Wojciech Bogusławski’s The Miracle, or Cracovians and Highlanders set to music by Jan Stefani is considered to be the first Polish national opera. Written and staged shortly before the third partition of Poland (1795), it employed a light-hearted musical form and brilliant text to carry a very clear patriotic message, so important to Polish audiences at that time. Today, when this aspect has only historical significance, The Miracle is still an attractive opera show with a universal message stemming from folk wisdom, as well as a rewarding learning material for young performers.
