The 33rd Mozart Festival, hosted by the Warsaw Chamber Opera, recently captivated Vienna with a series of enchanting performances from May 19 to 21, 2024. The festival graced three iconic Viennese venues: the Wiener Musikverein, Mozarthaus, and Hofburgkapelle.
Musical Marvels Unfold: Warsaw Chamber Opera’s Triumph in Vienna
The Viennese chapter of the festival began on May 19 at the renowned Wiener Musikverein. The Orchestra of Early Instruments of the Warsaw Chamber Opera (MACV), conducted by maestro Michał Maciaszczyk, delivered an extraordinary concert. The program featured arias and duets from Mozart’s renowned operas such as “Don Giovanni,” “The Abduction from the Seraglio,” “Idomeneo,” and “La Clemenza di Tito,” alongside overtures and German dances. The performance showcased the talents of world-renowned soprano Jessica Pratt and promising Czech tenor Petr Nekoranec. The evening concluded with a standing ovation and several encores, testament to the audience’s admiration.
On May 20, the festival moved to Mozarthaus, the historic residence where Mozart composed “The Marriage of Figaro.” In this intimate setting, the Warsaw Chamber Opera’s ensemble presented “Mozartian Dialogues: From Strings to Winds,” performing a selection of quartets and divertimenti by Mozart. The nuanced and sophisticated chamber music performance was perfectly complemented by the venue’s rich history.
The final concert on May 21 took place at the Hofburgkapelle. Here, the MACV orchestra, under the direction of maestro Adam Banaszak, delivered a stunning rendition of Mozart’s last three symphonies: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, and Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”). The performance received critical acclaim, highlighting the orchestra’s technical skill and profound interpretation of Mozart’s work.
Warsaw Chamber Opera’s Musical Odyssey in Vienna
This visit marked the Warsaw Chamber Opera’s third performance series in Vienna, further strengthening cultural ties through the timeless music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alicja Węgorzewska-Whiskerd, director of the Warsaw Chamber Opera, reflected on the successful concerts, saying, “With such an outstanding orchestra as MACV, we can perform Mozart’s works anywhere in the world, including Vienna.”
The Warsaw Chamber Opera’s journey to Vienna was facilitated by a partnership with PKP Intercity. As the festival continues, audiences can look forward to more events in Warsaw, culminating in a grand finale on June 30 at the Polish Theatre.
For more details on the festival’s program, visit the Warsaw Chamber Opera’s official website and follow their social media channels.