„Mój pierwszy Romeo”. Helena Modrzejewska i Bolesław Ładnowski

Helena Modjeska and Bolesław Ładnowski were among the most outstanding performers of Shakespearean characters in the Polish theater of the second half of the 19th century. For the first time, they met on the Krakow stage in 1865 and while initially Ładnowski remained overshadowed by his acting partner, over time his enormous effort and commitment made him one of the most important tragedians on the Polish stage. The article describes artistic contacts of Modjeska and Ładnowski: first, their engagement in the Krakow theater, and later, their encounters during guest performances. The extant letters also shed light on social life, in particular, Ładnowski’s friendship with Karol Chłapowski.