Stanislaw Moniuszko

Born on 5 May 1819 in Minsk, Stanislaw Moniuszko was an organist who taught at Warsaw Conservatory and became Musical Director of the Warsaw Opera House. He composed operas, masses, chamber works, songs and a symphonic poem. His opera Halka was the first Polish national opera, and he retains a great reputation in Poland. He died in Warsaw on 4 June 1872.