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Tribute to Bogusław Kaczyński

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 22.01.2016 15:16
  • Tribute to Bogusław Kaczyński
Bogusław Kaczyński, who devoted his life to popularising opera, operetta, classical music - and artists - in Poland, has died
Bogusław Kaczyński (archive picture). Photo: PAP/Stach LeszczyńskiBogusław Kaczyński (archive picture). Photo: PAP/Stach Leszczyński

Kaczyński was a household name here in the second half of the 20th century, renowned for his dapper style, elegant manners as well as exquisite language and wealth of knowledge.

Voted one of the top ten Polish television personalities of the 20th century, he was born in 1942 in Biała Podlaska, eastern Poland, and began as a pianist, graduating from the Academy of Music in Warsaw.

Ewa Iżykowska, rector of the Frederic Chopin Music University in Warsaw, says that Kaczyński’s love of opera began after taking lessons from the great soprano Ada Sari: “One could say that he was the father of the operatic community in Poland; who dedicated his life to promoting classical music and in particular opera [and] Polish singers.”

Sławomir Pietras, former director of several operatic theatres, adds: “His television career led millions of people in Poland to be interested in the art of opera. Perhaps not everyone started going to the opera but they perceived him as an authority, someone who could talk about opera in an attractive way; he was an authority of whom opera directors were afraid, […] there were no compromises with him in art.”

Polish Radio Two's Aleksander Laskowski says: “He was wonderful in what he did because of his charisma, knowledge, eloquence and great charm, which attracted crowds of people to music in an inimitable way... and he knew how to talk to people about music, responsibly.

“He knew all of the greatest artists, starting with Luciano Pavarotti. He had the ability to talk to these great people, which also required knowledge. Because artists are finely tuned to any falseness, whether in compliments or plain conversation, and he never struck a false note.”

Bogusław Kaczyński was 73. For some years he had been struggling with the aftermath of a stroke.

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