Aria for an Athlete

Set at the turn of the century it presents a story of a famous Polish athlete Zbyszko Cyganiewicz It begins in a small town where a traveling circus attracts a shy boy into a phony wrestling game to please the crowds The youth however takes his strength seriously eventually defeating a name wrestler in a fair match Angered circus manager fires him he leaves happily due to two wrestler brothers who were harassing him The wrestler goes on to fame performing in the worlds top arenas and one day is serenaded by a tenor from the crowd Fame brings him women and admirers but he is uncompromising on his profession He has his revenge on one of his tormentors defeating him in the ring One day attending a game in a tuxedo he is challenged by another of the brothers and drawn into a brutal game in course of which he kills his opponent Thus his career ends