Let’s BaRock

With his latest genre-blending project, countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński pushes the boundaries of baroque in an electrifying collaboration with pianist and composer Aleksander Dębicz. Together with leading Polish pop musicians, they reimagine baroque masterworks for the 21st century, fusing period repertoire with a bold, contemporary sound.

The remarkable Polish opera singer Jakub Józef Orlinski is a countertenor – singing in a high register, like a female alto or mezzo-soprano – as well as a breakdancer and model. In recent years, he has made a spectacular breakthrough on the world’s major opera stages.

With his unique connection to audiences, both on stage and through social media, Orlinski has attracted a huge following. The British newspaper The Telegraph described him as “the first opera star to win over Generation Z” – that is, listeners who have grown up in the 21st century. Breaking new ground and reaching curious new audiences is important to him. Let’s BaRock is a project created together with pianist Aleksander Dębicz.

“Here, traditional Baroque music gets a modern pop-influenced setting that takes it to a whole new level! And I truly love the challenges of this project. It’s allowed me to use my voice in different ways compared to the more formal Baroque albums I’ve recorded before,” says Jakub Józef Orlinski.

The music performed by Orlinski and pianist Aleksander Dębicz, together with prominent pop musicians, features works by Baroque giants such as Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi and Monteverdi – as well as original pieces by Aleksander Dębicz.

Watch the French documentary on SVT Play (opens in new window)