Parade Square in Warsaw
Centralny Plac Muzyki
Mozart Night Gala – Joyce DiDonato
Joyce DiDonato | mezzosoprano
Tomasz Ritter | pianoforte
Lautaro Greco | bandoneon
Hubert Zapiór | baritone
The Choir of the Warsaw Chamber Opera
Chorus Master | Krzysztof Kusiel-Moroz
Period Instrument Orchestra of the Warsaw Chamber Opera
Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense (MACV)
Conductor | Benjamin Bayl
Program
W. A. Mozart: Overture and chorus Nettuno s’onori from Idomeneo
W. A. Mozart: Aria Deh per questo from La clemenza di Tito
W. A. Mozart: Chorus Che del ciel from La clemenza di Tito
W. A. Mozart: Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart: Aria Voi che sapete from Le nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart: Finale of Symphony No. 41 in C major, Jupiter, K. 551
W. A. Mozart: Concert aria Ch’io mi scordi di te?… Non temer, amato bene, K. 505 (with Tomasz Ritter)
G. Rossini: Overture to Il Barbiere di Siviglia
G. Rossini: Chorus Quanto roba! Quanti schiavi! from L’italiana in Algeri
G. Rossini: Aria Cruda sorte from L’italiana in Algeri
A. Piazzolla: Los Pájaros Perdidos (with Lautaro Greco – bandoneon)
A. Piazzolla: Cadenza from Tristezas de un Doble A (solo Lautaro Greco – bandoneon)
É. Piaf & Guglielmi: La vie en rose (with Lautaro Greco – bandoneon)
G. Rossini: Overture to the Opera “Cinderella”
R. Rodgers & O. Hammerstein: You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel
F. Loewe & A. J. Lerner: I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady
Joyce DiDonato is one of the most distinguished opera singers of our time—an American mezzo-soprano renowned for her exceptional vocal color, remarkable technique, and magnetic stage presence. Born on February 13, 1969, in Prairie Village, Kansas, she has captivated audiences on the world’s leading stages for more than two decades, earning acclaim from critics and music lovers alike.
DiDonato is especially celebrated for her interpretations of Baroque and bel canto repertoire. Her performances in operas by George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Gioachino Rossini are widely regarded as exemplary, combining vocal virtuosity with profound expression and psychological insight. Equally at ease in dramatic and comic roles, she impresses audiences with both the power of her artistry and her elegance and refinement.
She began her career after studying voice at Wichita State University and the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Her international breakthrough came at the turn of the 21st century, and since then she has appeared regularly at such renowned venues as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, the Opéra Bastille in Paris, and the Royal Opera House in London. Alongside her operatic career, she maintains an extensive concert schedule, collaborating with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.
Joyce DiDonato’s discography includes numerous critically acclaimed recordings for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Virgin Classics, and Erato. Her albums have received many prestigious awards, including a Grammy Award in 2012, as well as Gramophone Awards and Echo Klassik distinctions.
The artist is known not only for her vocal mastery but also for her commitment to educational and social initiatives. Her artistic projects frequently extend beyond the traditional concert format, inviting reflection on the role of music in the contemporary world.
Joyce DiDonato is a complete artist—combining technical perfection with emotional depth and intellectual sensitivity—ensuring that her interpretations linger in memory long after the final note has faded.
The Mozart Night Gala is the ceremonial culmination of the 35th Mozart Festival—the oldest festival in Poland devoted entirely to the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Organized continuously since 1991 by the Warsaw Chamber Opera, the festival was established on the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death and, over more than three decades, has become one of the country’s most important operatic events.
The Mozart Festival is distinguished by its consistent presentation of Mozart’s stage works—including all of the composer’s operas—as well as symphonic concerts, oratorios, and recitals. Each year it attracts outstanding artists from Poland and abroad, along with audiences for whom the music of the Salzburg master remains a living and inspiring part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
The Mozart Night Gala serves as a festive closing concert featuring a selection of Mozart’s most beautiful arias, ensembles, and vocal-instrumental works. In previous editions, the event was given unique subtitles emphasizing thematic or dramatic concepts, each time creating a distinct artistic vision.
In 2026, the Mozart Night Gala will be presented as part of the Central Music Festival, serving as the culminating event of the 35th Mozart Festival.
The special guest of this year’s edition will be Joyce DiDonato—an internationally acclaimed American mezzo-soprano who performs on the world’s leading opera stages. Her participation lends the gala exceptional prestige and underscores the international character of the event.
The Mozart Night Gala remains one of the highlights of the Warsaw Chamber Opera’s artistic season—an event that, in a ceremonial setting, concludes another edition of the Mozart Festival while celebrating the timeless genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.