On May 16th, Jadwiga Rappé, an outstanding Polish soprano, mentor to many remarkable musicians, and our dear Friend, passed away. She will remain in our memory as an exceptional interpreter of music from all eras. With her talent, skills, and artistic passion, she was an extraordinary and fascinating person. We will miss her dearly, though…Continue Reading Jadwiga Rappé Obituary
By: Marek Zebrowski Artistic creativity, boundless imagination, indomitable courage to explore topics and worlds unknown, and infinite fascination with almost everything that surrounded him throughout his life does not even come close to describing David Lynch, my dear friend of some twenty-five years. Looking back to a dark and chilly December evening in Łódź, just…Continue Reading Polish Night Music: Remembering David Lynch
With great sadness we announce the passing of Robert J. Vars, the son of the great Polish composer of film and symphonic music, Henryk Wars. Born on March 10, 1934, in Warsaw as Robert Józef Warszawski, he celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year and died in Los Angeles after a brief illness on November…Continue Reading A Life in Music and Law
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Janusz Olejniczak, a monumental figure in Polish music. Olejniczak, a virtuoso pianist, teacher, and advocate for Chopin’s music, passed away on October 20, 2024 at the age of 72. Born in Wrocław in 1952, Janusz Olejniczak’s talent was apparent from an early…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Janusz Olejniczak (1952–2024)
We regret to inform our readers that Ewa Podleś, the great Polish opera singer, passed away on January 19, 2024 at the age of 71. Possessing a beautiful and rare true contralto voice with a range of three-plus octaves, Ewa Podleś sang in the most prestigious houses around the world—Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin,…Continue Reading Obituary: Ewa Podleś, an Opera Legend
It is our deep sorrow to report that our friend and former PMC librarian, Dr. Barbara Zakrzewska, passed away in Poznań on November 30, 2023 at the age of 77….Continue Reading Obituary: Composer and Musicologist Barbara Zakrzewska
An Obituary by Marek Zebrowski Hy Blythe, an iconic figure in Paso Robles for many decades and a great champion of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, died at home on 31 March 2023. He was 95 years old. He left his wife, Hellie (pictured together above, at their home in 2007), daughter Leslie and son William, as…Continue Reading MEMORIES AND INSPIRATIONS
An Obituary of Stefan Wenta by Marek Zebrowski Stefan Wenta, a world-renowned dancer and choreographer, author, chess master and bibliophile, died in Los Angeles on August 8. He was 92 years old. Dance was his passion and destiny. Although in his rich and eventful life Wenta’s accomplishments spanned many different artistic endeavors, Terpsichore was his…Continue Reading Taking the Last Step
By Marek Zebrowski With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Joanna Bruzdowicz on November 3, 2021 at her home in the French Pyrenees. She was 78. Born in Warsaw on 17 May 1943, Joanna Bruzdowicz was a child prodigy, who began to compose at the age of six. She studied composition with Kazimierz…Continue Reading If Music Be the Food of Love… A Tribute to Joanna Bruzdowicz
With great sadness, we note passing of one of Polish Music Center’s friends and supporters, Dr. Teodor Polak. After a long illness, he died in his sleep in Los Angeles on 8 June 2021 at the age of 92. Born near Warsaw on November 9, 1928, already as a teenage patriot he joined the Polish…Continue Reading Dr. Teodor Polak In Memoriam