Michal Dworzynski
Conductor
Michał Dworzyński (31) is fast making his name as one of Poland’s most exciting conducting talents.
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| Michal Dworzynski biography |
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| Michal Dworzynski press quotes |
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| Michal Dworzynski repertoire |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Sasha Gusov) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Sasha Gusov) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Sasha Gusov) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Sasha Gusov) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Sasha Gusov) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Chris Christodoulou) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Chris Christodoulou) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Chris Christodoulou) |
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Michal Dworzynski (credit: Chris Christodoulou) |
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BBC Music Magazine
September 2008
RISING STAR
GREAT ARTISTS OF TOMORROW
MICHAL DWORZYNSKI
Conductor
After winning the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition two years ago the 29 year-old now has his own orchestra
'The conductor's life is like a doctor's life,' says Michal Dworzynski. 'You always have to study.' Since the age of 12, when he started waving a baton in front of a mirror at home, the 29-year-old Pole has been studying and refining his art. Now with his own orchestra in Poland, an assistantship with the LSO and a recent star slot opening this year's Cheltenham Festival, his dedication is paying off.
Dworzynski began life as a violinist, albeit under duress. 'I wanted to play the piano,' he says. 'But my father didn't agree, because he's a musician and knew how difficult a pianist's life can be.' So Dworzynski stuck with the violin, and listened to records by the 'old masters', his favourites being Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein. At 15 he had the chance to conduct his school orchestra. From there it was a small step to conducting studies in Warsaw, and his first job at 21 with the National Polish Radio SO. In 2006 his name became familiar to English audiences when he won the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition.
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'Polish music is not well know in England. There is, I think, work to do'
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Keeping one foot in England and the other in Poland is important to Dworzynski and his programming often reflects this. At this year's Cheltenham Festival the opening night featured Holst's The Planets; the second night Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra. 'I try to conduct British music in Poland and Polish music in Britain,' he says. 'But in my country British music is not very well known. But I find the same in England. There is, I think, work to do.'
Now he's looking forward to working with his new ensemble in Kraków, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra. A complete Beethoven symphony cycle is planned, with a round of Brahms symphonies to follow. 'Not all orchestras in Poland have their passion,' says Dworzynski. 'I want to teach them how the orchestras in the West play. It's different.'
Interview by Rebecca Franks