Birth

:

January 11, 1929

Death

:

May 1, 2018 in Warsaw, Poland

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Wanda Wilkomirska was a renowned classical music artist, born on January 21, 1929, in Poland. She was a violinist and a violist, and her musical career spanned over six decades. She was known for her virtuosity, musicality, and her ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. Wilkomirska began her musical training at the age of six, and by the age of ten, she had already made her debut as a soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. She continued her studies at the Warsaw Conservatory, where she studied with the renowned violinist and pedagogue, Bronisław Huberman. In 1945, Wilkomirska won first prize at the National Violin Competition in Poznań, Poland. This was the beginning of her international career, and she soon began performing in major concert halls throughout Europe. In 1952, she won first prize at the International Violin Competition in Geneva, Switzerland, which further cemented her reputation as a world-class musician. Throughout her career, Wilkomirska was known for her versatility and her ability to perform a wide range of musical styles. She was equally at home playing classical repertoire, as well as contemporary music. She was a champion of new music, and she premiered many works by contemporary composers, including Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Henryk Górecki. One of the highlights of Wilkomirska's career was her performance of the Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Colin Davis. This performance was widely acclaimed, and it helped to establish Wilkomirska as one of the leading interpreters of Szymanowski's music. Wilkomirska was also a prolific recording artist, and she recorded extensively for major record labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and EMI. Her recordings of the violin concertos of Szymanowski, Lutosławski, and Penderecki are considered to be definitive interpretations of these works. In addition to her performing and recording career, Wilkomirska was also a dedicated teacher. She taught at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, Germany, and at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland. Many of her students went on to have successful careers as musicians. Throughout her career, Wilkomirska received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 1964, she was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of the highest honors in Poland. In 1999, she was awarded the Gloria Artis Gold Medal for Cultural Merit by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Wanda Wilkomirska passed away on November 1, 2018, at the age of 89. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, and her contributions to the world of classical music will be remembered for generations to come.

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