Antoni Wit
Antoni Wit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 February 1944 |
| Education | Academy of Music in Kraków(music) Jagiellonian University(law) |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, composer, lawyer |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Antoni Wit(born 7 February 1944) is a Polishconductor,composer, lawyer and professor at theFryderyk Chopin University of Music.Between 2002 and 2013, he served as the artistic director of theWarsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Life and career
[edit]Wit was born inKraków.[1]He graduated from theKraków conservatory(then calledPaństwowa Wyższa Szkola Muzyczna) in 1967. He studied conducting underHenryk Czyżand composition underKrzysztof Penderecki.He went on to study in Paris underNadia Boulanger(1967–68). In 1969, he also graduated in law from theJagiellonian Universityin Kraków.[2]
In the years 1974–1977, Antoni Wit was the deputy artistic director of thePomeranian PhilharmonicinBydgoszczand the lead conductor of the orchestra. In Bydgoszcz, he gained independence in his repertoire and the opportunity to perform the works he valued the most. In 1977, he returned to his hometown of Krakow, where he took over the management of the Polish Radio and Television Orchestra and Choir.
He has recorded over 90 albums, most of them for theNaxoslabel, and many of them during his tenure with thePolish National Radio Symphony Orchestra(formerly the Great Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra) in Katowice, whose managing and artistic director he was from 1983 to 2000. In the years 1987–1992 he was the conductor of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria in theCanary Islands.Since 1998, he has been a professor of conducting at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music inWarsaw.
From 2002 to 2013 he wasmusic directorof theWarsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.He also collaborated with theOrquesta Sinfónica de NavarrainPamplonafrom the 2010–2011 to the 2016–2017 season, serving as their first guest conductor. In May 2013 he was nominated Artistic Director of the ensemble.[3]
He has conducted theBerlin Philharmonic,Staatskapelle Dresden,theOrchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Ceciliain Rome, theZürich Tonhalle Orchestra,theKraków Philharmonic Orchestra,theOrquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya,and in London theBBC Symphony Orchestra,Philharmonia Orchestra,andLondon Philharmonic Orchestra.He specializes in the works of Polish composers such asHenryk Górecki,Wojciech Kilar,Krzysztof Meyer,Witold Lutosławski,Karol SzymanowskiandKrzysztof Penderecki,whosePolish Requiemhe recorded in 2004. Wit received a Cannes Classical Award for his album ofOlivier Messiaen'sTurangalîla Symphony;his recording ofBedřich Smetana'sMá vlastcycle was also very well received.[4]
He currently teaches at theFryderyk Chopin Academy of MusicinWarsaw.
Selected awards and honours
[edit]- Grand Prix du Disquede la Nouvelle Académie, (1983)
- Knight's Cross of theOrder of Polonia Restituta,(1985)
- Polish Radio'sDiamond Baton Award,(1998)
- Fryderyk AwardforAlbum of the Year - Symphonic Music,(2002)
- Cannes Classical Award,(2002)
- Gold Medal of theArtur RubinsteinFoundation, (2002)
- Fryderyk AwardforAlbum of the Year - Symphonic Music,(2005)
- Fryderyk AwardforAlbum of the Year- Contemporary Music,(2005)
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic,(2006)
- Gramophone Editor's Choice,(2007)
- Gramophone Editor's Choice,(2008)
- BBC Music MagazineEditor's Choice, (2008)
- BBC Music MagazineEditor's Choice, (2009)
- Karol SzymanowskiFoundation Award, (2010)
- Commander's Cross with Star of theOrder of Polonia Restituta,(2011)[5]
- Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium,(2013)
- KnightofLegion of Honour,(2015)[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Antoni Wit obchodzi 50-lecie pracy artystycznej".Dzieje.pl.Polska Agencja Prasowa.Retrieved7 August2021.
- ^"Antoni Wit".Retrieved12 November2019.
- ^Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra Under Wit’s Baton,culture.pl, 07.05.2013
- ^"Antoni Wit".Retrieved12 November2019.
- ^"M.P. 2012 poz. 282".Retrieved12 November2019.
- ^"Dyrygent Antoni Wit odznaczony francuską Legią Honorową".Retrieved12 November2019.
