The Athens Epidaurus Festival Welcomes Jakub Józef Orliński

EVENT INFO

The Athens Epidaurus Festival Welcomes Jakub Józef Orliński
The Athens Epidaurus Festival is thrilled to welcome "the most otherworldly beautiful voice on the planet," the charismatic countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, to the Herodion. This marks the first visit to Greece for the award-winning opera star and breakdance sensation.

Joining him is the renowned baroque and classical music ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, presenting a concert based on their album Beyond. Orliński's voice has been described as one that "can make Vivaldi speak as directly as a pop song."

Generation Z knows Orliński well as the artist who bridges their generation with the world of opera, introducing them to baroque music in his unique way and proving the timeless appeal of classical music.

International critics have praised Orliński's voice, with the Times calling it "a voice strong and steady, from angelic high notes to powerful, dark lows," and the Sunday Times noting it can "make Vivaldi speak as directly as a pop song."

Trained at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and the Juilliard School in New York, Orliński has performed to sold-out audiences at major venues worldwide, including Covent Garden in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the San Francisco Opera. His remarkable ability to connect the seemingly disparate worlds of opera and breakdance captivates audiences. Notably, his video performance of the aria "Vedrò con mio diletto" from Vivaldi's Il Giustino (Aix-en-Provence, 2017) surpassed 11 million views on YouTube within days of the concert.

Orliński has expressed that from a young age, classical music moved him deeply, driving him to dance and explore how music influences movement. He has won awards in skateboarding, breakdancing, and pole dancing, graced the covers of top fashion magazines, and modeled for renowned brands. His multifaceted artistic journey was even documented in Arte's Music for a While. In addition to his musical career, Orliński is also involved in volunteer work and activism.

Il Pomo d’Oro's Commitment to Music and Community

Il Pomo d’Oro, performing for the second time at the Herodion, was founded in 2012 and quickly gained fame for their dynamic, historically informed performances of baroque and classical works.

Named after Cesti's opera Il Pomo d’Oro (The Golden Apple, 1668), they have recorded 46 award-winning CDs of instrumental and operatic music. Active in volunteerism and activism, they are official ambassadors of El Sistema Greece, providing charity concerts, free workshops, and lessons in refugee camps across the country since 2017. In close collaboration with El Sistema Venezuela, they offer free online lessons in baroque music interpretation.