It was a magical night in Vienna for Piotr Beczała. Last Sunday, after his final performance as Cavaradossi in Vienna State Opera’s production of Tosca, he was honored with the prestigious title of österreichischer Kammersänger.

Piotr, who due to an endless applause once again sang an encore of the aria “E lucevan le stelle”, after the performance was joined on the stage by his colleagues, as well as Vienna State Opera Director Dominique Meyer and Vice Chancellor and Minister of Justice Clemens Jabloner.

It is a great pleasure to give you this award, you really deserve it! – said Dominique Meyer in his speech during the ceremony. He also mentioned Piotr Beczała’s international career and particularly emphasized his debut roles at the Vienna State Opera. You gave us new roles and in recent years sung Don José for the first time, the Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur and this year – Cavaradossi. As I sat alone in the auditorium during the rehearsals and you sang this wonderful third-act aria, I had tears in my eyes. These are moments a man will never forget.

The official title document was handed over to Piotr Beczała by Jürgen Meindl, Head of the Art and Culture Section of the Federal Chancellery, who emphasized that he is very pleased to welcome Piotr Beczała in the illustrious circle of the Kammersängers in the jubilee year of the Vienna State Opera. We know your artistic life, which started in Poland and has led you to the world renowned opera houses. We value and appreciate your voice, your modesty, which in a way contradicts your international popularity, the opera sound experience, the stage experience that makes you special again every night – he said.

The prestigious title of Kammersänger is a great honor and a great joy for me, because it puts me among my idols, great opera artists of the past, which I admire and from which I learned – Piotr Beczała wrote on his social media profiles. – I would like to thank Dominique Meyer and the Wiener Staatsoper for this wonderful recognition of my work. I also thank the amazing Viennese audience, fantastic Wiener Philharmoniker, my colleagues, friends and loved ones – thanks to you, I experienced unforgettable moments yesterday that will remain with me for a long time.

Kammersänger is an honorary title with a long tradition, given to outstanding and distinguished opera singers. The right to honour the artist with this title is the privilege of major state opera houses in Germany and Austria.