Wladislaw Szpilman

About

Official Site: http://www.szpilman.net/

Wladyslaw Szpilman, Polish pianist and composer who had to leave Germany in 1933 after studying with Arthur Schnabel and Franz Schreker. Enjoyed great success in Poland, where his career was abruptly broken off by Germany's attack on Poland in 1939. Survived the Warsaw Getto. Composed about 300 songs, many of which are still popular in Poland today. Wrote a small number of 'serious' works too, which are now available through Boosey & Hawkes / Bote & Bock for the first time. Pre-war compositions include the piano suite The Life of Machines and the Concertino for piano and orchestra that he finished in the getto. His amalgamation of serious and popular music is rooted in the stylistic tradition of the twenties.

"Szpilman is near to neo-classicism. His music does not know of late romantic pathos, but sounds lively and translucent." – Basler Zeitung

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