Biography

Elżbieta Kaczmarzyk – Janczak is a graduate of the Wrocław Music Academy, vocal acting department

Still as a V-th year student she won the first prize on the V Ada Sari Contest held in Nowy Sącz in 1993. In 1994 she found herself amongst the finalists in the International Vocal Contest in Bilbao (Spain), and in 1999 she won the III Prize on the International V. Bellini Vocal Contest in Italy.

She is repeatedly invited to local and international Festivals like.Wratislavia Cantans (since 1991 till 1997, 2000, 2001), The International Opera Festival in Xanten, Holland (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001), The Polish Music Days In Amsterdam (1993), The Polish Music festival in Hamburg (1991, 1992) The Europa Cantans Festival – Strassburg (1989, 1992),The Moniuszko Festival in Kudowa (1997, 1999), and many other.

She had concerts in USA (1991) and in Europe, amongst others in Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Russia, Belgium.

In Poland she sang a mezzo-soprano part, composed by W. Sutryk especially for her, in the world premiere of Space Requiem oratorio, in memory of Challenger space shuttle catastrophe Challenger.

Since 1993 she has been a soloist with the Wrocław Opera Theatre (Opera Dolnośląska) where she made her debut singing the Fenen’s part in Nabucco by G.Verdi. In her artistic career she sang numerous significant parts highly appreciated by both critics and the audience including: the title parts in Carmen by G.Bizet and L`Italiana in Algieri by G.Rossiniego, also in Nabucco, Rigoletto, Falstaff, La Traviata, Il Trovatore by G.Verdi.

Her repertoire includes over 25 opera and ca 20 oratorio parts in total.

She has had numerous overseas tours in her professional career, with the Wrocław Opera Theatre or on her own, including: Holland (Carmen, Faust 1997, 1998, 1999), Germany (Nabucco 1997, Carmen 1998), England (Nabucco, La Traviata 1998), Taiwan (Nabucco, Il Trovatore 2001).

She records radio broadcasts and TV programmes, also she has recorded a few CD discs.

In 2000, as the first Polish mezzo-soprano, she recorded the first Polish CD with G. Verdi opera Il Trovatore singing Azucena’s part. The record was nominated to a prestigious Fryderyk prize.

In the same year she was decorated by President of the Republic of Poland with a Bronze Cross for Merits.

She co-operates on continuous basis with other Opera Theatres in Poland including: The Opera Theatre in Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Lublin, The Grand Theatre in Łódź, Opera Theatre in Solingen (Germany) and Concert Halls in: Płock, Szczecin, Opole, Wrocław.

Elżbieta Kaczmarzyk made her début in Germany in Deutsche Opern am Rhein (Dusseldorf) during the spring of 2005 as Amneris in G. Verdi Aida.

In september she was decorated by President of the Republic of Poland with a Silver Cross for Merits.

In oktober 2005 zaśpiewała u boku Placido Domingo partię Fricki w Die Walkure R. Wagnera w Teatrze Wielkim w Warszawie - zbierają za swój występ uznanie Wielkiego Tenora, publiczności oraz recenzentów.