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Henryk Czyż

Henryk Czyż

1923-2003

Henryk Czyż, conductor, composer and music tutor, born 16th June 1923 in Grudziądz, died 16th January 2003 in Warsaw. In 1946-48 he studied law and philosophy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. In 1952 he graduated from the State Higher School of Music in Poznań, where he studied composition under Tadeusz Szeligowski and conducting with Walerian Bierdiajew. In 1952-53 he conducted in the Stanisław Moniuszko Opera in Poznań; in 1953-57 he was 2nd conductor of the Polish Radio Grand Symphony Orchestra; in 1957-60 – artistic director and 1st conductor of Łódź Philharmonic; in 1961-62 – conductor in Warsaw Opera, in 1963-67 – artistic director and 1st conductor of the Cracow Philharmonic. From 1962 to 1966 he taught the conducting class in the State Higher School of Music in Cracow. His students include Antoni Wit and A. Pałka. In 1971-74 he held the post of Generalmusikdirektor in Düsseldorf, from 1972 simultaneously acting as artistic director and 1st conductor of Łódź Philharmonic. In 1980-95 he led the conducting class in the Music Academy in Warsaw. He gave concerts in nearly all European countries, in South America and the United States, conducting such orchestras as: the Leningrad, Berlin, Stockholm and Madrid Philharmonics, the BBC and Santa Cecilia Orchestras.

His recordings were released under such labels as Polskie Nagrania, Philips, Harmonia Mundi, Miełodija, Electra and won numerous awards including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Edison Award for Krzysztof Penderecki’s Passion (Philips, 1967), the Grand Prix Mondial for the quadrophonic recording of Raj i Peri by Robert Schumann (Electrola, 1974).

In his vast repertoire, much attention was dedicated to oratorios, classicism and contemporary music. He introduced many works by Igor Stravinsky, Arthur Honegger, Claude Debussy into Polish opera and concert halls. In 1966-69 he collaborated closely with Krzysztof Penderecki, conducting the first performances of the Passion, Dies Irae, The Devils of Loudun, as well as presenting Penderecki’s works in other countries.

He wrote and published many books on music, including Ucieczka spod klucza [The Flight from the Clef] (Warsaw 1973), Porcelanowy amorek [China Cupid] (Warsaw 1977), Jak z nut [By the Notes] (Warsaw 1978), Serkal i inne tizery [Serkal and Other Teasers] (Łódź 1978), Nie taki diabeł straszny – gawędy telewizyjne [Don’t Be Afraid of the Wolf - TV Talks] (Łódź 1979), Tizery [Teasers] (Warsaw 1982), Scrip-tease (Warsaw 1988), Pamiętam jak dziś [I Remember As If It Were Today] (Warsaw 1993), Niewczesne żarty [Ill-Timed Jokes] (Warsaw 1995).

Henryk Czyż was awarded with the Gold Cross of Merit (1953), the Cavalier’s Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order (1958), Minister of Culture and Art Award, 1st Class (1975), State Award, 1st Class for his whole artistic activity (1978).