Country

:

Poland

Birth

:

ca. 1923

Death

:

July 1, 2001 in Kraków, Poland

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Halina Czerny-Stefanska was a renowned Polish classical pianist who was born on October 30, 1922, in Lviv, Poland (now Ukraine). She was the daughter of a pianist and composer, and her mother was a singer. Her parents recognized her musical talent at a young age and began her piano lessons when she was just four years old. Czerny-Stefanska's musical education began at the Lviv Conservatory, where she studied under the tutelage of Ludwik Stefański. She later continued her studies at the State Higher School of Music in Krakow, where she studied with Zbigniew Drzewiecki. She graduated with honors in 1945. Czerny-Stefanska's career as a pianist began in 1949 when she won the first prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. This was a significant achievement for her, as the competition was one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. Her performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor was highly praised by the judges and the audience. After her success at the Chopin Competition, Czerny-Stefanska began to perform extensively throughout Europe and the United States. She was known for her exceptional technique and musicality, and her performances were highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. One of the highlights of Czerny-Stefanska's career was her performance at the 1955 Edinburgh International Festival. She performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult. Her performance was so well-received that she was invited to perform at the festival again the following year. Czerny-Stefanska also had a successful recording career. She recorded extensively for the Polskie Nagrania label, and her recordings of Chopin's music are considered some of the best interpretations of his work. She also recorded works by other composers, including Beethoven, Mozart, and Schumann. In addition to her performing and recording career, Czerny-Stefanska was also a respected teacher. She taught at the State Higher School of Music in Krakow, where she had studied, and later at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Many of her students went on to have successful careers as pianists. Czerny-Stefanska received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In addition to her win at the Chopin Competition, she was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of Poland's highest honors, in 1955. She was also awarded the Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in 2005. Czerny-Stefanska continued to perform and teach until her death on July 1, 2001, in Skawina, Poland. She was 78 years old. Her legacy as a pianist and teacher continues to inspire musicians around the world, and her recordings remain a testament to her exceptional talent and musicality.

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