Women’s Day is behind us, so it’s time for… Men’s Day! The short distance between these holidays is meant to remind us of gender equality. However, Karol Szymanowski, who always surrounded himself with talented female artists and intellectuals, did not need such a reminder. Oh, Karol!

Do you know that…

…Szymanowski’s family and close friends included the most famous representatives of the world of music, fine arts and literature, as well as muses of contemporary artists and first ladies of artistic salons In a word: modern and liberated women.

Singers

How should one sing Karol Szymanowski’s compositions? The answer to this question can be found in a book by the composer’s sister, Stanisława Korwin Szymanowska, an unparalleled interpreter of his works. For a long time, she was their only performer! Finally, however, another soprano was found who knew how to sing Szymanowski’s compositions: Ewa Bandrowska-Turska – Szymanowski prepared an orchestral arrangement of the Songs of the Fairy-Tale Princess especially for her.

Violinists

Like any self-respecting composer, Szymanowski also gave concerts of his compositions to promote his works. He played the piano himself, but the piece often included a part for another instrument, e.g. the violin – and then the composer was accompanied by Paweł Kochański, Irena Dubiska or Eugenia Umińska. The latter prepared all (!) of Szymanowski’s works for PWM. In the Polish Music Library, you can find, among others, the edition of Paganini’s Three Caprices for violin and piano.

Women writers

Women writers played an important role in Szymanowski’s life – first and foremost his sister Zofia Szymanowska, who wrote lyrics for his vocal and instrumental pieces, including Songs of the Fairy-Tale Princess for voice and piano. Szymanowski’s friends included the writer Zofia Nałkowska, the poet Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, the translator, muse of painters and queen of Kraków salons Zofia Jachimecka (wife of Zdzisław) and the writer and translator Anna Iwaszkiewicz (wife of Jarosław).

*Tip

You can probably guess that this is just the beginning of the story about Szymanowski and the fascinating personalities he encountered. To discover more colourful biographies, take a look at the encyclopaedia entries:

-> Szymanowski, Karol,
-> Szymanowska Korwin, Stanisława,
-> Bandrowska-Turska, Ewa,
-> Umińska, Eugenia,
-> Jachimecki, Zdzisław,
-> Kochański, Paweł.

And for stories hidden in images, we invite you to Pictures – just choose the topic krewni i bliscy K.M. Szymanowskiego [relatives and loved ones of K.M. Szymanowski].