Recital by soprano Magdalena Kuzma, winner of KF Sembrich Competition

Recital celebrates the richness of the Polish vocal repertoire alongside beloved works from the international operatic and song traditions.

The Kosciuszko Foundation presents a recital featuring Polish soprano Magdalena Kuźma, winner of the KF 2024 Marcella Sembrich Voice Competition, and pianist Katelan Trần Terrell.

The program opens with songs from Frédéric Chopin’s Op. 74, including Życzenie and Wiosna, followed by selections from Karol Szymanowski’s evocative Kurpian Songs, Op. 58, inspired by the folk traditions of Poland’s Kurpie region. The first half concludes with the poignant aria “Ha! Dzieciątko nam umiera” from Stanisław Moniuszko’s opera Halka, a cornerstone of Polish operatic heritage.

After intermission, the artists explore a wide range of musical styles—from the atmospheric songs of Charles Tomlinson Griffes to iconic operatic arias by Jules Massenet, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Giacomo Puccini. The program concludes with selections from American musical theater, including works by Marc Blitzstein and Meredith Willson, showcasing the performers’ stylistic versatility and expressive range.

Soprano Magdalena Kuźma is rapidly gaining recognition for her “shining, free and lustrous” voice (Seen and Heard International). A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, she has appeared at leading institutions including the Santa Fe Opera and Glimmerglass Festival. In the upcoming season, she makes her role debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Aspen Music Festival, returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Papagena in The Magic Flute, and appears as soprano soloist in Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem with the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Pianist Katelan Tran Teller is a distinguished collaborative artist and vocal coach who has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Wigmore Hall. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School, she currently serves on the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera and has coached young singers at leading training programs worldwide.

Together, Kuźma and Teller present an evening that bridges Polish musical heritage with the broader European and American vocal tradition, offering audiences a richly varied and expressive recital experience.

The event sponsor: Ms. Krystyna Piórkowska.