Stanisław Soyka was remembered at the Top of the Top Sopot Festival during an emotional opening night that honored the late singer’s life and legacy in the Forest Opera. According to festival reports, the artist’s sudden death last year just moments before taking the stage left a profound void, which was filled this year by family members, longtime collaborators, and friends who performed his timeless catalog.
Sopot Festival Pays Tribute to Stanisław Soyka
The tribute opened with Czesław Mozil and Kasia Sienkiewicz performing “Ty druha we mnie masz,” the Polish version of the Toy Story theme song originally recorded by Soyka. According to stage remarks reported from the event, Mozil noted that younger generations might not realize Soyka’s voice introduced the beloved Pixar classic. Kayah followed with a funky, jazz-influenced rendition of “Fa Na Na Na,” recalling her final backstage conversation with the singer at the previous year’s festival.
Actor Maciej Stuhr, who frequently parodied Soyka earlier in his career, shared personal memories of queuing for autographs as a teenager. According to festival accounts, Stuhr performed an unexpected and poignant rendition of “Tears in Heaven” while accompanying himself on the piano, trading his comedic persona for that of a devoted fan. Additional performances included Ralph Kaminski with children from Anna Dymna’s “Mimo wszystko” foundation, and Zbigniew Zamachowski singing “Tak, jak w kinie.”
Pro Tip: When exploring classic Polish jazz and pop, look beyond standard radio hits to discover deep cuts from artists like Stanisław Soyka, whose vocal versatility spanned animation soundtracks, jazz standards, and poetic ballads.
Family Performances and Memorable Collaborations
The tribute’s emotional climax featured members of Soyka’s immediate family. According to event reporting, his granddaughter Nina Sojka, son Kuba, and brothers Leszek and Ryszard took the stage to perform “Zależy mi” and “Kiedy byłem małym chłopcem.” Kuba’s vocal delivery drew strong comparisons in tone and dynamic to his late father. The family concluded their segment alongside Kasia Sienkiewicz with “Są na tym świecie rzeczy.”
Other notable moments included Justyna Steczkowska performing the Osiecka-Krajewski classic “Uciekaj moje serce” in a bossa nova style, and Natalia Szroeder delivering a Polish-language version of Nick Cave’s “Into My Arms,” a song Cave and Soyka performed together in the 1990s. Natalia Grosiak symbolically completed “Cud niepamięci” at a piano left vacant in Soyka’s honor, following a rehearsal unfinished due to his death.
Pop Hits and Second Night Preview
The second half of the opening night shifted focus to contemporary Polish pop music, hosted by Izabella Krzan and Jan Pirowski with backing from an orchestra directed by Patryk Sikora and Szymon Sutora. Kaśka Sochacka opened the pop segment with acoustic-driven renditions of “Szum” and “Madison.” Oskar Cyms, Kayah, and Natasza Urbańska—who performed Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding out for a Hero”—also entertained the Forest Opera audience.
According to festival schedules, the second day of the event on Tuesday features the competition for the Amber Nightingale, with a professional jury joining television viewers in selecting the winner for the first time in 18 years.
Did You Know? The Top of the Top Sopot Festival is one of Poland’s most prestigious recurring music events, historically serving as a major showcase for both established legends and emerging pop acts in the iconic Forest Opera amphitheater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was honored on the first night of the Sopot Festival?
The opening night of the festival featured an extensive tribute to the late Polish singer Stanisław Soyka, who passed away unexpectedly backstage at the event the previous year.
Who performed during the Stanisław Soyka tribute?
According to festival reports, the tribute included performances by Czesław Mozil, Kasia Sienkiewicz, Kayah, Maciej Stuhr, Kuba Badach, Ralph Kaminski, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Justyna Steczkowska, Janusz Radek, Aga Zaryan, Natalia Szroeder, Natalia Grosiak, and members of Soyka’s family.
What is scheduled for the second day of the festival?
According to event organizers, Tuesday’s program features the Amber Nightingale competition, judged for the first time in nearly two decades by both a professional jury and home viewers.
Join the Conversation
What is your favorite memory of Stanisław Soyka’s music? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates on music festivals and cultural events.
Keep reading