In March 2026, Aleksandra Szmyd appeared in Mieczysław Weinberg’s opera “The Passenger” at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. She performed the role of Yvette during performances presented in the Moniuszko Hall as part of the revival of one of the most important contemporary operas addressing the memory of the Holocaust.
Based on the novel by Zofia Posmysz, “The Passenger” confronts the contrast between the world of a luxury ocean liner and the trauma of Auschwitz. David Pountney’s monumental production, previously presented in Bregenz, London and New York, returned once again to the stage of the Polish National Opera with an international cast alongside the Orchestra and Chorus of the Theatre.
Weinberg and memory preserved through music
Conducted by Michał Klauza, the production combined multilingual vocal writing, realistic narration and the symbolic musical language characteristic of Weinberg’s work. Audiences experienced an opera widely regarded as one of the most important works of the twentieth century, dealing with memory, trauma and historical responsibility.
The cast included Nadja Stefanoff, Agnieszka Rehlis, Rafał Bartmiński, Adriana Ferfecka and Aleksandra Szmyd as Yvette. The performances were warmly received by Warsaw audiences and the musical community.
