Dobrawa Czocher – Sonata For Cello Solo: Joanna's Tale

In a moving tribute to women’s wartime bravery, acclaimed Polish cellist and composer Dobrawa Czocher has unveiled a new EP, ‘Sonata for Cello Solo: Joanna’s Tale’. Composed in 2024 following a commission from the Warsaw Uprising Museum, this powerful three-movement work commemorates the 80th anniversary of Poland's historic Warsaw Uprising.

​Following on from the Sonata, Czocher was subsequently invited to collaborate on the site-specific opera D'arc, directed by Krystian Lada and created specifically for this occasion. The opera centers on the character of Joanna, a young cellist whose aspirations of a solo career are shattered by war’s harsh realities. Through both acting and composition, Czocher intimately portrays Joanna's internal struggle, vulnerabilities, and strength. The opera ultimately serves as a powerful homage to all women who, though not frontline fighters, courageously shaped history through countless acts of everyday heroism during wartime.

Speaking about the project, Czocher explains “This was a special journey for me. I never before had such a task to compose music and give a voice to the heroine of a story. Taking part in Krystian Lada’s Opera D'arc was an experience that left me with a lot of reflections on the subject of creative freedom, stage freedom, and the power that a solo instrumental piece carries. The piece consists of three themes: the first emanates great hopes, the second the reality of war, and the third her fight. The Sonata allowed me to express my musical roots while finding a deeply personal musical language.”

The Warsaw Uprising, initiated by the Polish Home Army, was the largest resistance-led military action against Nazi occupation during World War II. Originally intended as a swift rebellion, it endured for 63 grueling days, becoming an enduring symbol of courage and resolve amid adversity. Tragically, the conflict resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 individuals, primarily civilians, leaving a profound legacy of bravery that resonates deeply within Polish national identity to this day.

Sonata for Cello Solo: Joanna’s Tale marks a return to Czocher's classical roots, following her critically acclaimed debut solo album Dreamscapes (2023). The album garnered widespread praise and earned nominations across six categories at Germany's prestigious Opus Klassik awards, including Instrumentalist of the Year and Composer of the Year categories, cementing her reputation as a versatile and innovative artist.