Krzysztof Penderecki - NOSPR

23.11.1933, Dębica – 29.03.2020, Kraków

A composer, conductor and pedagogue of international renown. His work helped form a new image of Polish 20th-century music. He is one of the finest and most highly valued contemporary personalities not only in the domain of music, but also in the arts and culture as a whole. Laureate of five prestigious Grammy awards: in 1987, 1998 (double award), 2000 and 2016. Krzysztof Penderecki’s rich and varied music has been resounding around the world for more than 60 years now. His status is attested to by numerous state honours, both in Poland and abroad, awards and titles he was granted all over the globe, international competitions named in his honour, as well as, first and foremost, his pieces being performed by outstanding virtuosos and leading orchestras in the most famous concert halls the whole world over. The composer received honorary doctorates from more than 40 universities, was an honorary member of the most important academies of arts and sciences, as well as honorary professor of many prestigious artistic universities. He developed a passion for botany and landscaping. As he would say himself, he had worked with music his „whole life, and with gardens – since settling down in Lusławice”. He brought trees and bushes from the four corners of the world to Lusławice and, being a keen dendrologist, looked after them himself.

He composed four operas. The Devils of Loudun were commissioned by the Hamburg opera, while his second opera, Paradise Lost, premiered in Chicago. The Black Mask triumphed in Salzburg, with subsequent performances in Vienna following soon and the American premiere taking place in Santa Fe. Penderecki’s fourth opera, Ubu Rex, premiered at the Munich Opera.

The Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music