British tenor Samuel Stopford won First Prize at the 12th International Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition, held at Polish National Opera in Warsaw. He also received the Maria Fołtyn Prize for the best performance of a Stanisław Moniuszko piece: ‘Cisza dokoła’ from Moniuszko's opera The Haunted Manor (Straszny dwór).

Wòlô Bòskô is a musical work that tells the story of two young lovers, Hanuszka and Jaśko, who are separated by fate and ultimately death. It is sung in the Kashubian language, using traditional texts and melodies selected by baritone Damian Wilma, with music composed by Łukasz Godyla. This production, directed by Jarosław Kilian at the Polish National Opera, presents the story as a memory told by a ghost, exploring themes of love, death and destiny.

Wòlô Bòskô is a dramatic song cycle in the Kashubian language, telling the haunting story of Hanuszka and Jaśko - young lovers torn apart by fate, whose tragic deaths are bound by a supernatural symbol of eternal love. Composed by Łukasz Godyla with texts and melodies curated by baritone Damian Wilma, the piece blends regional folklore with contemporary music. Adapted for the stage by Jarosław Kilian at the Polish National Opera, it becomes a metaphysical reflection on love, destiny and memory set against the evocative landscape of Kashubia.

Aeneas (Leander Carlier) is a Trojan prince who has fallen in love with Dido, the Queen of Carthage (Martina Myskohlid). In this aria he is heartbroken after Dido refuses to forgive him - he had told her he must leave because the gods have ordered him to sail to Italy and fulfill his destiny of founding a new city, but when he offers to stay, it is too late: Dido feels betrayed and sends him away, choosing death over heartbreak.

Armenian baritone Aksel Daveyan won the prize for the most beautiful performance of a Polish song at the 12th International Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition. He sang the aria ‘I ty mu wierzysz, biedna dziewczyno’ from Moniuszko’s opera Halka.

Farnace (Franco Fagioli) urges Arbace (Franko Klisovic) to fear the consequences of their covert alliance with Rome. If their betrayal of King Mitridate is discovered, it could lead to the collapse of their political ambitions, imprisonment and even execution.