Szymanowski

Karol Maciej Szymanowski (October 6, 1882 – March 29, 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist, regarded as one of the leading figures in 20th-century Polish music. His output spans orchestral, choral, chamber, and operatic works, and he played a crucial role in introducing modernist idioms to Polish musical life.

Born in 1882 in the Polish lands under partition, Szymanowski studied at the Warsaw Conservatory with Aleksander Michałowski and later pursued further studies in Western Europe. His early works reflect late Romantic influences, but from the 1910s onward he developed a distinctive voice characterized by refined orchestration, modal lyricism, and an openness to exotic and Mediterranean textures.

Key works include the orchestral cycle Myths, which adapts classical narratives through a lush, coloristic language; the choral-orchestral Stabat Mater, known for its solemn, contemplative mood; and the opera King Roger, a landmark work exploring spiritual and erotic transformation in a medieval setting. Throughout his career, he experimented with harmony, rhythm, and form, blending Polish folk elements with broader European modernism.

Szymanowski's music contributed significantly to Poland's cultural modernization during the interwar period and influenced subsequent generations of composers. He remained a central figure in Polish music until his death in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1937. Today his works are widely performed and recorded, and he is recognized as one of Poland’s most important 20th-century composers.