Witold Maliszewski


Witold Maliszewski was a Polish composer, founder of Odessa Conservatory, and a professor of Warsaw Conservatory.

Biography

Maliszewski was born in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Russian Empire. He graduated from Saint Petersburg Conservatory, in the class of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. He was a member of Belyayev circle. In 1913 he became a founder and the first director of the Odessa Conservatory, which gave the world a number of outstanding musicians, such as David Oistrakh, Emil Gilels and Yakov Zak.
After the Russian revolution, because of the imminent threat of Bolshevik persecution, Maliszewski immigrated to Poland in 1921. In 1925–1927 he was teaching at the Chopin Music School and was the Director of the Warsaw Music Society. In 1927 he served as Chairman of the First International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition. From 1931 to 1934 Maliszewski was the Director of the Music Department at the Polish Ministry of Education. From 1931 to 1939 he was a professor at the Warsaw Conservatory. He died in Zalesie near Warsaw.
Maliszewski's early symphonic and other works were largely shaped by the St. Petersburg composition school which produced a number of outstanding composers. His symphonies belong to the non-programmatic type. The Fourth symphony in D Major op. 21 composed in Warsaw reflects new style in his creative output and contains elements of Polish dances.
In the Soviet Union, Maliszewski's name was prohibited, and in 1950 the conservatory which he founded in Odessa was renamed after Antonina Nezhdanova, who had no links with the institution.
His students included Witold Lutosławski, Mykola Vilinsky, Shimon Shteynberg, Boleslaw Woytowicz, Feliks Roderyk Łabuński, and Feliks Rybicki.

Selected works

;StageSyrena, Opera-Ballet in 4 acts, Op. 24; libretto by Ludomir Michał Rogowski Boruta, Ballet
;Orchestral
  • Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 8 Joyful Overture in D major, Op. 11
  • Symphony No. 2 in A major, Op. 12
  • Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 14
  • Symphony No. 4 in D major, Op. 21, Odrodzonej i odnalezionej ojczyźnie
;ConcertanteFantazja kujawska for piano and orchestra
  • Concerto in B minor for piano and orchestra, Op. 29
;Chamber music
;Piano
  • Six Piano Pieces, Op. 4 Prélude et fugue fantastiques in B minor, Op. 16
;ChoralRequiem
  • ''Missa Pontificalis''

Discographie

Archive recordings

Commercial recordings

  • 2014 : Works for Violin and Piano: Violin Sonata & 4 Pieces – Acte Préalable AP0285
  • 2014 : Chamber Music vol. 1: String Quartet No. 2; String Quintet – Acte Préalable AP0327
  • 2015 : Complete Works for Piano – Acte Préalable AP0320
  • 2016 : Symphony No. 3 & Piano Concerto – Dutton CDLX7325
  • 2017 : Chamber Music vol. 2: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3; Melodia – Acte Préalable AP0376
  • 2020 : String Quartets Nos. 2 & 4 — PSCM 001
  • 2021: Symphonic works: Symphonies Nos. 1—4 etc. – DUX 1716–18