Polish countertenor Jan Jakub Monowid is acclaimed for his powerful voice and versatility across both historical and contemporary repertoire. Recent and upcoming highlights include world premieres such as Eatnama váibmu/The Heart of the Earth by Britta Byström at the Royal Swedish Opera, Chronicles of Loneliness and Inferno by Lucia Ronchetti at the Kölner Philharmonie and the Oper Frankfurt. His portrayal of Dante’s Inner Voice in Inferno was praised by critics as “extremely interesting” and “fascinating,” noting the strength and character of his voice.
His recent and upcoming productions include a return to the Polish National Opera in the staged version of Carmina Burana, he can also be heard in roles such as Cherubino in Figaro Gets a Divorce by Langer at the Royal Swedish Opera, Goffredo (Rinaldo), and Ottone (L'incoronazione di Poppea) at the Polish Royal Opera, the title role in Giulio Cesare, and Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the Warsaw Chamber Opera, Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), and Artur in the opera Tango by Dobrzyński at the Krakow Opera.
His wide repertoire includes title roles in Rossini’s Tancredi, in Handel’s Orlando, and Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba, as well as roles such as Ottone (Agrippina), Polinesso (Ariodante), Tirinto (Imeneo), Pompeo (Farnace), Ramiro (La finta giardiniera), and L'Ospite in Sciarrino’s Luci Mie Traditrici. He has also performed lead roles in the world premieres of Vermilion Calm by Keiko Fujiie, Dracha by Nowak, Anhellego by Przybylski, and Polieukta by Krauze, composed specifically for his voice.
His discography includes recordings of Baroque works by Handel, Caldara, Gorczycki, and Szarzyński, as well as contemporary compositions by Dalbavie, Kancheli, Mykietyn, Penherski, Britten, Nowak, and Kornowicz.
He is a graduate of the Warsaw Academy of Music and the Opera Studio Zürich, a laureate of the Jan Kiepura Musical Theatre Award for Best Singer, and the third prize winner of the Gianni Bergamo Countertenor Competition.
