Karol Szymanowski
The late romantic Polish composer Karol Szymanowski was born in the Ukraine (where many Poles owned land) on 6 October 1882. Early enthusiasm for Chopin triggered his musical studies. After a stay in Berlin, and the beginning of his career, he returned to increasing enthusiasm from his compatriots. He was an experimenter, and has left some music of exceptional character and colour, including the opera King Roger, a Stabat Mater and an electrifying Third Symphony. He died at Lausanne on 28 March 1937.
A selection of articles about Karol Szymanowski
Spotlight. Absolutely Stunning - Geoff Pearce listens to Lea Birringer's Sibelius, Szymanowski and Järnefelt. '... beautifully played.'
Ensemble. Finely Judged - Mike Wheeler was at Derby Chamber Music's Young Artists' Recital
Classical music news - Turbulent Times - The Australian Youth Orchestra goes to Tasmania for its Autumn Season Concert
Classical music news. February 2024 Newsletter and other news - Our February 2024 PDF newsletter has just been published, and amongst other items of news, we also feature a conversation between Tamami Honma and Barry Cooper
Spotlight. A Very Original Compilation - Geoff Pearce appreciates Piotr Anderszewski's recordings of Janáček, Szymanowski and Bartók. '... dazzling technique ...'
Szymanowska - A classical music word-puzzle by Allan Rae
Ensemble. Poise and Command - Mike Wheeler listens to the Fitzroy Quartet
CD Spotlight. Secret Love Letters - Lisa Batiashvili plays Chausson, Debussy, Franck and Szymanowski, warmly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Batiashvili plays this programme with ultra-sensitive feeling and moving emotional ardour that penetrate right to the heart of this sublime music which reveals the inscrutable depths of the human soul.'
Classical music news. Singing in Cars? - Classical Music Daily's February 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast
Classical music news. Stanisław Moniuszko Competition - The deadline for applications to take part in a new Polish music competition is 23 June 2019
CD Spotlight. Finely Crafted - Twentieth century Polish songs, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... a fascinating journey into the evolving compositional style of Karol Szymanowski ...'
Ensemble. Weak Videos - Szymanowski's 'Król Roger', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. A Stunning Display - Mike Wheeler is impressed by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain playing Lauren Marshall, Brett Dean, Szymanowski and Rachmaninov
Waiting to be Unveiled - Clare Hammond plays new music by Robert Saxton, plus J S Bach, Beethoven, Szymanowski, Adès and Medtner, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Scintillating Evening - Szymanowski's 'King Roger' at Covent Garden, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett
Ensemble. Charisma, Punch and Pull - Roderic Dunnett listens to Valery Gergiev conduct Szymanowski and promote the opening of Mariinsky2
Ensemble. An Annual Delight - Maria Nockin visits Santa Fe for the summer opera season
Ensemble. Sensuous Depths - A selection of orchestral concerts at London's Royal Festival Hall, heard by Bill Newman
Ensemble. 2011 Specials - A roundup of London concerts enjoyed by Bill Newman, featuring recitals by Alice Sara Ott, the Emerson Quartet, Martin Fröst and Roland Pontinen, the Orchestra of the Polish EU Presidency, Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and Roope Grondahl, and Martino Tirimo's Rosamunde Trio
Ensemble. Rapturous Praises - Yasmin Rowe, Sarah Sew and Tadashi Imai at London's Wigmore Hall, heard by Bill Newman
Finest Attributes - Wigmore Hall recitals by Danny Driver, and by Jack Liebeck and Katya Apekisheva, admired by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Impeccable - Music by Szymanowski, Webern and Schoeck, recommended by Ron Bierman. 'The quartet plays with authority throughout ...'
Ensemble. Beautifully Realised - Haydn, Poulenc, Szymanowski and Walton, sung by Derby Bach Choir and the girl choristers of Derby Cathedral, heard by Mike Wheeler
Record Box. An Overwhelming Intensity - String Quartets by Szymanowski and Rózycki, appreciated by Gerald Fenech
Record Box. An Eloquent Interpretation - Choral music by Karol Szymanowski, enjoyed by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight. Heavy Artillery - Music by Bloch, Engel, Honegger, Milhaud and Szymanowski, heard by Howard Smith. '... an acceptable though rather dated style.'
CD Spotlight. Tapestry of Colours - Music by Karol Szymanowski, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... a rewarding partnership ...'
Record Box. Singing Qualities - Jennifer Koh plays Szymanowski, Martinu and Bartók, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Deeply Involving - Emile de Roubaix and the Maraini Quartet play Mozart, Szymanowski and Brahms, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Style and concept - Two young pianists of outstanding promise, by Bill Newman
Ensemble. An ambitious concert - Rex Harley listens to Tchaikovsky, Lutoslawski and Szymanowski in Wales