Opera Nova: Premieres, Successes and Expansion

Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz, a cultural institution run by the regional government, celebrated the recent World Opera Day with the premiere of the musical Peter Pan and Wanda, featuring music by Bydgoszcz-born composer Szymon Godziemba-Trytek and directed by Agnieszka Płoszajska. One of the most important cultural institutions in our region, Opera Nova has once again concluded a successful artistic season and entered the new one with an impressive programme. At the same time, work on the expansion of its building is nearing completion. Intensive finishing works are currently underway in the new wing of the complex, known as the fourth circle.

During its 69th artistic season (2025/2026), Opera Nova presented 133 events, including 101 performances, 12 concerts and 9 performances as part of the 32nd Bydgoszcz Opera Festival. Among the highlights that left a lasting impression on opera and ballet enthusiasts were the premieres of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (directed by Thaddeus Strassberger) and Szymanowski’s King Roger (directed and choreographed by Robert Bondara), as well as ballet performances presented during the Bydgoszcz Opera Festival. These included two productions by Nederlands Dans Theater, a company at the forefront of contemporary European ballet, featuring evocative and visionary choreographies by Marcos Morau and Sharon Eyal, and the deeply moving Lac, set to Tchaikovsky’s music, performed by the outstanding Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

Three premieres are planned for the newly launched 70th artistic season. In addition to Peter Pan and Wanda, audiences can look forward to the ballet Giselle, choreographed by Australian artist Alice Topp to music by Jessica Wells, and two one-act operas by Puccini, Il tabarro (The Cloak) and Gianni Schicchi.

The expansion of the Opera Nova complex is now 78 per cent complete. Installation works, structural construction, including the steel framework of the connecting passage between the existing building and the new wing, and interior finishing works are currently ongoing.

Read more: Opera Nova Expansion: Just Months Away from Completion

Press Office of the Marshal’s Office

2 November 2026