Leszek Skrla. He graduated with distinction from the Music Academy in Gdańsk, where he educated under the direction of Andrzej Kosecki and Piotr Kusiewicz. In 1987 he received honourable mentions at the 22nd Anton Dvorak International Vocal Competition in Karlove Vary and at the Ada Sari Vocal Competition in Nowy Sącz.
He made his debut at the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk as Figaro in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Since 1988/1989 he’s been a leading soloist of the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk. He often makes a public performance as a soloist of oratorian concerts at home and abroad (Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Israel). His repertoire includes over 40 leading baritone parts in operas by Verdi (Rigoletto, Macbeth, Aida, Ernani, Traviata, Il Trovatore, I Masnadieri), Puccini (La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Il Tabbaro), Bizet (Carmen), Wagner (Tannhauser), Ponchiello (La Gioconda), Leoncavallo (Il Pagliaci) and many others. He’s also got in his repertoire lots of oratorian-cantata partie.
He cooperated with many recognised conductors: J. Maksymiuk, M. Pijarowski, J. Salwarowski, T. Bugaj, J.M. Florencio Jr., R. Silva, T. Kozłowski, J. Katlewicz, B. Madej, W. Michniewski, K. Buman, A. Straszyński. He has participated in many prestigious festivals (Warsaw Autumn, Wratislavia Cantans, Musica Polonia Nova, Viva il Canto). He received an award from the Marshal of the Pomeranian Province for the role of Wolfram in Wagner’s Tannhauser in the 2001/2002 season. In 2001 he succeeded with his role of Don Carlos in Verdi’s opera Ernani. In September of 2002 he was invited by The Great Theatre in Łódź to take a part in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (as a Figaro) with the international cast and the conductor Claudio Desderi. Participation in the premiere of Tosca presented during the festival Viva il Canto 2005 in Cieszyn was a significant event in Leszek Skrla’s creative achivements. Moreover he sang the title part in Szymanowski’s King Roger at Teatro Massimo in Palermo (2005) and the part of Urok in Ignacy Paderewski’s Manru at Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz 92006). The latter production was released on DVD. In May of 2007 he sang the title role in G. Verdi’s Rigoletto directed by M. Grzesiński.
In the 2008/2009 season he took a part in the premiere recording of Moniuszko’s Paria under the direction of Warcisław Kunc and sang the part of Father Grandier in Penderecki’s The Devils of Loudun in a production inaugurating the newly opened Opera House in Kraków (director Laco Adamik).
In the 2009/2010 season he took a part in the recording of Monuiszko’s Flis (The Raftsman) and Verbum nobile under Kunc’s baton and sang the part of Barnaba in Ponchielli’s Gioconda – a production inaugurating the Bydgoszcz Opera Festival (director Krzysztof Nazar).
In the 2011/2012 season he took a part in the premiere of Verdi’s La Traviata (directed by K. Sofulak) and in the world premiere of E. Sikora’s Marie Curie as an Einstein. In June of 2012 he made a guest appearance in role of G. Germont in Staatstheater Nurnberg.
In February of 2013 he celebrates 25th anniversary of his artistic career and sings the title role of Verdi’s Makbeth at the Baltic Opera. In recognition of his achivements he receives the title of profesor of musical art from hands of President Bronisław Komorowski.
In 2014 he records a Penderecki’s „Powiało na mnie morze snów”, which is released on DVD by DUX and sings a title role in the premiere of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. The next great role in Leszek Skrla’s repertoire is Jago in Verdi’s Otello at the Baltic Opera (2015).
In June of 2016 he sang a role of Conte di Luna in Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the XX Festival of Opera House in Cracow on courtyard of Royal Castle on Wawel.
Currently he is cooperating with all the Opera Houses in Poland, where he sings a wide baritone repertoire.
Leszek Skrla also pursues a teaching career as a member of faculty of the Music Academy in Gdańsk.