Opera singer Ładysz gets Fryderyk Award

Born in 1922 in Vilnius, Ładysz was a soloist for the Warsaw’s Grand Opera for almost three decades and carved out a brilliant international career, with performances in the world’s most prestigious venues.

He was the first Polish singer to have recorded a solo LP for the Columbia label. The same company engaged him to sing opposite Maria Callas on a recording of Donizetti’s “Lucia of Lammermoor” under Tulio Serafin (1959).

Ładysz won particular renown for his title role in the opera “Boris Godunov”.

He also appeared as Tevye in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”, as well as in several feature films.

Other recipients of Fryderyk Awards in classical music, which are Poland’s answers to the Grammys, include the world famous pianist Krystian Zimerman.

His recording of Witold Lutosławski’s Piano Concerto for Deutsche Grammophon (with the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle) received a Fryderyk Award for the best recording of Polish music.

The list of Fryderyk winners also includes young pianist Szymon Nehring (for a CD with works by Chopin, Szymanowski and Mykietyn) and composer Paweł Łukaszewski (for his “Symphony of Providence”).

One of the works performed during the gala ceremony by the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Krzesimir Dębski was Dębski’s Violin Concerto. It was dedicated to the memory of American singer Prince. (mk/pk)