Agnieszka Rehlis is a Polish operatic mezzo-soprano who has made an international career. She is known for portraying Verdi characters including Amneris and Azucena. She participated in music by Krzysztof Penderecki, including the world premiere of his Eighth Sinfonie and the Grammy Award–winning collection Penderecki Conducts Penderecki.
As a concert singer, Rehlis focused on the works by Krzysztof Penderecki, often conducted by the composer. She performed in his Seven Gates of Jerusalem at Midem Classique 2000 in Cannes,[6] in Polish Requiem and in the world premieres of both his Eighth Sinfonie in Luxembourg and his Dies Illa at the Festival van Vlaanderen in Brussels.[3][7][8] She sang in Penderecki's A sea of dreams did breathe on me, with the National Philharmonic in Warsaw conducted by Valery Gergiev.[5][9][10] In Zürich, she appeared as Azucena when the new GMD, Gianandrea Noseda, conducted for the first time, alongside Piotr Beczala in the title role, Marina Rebeka as Leonora and Quinn Kelsey as Luna.[11] A reviewer wrote: "Agnieszka Rehlis was a trembling, shaking, almost possessed Azucena; despite her small figure she filled the stage with her troubling presence. Her mezzo was remarkably uniform over its range, and her high notes were powerful and brilliant. Her 'Sei vendicata, o madre', at the end, was terrifying."[12]
Recordings
Rehlis recorded Penderecki's Te Deum (Naxos, 2005[13]) and Symphony No. 8 Lieder der Vergänglichkeit (Songs of Transience) (Naxos, 2006[14]).[1][6] She sang on the Grammy award–winning CD Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1 (Warner, 2016[15]).[16][17]
