Performers
Henryk Czyż
Conductor, composer and educator, author of books on music. A pupil of Tadeusz Szeligowski and Valerian Berdyaev, he graduated from Poznań’s State Higher School of Music (now the Paderewski Academy) in 1952. He held the posts of conductor in Poznań’s Stanisław Moniuszko State Opera (now the Grand Theatre), second conductor to the Great Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio, artistic director and principal conductor of Łódź Philharmonic (1957–1960) and Krakow Philharmonic (1963–1967), conductor at Warsaw Opera (1961–1962), and music director of the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker (1971–1974). From 1972 till the end of the decade, he worked again at Łódź Philharmonic.
Czyż focused on large-scale works for voices and instruments, the Classicist period, and contemporary music. He led the world’s top orchestras nearly throughout Europe, as well as in South America and the United States. He also recorded albums for prestigious labels. His promotion of Igor Stravinsky and French music was a major contribution to the Polish scene. In the late 1960s, he closely collaborated with Krzysztof Penderecki, conducted world premiere performances of his works, presented them abroad, and made a highly acclaimed recording of St Luke Passion.
Henryk Czyż taught conducting classes at Krakow’s State Higher School of Music (now the Penderecki Academy), and later – at Warsaw’s Chopin Academy (now University) of Music.
Czyż focused on large-scale works for voices and instruments, the Classicist period, and contemporary music. He led the world’s top orchestras nearly throughout Europe, as well as in South America and the United States. He also recorded albums for prestigious labels. His promotion of Igor Stravinsky and French music was a major contribution to the Polish scene. In the late 1960s, he closely collaborated with Krzysztof Penderecki, conducted world premiere performances of his works, presented them abroad, and made a highly acclaimed recording of St Luke Passion.
Henryk Czyż taught conducting classes at Krakow’s State Higher School of Music (now the Penderecki Academy), and later – at Warsaw’s Chopin Academy (now University) of Music.
