On September 19, 2025, the premiere of The Best City in the World. An Opera about Warsaw will take place—a unique work co-produced by the Polish National Opera – Grand Theatre and Sinfonia Varsovia on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the beginning of Warsaw's reconstruction. The premiere will inaugurate both the 2025/2026 artistic season of the Polish National Opera and the 68th edition of the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music. Ticket sales start on June 10.
This is one of the most significant events marking the 80th anniversary of the start of Warsaw’s reconstruction. The Opera about Warsaw conveys a message about the need for unity despite differences, especially relevant today, in order to rebuild and co-create “the best city in the world.”
The opera was made possible thanks to the patronage of the City of Warsaw. The originator of the project is Jarosław Trybuś, who serves as project director. In 2021, he introduced the concept to Jerzy Kornowicz, director of Warsaw Autumn, Waldemar Dąbrowski, director of the Polish National Opera, and Janusz Marynowski, director of Sinfonia Varsovia.
The librettist and composer were selected through closed competitions held in early 2023. The final version of the libretto, written by Beniamin Bukowski and inspired by Grzegorz Piątek’s book The Best City in the World: Warsaw in Reconstruction 1944–1949, was completed in the fall of that year. Composer Cezary Duchnowski finished the score in the summer of 2024. The stage director, Barbara Wiśniewska, was selected through a competition organized by the Polish National Opera in early 2024.
The production team includes: set designer Natalia Kitamikado, playwright Marcin Cecko, costume designer Emil Wysocki, choreographer Maćko Prusak, lighting designer Aleksander Prowaliński, video designer Bartek Macias, and make-up designer Mateusz Stępniak.
There are only two main characters: an architect and a journalist, performed by renowned sopranos Agata Zubel and Joanna Freszel.
The architect character is inspired by Helena Syrkus, a member of the Bureau for the Reconstruction of the Capital, whose dream of reshaping a dysfunctional city is confronted by the devastation of war and the harsh reality of postwar rebuilding.
The journalist is modeled after Anna Louise Strong, an American reporter fascinated by communism, who traveled through war-torn Poland alongside the Red Army.
The role of the guide will be performed by actor Filip Kosior.
Cezary Duchnowski’s music combines the power of a full orchestra and choir with modern electronics. The choruses will play a particularly significant role, expressing the emotions of the city's residents. The “Artos” Children's Choir will also be part of the cast. Bassem Akiki will conduct Sinfonia Varsovia and the choirs of the Polish National Opera.
Additional performances are scheduled for September 20 and October 18 and 19, 2025.
Tickets will be available on the website of the Polish National Opera from June 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
The project is financed by the City of Warsaw.
Sponsor: Orlen.
Partners: City of Warsaw and the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Ticket information: https://teatrwielki.pl/kalendarium/2025-2026/najlepsze-miasto-swiata-opera-o-warszawie/
