“Mozart’s personal style of composition cannot be defined, it does not distinguish itself from the style of his age – except by its incomprehensible greatness.” – states Nikolaus Harnoncourt in his famous book Musical Dialogue. Indeed, Mozart’s work is truly unique – it not only delights listeners with its lightness and craftsmanship but also gives artists a lot of room for original interpretations. The music of the Viennese master has also played a special role in maestro Zbigniew Graca’s conducting career. He has interpreted both Mozart’s dramatic and orchestral works numerous times, with excellent ensembles in Poland and around the world. As a full-time conductor of the Warsaw Chamber Opera in the years 1989-2017, he co-created the music during the Mozart Festival as well as conducted the premieres of operas by the Viennese master, e.g. in the United Arab Emirates or at the Latvian National Opera Theatre.
The jubilee concert of a conductor of such great cultural merit will be opened with a composition written by the less than 20-year-old Mozart – Serenata notturna KV 239. The three-movement musical form still resembles the Baroque concerto grosso, but the sound already heralds the beginning of a new era. The majestic march, the charming minuet, and, finally, the graceful and witty rondo bring about the atmosphere of 18th-century Salzburg. The piece will be followed by two concert arias and a number of fragments from beloved operas, such as Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, La clemenza di Tito and Die Zauberflöte. These small masterpieces perfectly capture the temperament of the characters and the depth of the emotions they express. The program will end with Exsultate, jubilate KV 165 – a brilliant motet for soprano accompanied by strings, oboes, horns, and organ. In this small musical form, Mozart managed to combine the Italian-inspired virtuosity of the vocal part with the refined sound of the orchestra.
Marta Dziewanowska-Pachowska
PROGRAM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Serenata notturna KV 239
Aria (Cherubino) Non so piu cosa son, cosa faccio from the opera Le nozze di Figaro
Recitative and aria (Susanna) Giunse alfin il momento… Deh vieni, non tardar from the opera Le nozze di Figaro
Recitative and aria (Dorabella) Ah, scostati!.. Smanie, implacabili from the opera Così fan tutte
Aria (Don Ottavio) Il mio tesoro intanto from the opera Don Giovanni
Aria (Sesto) Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio from the opera La clemenza di Tito
Aria (Nardo) Con un vezzo all’Italiana from the opera La finta giardiniera
Duet (Zerlina and Don Giovanni) La ci darem la mano from the opera Don Giovanni
Duet (Servilla and Annio) Ah perdona al primo affetto from the opera La clemenza di Tito
Aria (Tamino) Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön from the opera Die Zauberflöte
Duet (Dorabella and Guglielmo) Il core vi dono from the opera Così fan tutte
Motet Exsultate, jubilate KV 165
PERFORMERS
MARTA BOBERSKA SOPRANO
JUSTYNA RECZENIEDI SOPRANO
ANNA RADZIEJEWSKA MEZZOSOPRANO
MONIKA LEDZION-PORCZYŃSKA MEZZOSOPRANO
SYLWESTER SMULCZYŃSKI TENOR
WITOLD ŻOŁĄDKIEWICZ BARITONE
JULIAN PAPROCKI CLARINET
THE ORCHESTRA OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA
ZBIGNIEW GRACA CONDUCTOR
