The prize-winning Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, 33, has performed in opera houses all over the world, including the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and the Royal Opera House, London. Born and raised in Warsaw, where he still lives, he will make his BBC Proms debut later this month, followed by concerts at the Edinburgh international festival (3 August) and Wigmore Hall (12 September). Orliński is also a champion skateboarder and breakdancer, and has worked as a model, appearing on the cover of Vogue Poland Man and Esquire Spain. He releases his eighth album in September.
Describe your late night Prom – mood, atmosphere, what to expect.
It’s based on Beyond – my last album – and in the same way it will reach beyond the barriers of classical music. You don’t have to know anything about the music or the composers. It speaks to anyone, of any age. It’s about purity of emotion. And in this kind of early baroque music the bass line is really important. It’s very groovy, very relevant.
