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Passion: Krzysztof Penderecki’s Musical
Sketches In the Hermitage Theater foyer has opened an exhibition of musical sketches of the prominent modern composer Krzysztof Penderecki, showing opening pieces of 12 of his compositions - The Devils of Loudin (1968-69), Cosmogony (1970), Concert for Violin and Orchestra (1967), Utrenja II: The Resurrection (1971), Polish Requiem (1984), The Seven Gates of Jerusalem (1996), Credo (1998) and The Awakening of Jacob (1974). The key idea is to show the phenomenon of musical script as a work of art. Krzysztof Penderecki was born in 1933 in Cracow's suburb Dembice. His
first teacher of music was his father, lawyer and amateur violinist. At
the Cracow Conservatoire he studied first piano then composition, at the
same time attending classes in philosophy and history of arts and literature
at the local university. As a composer he has won many awards, including the 1st prize of the Competition of Young Polish Composers (1959, Strophes, Emanations and Psalms of David), UNESCO award (1961, Dimensions of Time and Silence and Threnody), Italy award (1968, Dies irae commemorating the victims of Auschwitz and Stabat Mater for three mixed choirs a capella), Nord-Rhein-Westfalien and Italy awards (1966, 1967, St. Luke Passion). His five symphonies, instrumental concerts and chamber and voice compositions also won many awards. His operas The Devils of Loudin after Huxley, Paradise Lost based on Milton's poem, The Black Mask after Hauptman and Ubu Roi based on Jarry have won public's acclaim in many theaters of the world. In 2001, the Tuba Mirum international culture project presented in the Winter Palace Courtyard the Russian premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki's oratorio The Seven Gates of Jerusalem, conducted by the author, on the occasion of the opening of the Winter Palace Gates. Krzysztof Penderecki has won the National Polish Award (1983), Lorenzo il Magnifico award (1985), Grawmeyer Award of the Louisville University (1992), award of the Industry and Commerce Promoters Association (1998), Duisburg music award (1999) and the Cannes Classical Award as "Living Composer of the Year " (2000). Penderecki is a knight of the Order of St. George and Big Cross for special merits from the Honorable Order of the Federal Republic of Germany (1990), honorary citizen of Strasbourg, honorary member of the Dublin Music Academy, American Academy of Literature and Art and Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts and doctor and professor of many universities; in April 2003, he was awarded the title of honorary doctor of the University of St. Petersburg. Almost all of Penderecki's creations have been recorded on tapes and CDs and are performed by such remarkable musicians as Z. Meta, I. Stern or D. Fischer-Dieskau. |
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Copyright © 2011 State Hermitage Museum |
