Kwiecień Mariusz, *4 November 1972 Kraków, Polish Singer (baritone). He started singing studies in 1990 with H. Szubert-Słysz at the Academy of Music in Krakow, and then with W. Zalewski at the Academy of Music (now the University of Music) in Warsaw (diploma – 1996). He continued his education during master classes with R. Karczykowski. Winner of international vocal competitions: in Duszniki Zdrój (1993), Wrocław (1994), Hans Gabor Belvedere in Vienna (1996), F. Viňas in Barcelona (1998). In 1993, he made his debut in Krakow (Solvay) in Dido and Aeneas by H. Purcell, and two years later, he sang the title role in The Marriage of Figaro by W.A. Mozart at the Grand Theatre in Poznań and in Luxembourg (with the Poznań ensemble). In 1996, he performed as Stanisław in S. Moniuszko’s Verbum nobile (Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw) and Papageno in W.A. Mozart’s Magic Flute (Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw). From 1998, he participated in the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program in New York, where in 1999, he appeared for the first time as Kuligin in L. Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová. Later on the New York stage, he sang, among others, in Don Giovanni (title role), The Marriage of Figaro (Count Almaviva) and Così fan tutte (Guglielmo) by W.A. Mozart, G. Puccini’s La bohème (Marcel), R. Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (Silvio), G. Donizetti’s Don Pasquale (Doctor Malatesta), G. Bizet’s Carmen (Escamillo), G. Verdi’s Falstaff (Ford). He also performed at La Scala in Milan, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Teatro Real in Madrid, Lyric Opera in Chicago, Seattle Opera, San Francisco Opera, Covent Garden, Opéra-Bastille in Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, and at the festival in Glyndebourne and concert halls around the world. He gained recognition primarily as the performer of the title part in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Artist of the Year 2007 in Seattle) and also appeared several times in J. Brahms’ German Requiem (with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by R. Span and the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, with W. Gergiev). An appreciated performer of the title role in K. Szymanowski’s King Roger (in 2009 Opéra-Bastille in Paris, in 2011 Teatro Real in Madrid, in 2012 Bilbao, Santa Fé Opera, Grand Theatre in Poznań). Kwiecień has recorded CDs: Brahms. Ein Deutsches Requiem (Telare 2008), Chopin. Songs (NIFC 2009, Diapason d’Or award 2010), Slavic Heroes (Harmonia Mundi 2012); and DVDs: Eugene Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky (2009), Lucia di Lammermoor and Don Pasquale by G. Donizetti (DG 2009 and 2011). In 2009, he received the Silver Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture.
