Jakub Józef Orliński
Justin Timbelake of opera – that’s how the New Yorker weekly described him, and the UK’s Daily Telegraph ranked him among the world’s 10 most charming opera artists.
Jakub Józef Orliński, countertenor, but also b-boy, dancer, acrobat and model, born in 1990 in Warsaw. Winner of many competitions, whose calendar is filled many months in advance and whose concerts sell like hot cakes. Famous opera houses and philharmonics outdo each other in invitations, and he eagerly accepts new collaborations and new challenges.
A countertenor is the highest male voice, otherwise known as a falsetto, whose high notes are produced using the edges of the vocal cords. A difficult singing technique, requiring years of training, but also fascinating. “I felt that by singing countertenor, I was better able to convey my emotions and perception of the piece. The natural voice did not give me that feeling of fulfillment,” he said in an interview. Orlinski has managed to perfect this technique, with which he has enchanted millions of music lovers who fill concert halls to the last seat – in every latitude.
During his concerts, Orlinski sings works by Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Marini, Caccini, Frescobaldi, Strozzi, Cavalli, Jarzębski, among others. He is fascinated with Baroque music, as can be heard on his recent sixth solo album entitled Beyond, recorded with the accompaniment of the ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, released in autumn 2023.
He has been showered with awards all over the world. He has been awarded the Opus Klassik statuette in the singer of the year category several times, and has twice been nominated for a Fryderyk in the ‘Best Polish Album Abroad’ category. In 2019, the singer received the honourable title of Young Artist of the Year according to the British magazine Gramophone, and in 2020 he was awarded the ‘Polityka’ Passport in the classical music category for his ‘unparalleled ability to move emotions in interpretations of early music, beautiful voice, stage charisma, diligence, ambitious shaping of the repertoire and humility towards music’. In 2021, he received the International Opera Award, known as the opera Oscar, for his album Facce d’Amore with Baroque secular works. He has also been nominated twice for a Grammy, one of the world’s most prestigious musical awards.
Jakub Józef Orlinski also has considerable achievements in the field of breakdancing. He competes in dance competitions and has won solo and team awards, including second place in the Style Impact – Top Rock Contest and second place in The Style Control competition. “I have an awareness of my own body,” he stresses in interviews. Directors like to use his movement skills in opera productions.
Orlinski is also known for advertising campaigns for Levi’s, Nike, Turbokolor, Samsung, Mercedes-Benz or Algida, among others, and Dannon, where he has appeared as a model, dancer and acrobat.
In the coming months, he can be seen and heard in Barcelona, Madrid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Prague, Vienna, Sofia, San Diego, Stanford, Vancouver, among others.
Official website of the artist: https://jakubjozeforlinski.com/