After the success of his opera "Halka" Stanisław Moniuszko was made director of the National Opera in Warsaw. In 1858 he travelled to Paris to dedicate time to composition. Legend has it that during a very hot 4 days the composer isolated himself in his hotel room and wrote the whole opera Flis.
Verbum Nobile is a comic opera. Zuzia and Michal are promised to each other by their parents, without their having met; they meet accidentally and fall in love. Michal, having given his name as Stanisław, is refused Zusia's hand by her father, who has given his word to Serwacy, Michal's father, on the betrothal. All is explained, preventing a duel between Marcin and Serwacy, and the marriage can go ahead.
Flis is set in a town of raftsmen by the Wisla river and revolves around two young lovers who are not allowed to marry because the father of the girl "Zosia" had previously promised her to another young man "Jakub" (who is a hairdresser in Warsaw!). Disillusioned, Franek goes off in search of his long lost brother, only to find that his brother is actually the hairdresser in Warsaw! The score is full of Polish folk-influenced tunes, prayers and national rhythms including the Kujawiak.
