29th June 2025 was the 84th anniversary of the death of Ignacy Jan Paderewski - On 28th June Michał Szymanowski gave a Recital in Paderewski Park, Warsaw
The Paderewski Memorial in Paderewski Park, Warsaw Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) [Piotr Betlej 2016 © Galerie Roi Doré] Paderewski is such an underestimated composer of affecting lyrical and poetic piano music which speaks directly to the heart and sensibility rather than burdening the intellect with high seriousness. As an example of relieving humour, at the Paris Peace Conference Georges Clemenceau (the 'old Tiger') came up to Paderewski and wickedly asked 'Are you a cousin of the famous pianist Paderewski?' When Paderewski replied 'It is I, Monsieur le Pr ésident , ' Clemenceau observed, acting as if greatly surprised 'And you the famous artist have become Prime Minister? What a come-down!' Paderewski at Versailles Naturally, being a great patriot, Paderewski wrote many Polish mazurkas and polonaises but much of his piano music reminds me of a superb film score for say an intensely romantic French love affair set in ...