Sokorska Bogna, *6 March 1927 Warsaw, †10 May 2002 Piastów (near Warsaw), Polish singer (coloratura soprano). She was a student of M. Dobrowolska-Gruszczyńska (1945-48) and A. Sari at PŚSM in Warsaw (1948-54) as well as D. Robinson in London. In 1955–58, she sang at the Warsaw Opera Objazdowa, where she debuted as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto (10 October 1955). In 1958–59, she performed in England (concerts, TV and radio performances on BBC, CD recording The Voice of Bogna Sokorska, Top Rank International 1959), and later in France and Belgium. She was a soloist of the Warsaw Opera (1961–70), the Warsaw Chamber Opera (1973–74) and many German opera theatres, i.a. in Bremen (1962–63), Düsseldorf (1963–73), Essen (1974–76); she gave guest appearances on stages in Vienna, Berlin (Staatsoper), Zurich, Lisboa and Bucharest. She was also a teacher at Weimar Master Classes (1973–76) and the Music Academy in Wrocław (1982–85). Sokorska’s repertoire included ca. 20 opera parts, e.g. works by Mozart, Donizetti, Delibes, Verdi, Puccini, Offenbach (The Tales of Hoffmann), R. Strauss (Ariadne auf Naxos), Britten (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). She usually gave recitals with her husband, Jerzy Sokorski. She fascinated listeners with a rare timbre and beauty of voice as well as excellent vocal technique, gaining popularity and the title of “Warsaw’s nightingale” [Słowik Warszawy].
Literature: W. Panek Bogna Sokorska. Słowik zapomniany, in: Kariery i legendy, book 1, Warsaw 1984, 2nd ed. 1987.
