Piotr Beczala
In October 2014, the Polish tenor Piotr Beczala was awarded the title "Singer of the Year" at the ECHO Klassik Awards. With his work "The French Collection," Beczala dedicates himself to the French operatic repertoire. The French operatic tradition places high demands on the performer, especially with well-known compositions by Gounod (Faust, Roméo et Juliette), Bizet (Carmen), and Massenet (Manon, Werther). The specific national style has been lost over the last six decades, as international ensembles have come to dominate the French opera scene. In preparation, Beczala analyzed historical recordings and engaged with critical sources. He drew inspiration from the renowned Polish singer Jean de Reszke, who masterfully interpreted works by composers such as Meyerbeer, Wagner, Gounod, Bizet, and Massenet. In his performance, Beczala follows an important principle of Charles Gounod: clear, precise, and focused enunciation is essential. This approach requires a special expressiveness that emphasizes emotions and passions. While articulation shapes the external form of the words, pronunciation fills them with feelings and passion.