in Vilnius in 1848, for the first time. The later four-act version was better known so far. A new, convincing plea for a previously neglected opera gem!