Wanda – between the mystery and the libretto

Abstract

The article discusses the operatic filiation of Norwid’s works. On the one hand, these are forms borrowed from opera, which influenced the structure of the drama (e.g. choirs and the construction of collective scenes, solo parts of a quasi-recitative character or similar to arias, the composition of the finales of acts); on the other hand, Norwid’s work was interpreted in a broad context of 19th-century opera libretti, whose protagonist is Wanda. In addition to the produced operas (Vanda by A. Dvořák), the legend about the Krakow princess was adapted in numerous libretti (fragments in the work by L.A. Dmuszewski, the entire libretti by G. Olizar and W. Bełza, an operatic remake of the tragedy by F. Wężyk). The fact that most of these texts have never been musically elaborated encourages reflection on their borderline and indeterminate status as a literary work.