The production, inspired by Grzegorz Piątek's award-winning book "The Best City in the World: Warsaw in Reconstruction 1944-1949," is set to debut in September 2025.
The opera narrates the story of Warsaw rising from the ruins, highlighting the ambitious plans to create 'the best city in the world.' It showcases the determination, optimism, and lofty aspirations of those who spearheaded the reconstruction. This universal tale of hope and the triumph of the human spirit over destruction and death is crafted to resonate with audiences beyond its historical context.
Composer Cezary Duchnowski and playwright Beniamin Bukowski have created the music and libretto. They were selected from a pool of invited artists by a jury of esteemed musicians and writers, recognized for their expertise in their respective fields. Barbara Wiśniewska, a directing lecturer at the Warsaw Theater Academy, has been chosen through a closed competition to direct the opera. She shared that working on this staging holds a special, personal significance for her.
Click on the player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland’s Agnieszka Bielawska.