“Dworzyński is potentially a force to be reckoned with… he gradually settled into an account of (Dvorak’s Otello Overture) that was beautifully shaped, sensual and nostalgic. The Eighth Symphony, meanwhile, was all sweeping grandeur and heart-on-sleeve emotionalism, shot through with moments of fiery aggression and dynamic elation.” The Guardian, October 2007
Michał Dworzyński (30) is fast making his name as one of Poland’s most exciting conducting talents. His London Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor position, awarded as a result of the Donatella Flick 1st prize and extended for a second year through the 2007/8 season, led to his taking over at short notice a Barbican subscription concert to excellent reviews (see above), conducting a series of children’s concerts, making a CD recording, taking rehearsals for Valery Gergiev and working closely alongside Sir Colin Davis and other leading international conductors in the preparation of concerts.
Debuts last season with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony and Northern Sinfonia all led to immediate reinvitations for 08/9. Debuts this season include: Swedish Radio Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Madrid RTVE, Flemish Radio Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony, and a return to the RTE National Symphony in Dublin.
In March 2008 Dworzynski accepted the Principal Conductor position of the dynamic young Beethoven Academy Orchestra in Cracow, conducting them at the Warsaw Easter Festival and this Autumn in the Warsaw Philharmonic series. In the past year he has also returned to the Polish National Radio orchestras of Katowice and Warsaw and the Sinfonia Varsovia. In April 2008 he made his debut at the Warsaw National Opera and returns in Spring 2009.
His career first took off when at 21, he became the assistant conductor of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice. Having graduated with distinction from the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy where he studied with Antoni Wit (Music Director of the Warsaw Philharmonic), he then undertook postgraduate studies with Christian Ehwald in the Hochschule Hanns Eisler in Berlin, from where he also gained a distinction. He won the conducting competitions in Zagreb in 2003 and Suwon in 2005. He has for the past few years been a regular visitor to the Warsaw Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia and both radio orchestras, has conducted the Opera in Cracow, and from 1995-99 was Music Director of the Bydgoszcz Chamber Orchestra. He has made several CD recordings for the Polish Television and Radio. His work has been recognised by several honorary titles in Poland; in 1997 he was made a Citizen of the City of Bydgoszcz, the following year he received an artistic scholarship from the President of the City, and in 1999 he received the Polish Music Critics’ Award. He received artistic scholarships from the Polish Ministry of Culture in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and in 2007 was awarded a medal from the Society of Polish Musicians for his promotion of Polish music.
Michał Dworzyński is represented by Intermusica.
November 2008 / 479 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.