Wojciech Kilar

Award-winning Polish composer Wojciech Kilar was born in Lwów on 17 July 1932. He studied in Katowice with Władysława Markiewiczówna, in Kraków with Bolesław Woytowicz and in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. In the 1960s he was a member of the Polish avant garde movement, but later wrote in a more simplified style. He was chairman of the Katowice chapter of the Polish Composers Association and sat on the repertoire committee of the Warsaw Autumn International Contemporary Music Festival. His output includes the Baltic Canticles, the Missa pro pace and the September Symphony.

In addition to his serious music, Kilar wrote film scores, working with Francis Ford Coppola and Roman Polanski.

He lived in Katowice for most of his life, and died there on 29 December 2013, aged eighty-one.

A selection of articles about Wojciech Kilar

Spotlight. A Stupendous Box Set - Gerald Fenech strongly recommends Antonio Pappano's complete symphonic, concertante and sacred music recordings with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. '... music-making of exceptional passion and indescribable beauty that exalts the listener to heights of immense joy and feverish excitement.'

Spotlight. Virtuosic Flair - Gerald Fenech recommends dance music played by Daniel Hope and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. 'Daniel Hope's fiddle-playing is just phenomenal ...'