Empty year stretches on for Polish bari-hunk
mainThe hotly-fancied Mariusz Kwiecień has cancelled three February 2020 performances of Marriage of Figaro at the Met.
The Met says he is still down to sing the second three performances, but no-one’s holding their breath.
Kwiecień has been dropping out since May 2018.
This month, he is judging a competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Is there not any word at all yet on what is wrong?
None from him personally. When he had to withdraw from Onegins in June, Polish National did comment in an email about a “serious spinal condition.”
That would be consistent with his history. He’s talked often about the pain and mobility issues he’s had since 2011, when he injured himself in the Zeffirelli Bohème. (See, for example, “Baritone returns to fighting trim for Met Don Giovanni,” New York Times; “The dashing opera hunk returns to Covent Garden,” Telegraph). He’s had more than one surgery for it, and a lot of partial performances in which he got through an act and had to stop.
That’s awful. If an onstage injury did cause this, he presumably can claim compensation. He must have lost half a million dollars in fees already.
“Polish Bari-Hunk”…
He’s a wonderful singer and performer, hopefully he is able to enjoy his life and not suffering too much, and can sing for us fully again