Michałowski, Aleksander

Michałowski Aleksander, *17 May 1851 Kamieniec Podolski, †17 October 1938 Warsaw, Polish pianist, composer and teacher. In 1867–69, he studied piano with I. Moscheles and T. Coctius at the Leipzig Conservatory and composition with K.H. Reinecke. In 1869, he made his debut as a pianist with Chopin’s Concerto in E minor at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. He became close friends with K. Wieck-Schumann and played with her Andante with variations for two pianos by R. Schumann. In 1870, he completed his piano studies with K. Tausig in Berlin. In 1871, he met K. Mikuli in Lviv, who passed on to him the traditions of Chopin’s performing style. In 1874, he settled in Warsaw and on 6 October 1875, he performed here for the first time in the redoubt halls. He was giving concerts for over 65 years, almost until the end of his life, mainly in Poland and Russia, also in Austria and Germany, performing as a soloist, in a duet with the violinist S. Barcewicz, and in a trio with Barcewicz and the cellist A. Wierzbiłłowicz. In 1874–1918, Michałowski was associated with the Institute of Music in Warsaw, from 1891 as a piano professor. In 1918, he took up the piano class at the music school of the Warsaw Musical Society (from 1919 the F. Chopin Higher Music School). He educated several generations of Polish pianists; his students included Z. Buckiewiczowa-Ciborowska, W. Chrapowicki, R. Etkin, J. Familier, W. Friemann, B. Kon, W. Landowska, J. Lefeld, H. Neuhaus, H. Pachulski, J. Śmidowicz, J. Wertheim, B. Woytowicz, J. Żurawlew. A natural complement to Michałowski’s pedagogical activity were his editorial studies of etudes by J.B. Cramer, Gradus ad Parnassum by M. Clementi and 4 volumes of piano sonatas for the Strobel publishing house. Together with L. Chojecki, he initiated a new edition of Chopin’s works for the Gebethner and Wolff company and also developed exercises preparing to perform all of Chopin’s etudes. He was awarded, among others, with the Order of Polonia Restituta, 3^rd class.

Michałowski went down in the history of Polish music as an outstanding Chopinist and distinguished teacher, thanks to whom Chopin’s music began to be heard in the country’s concert repertoire performed by Polish pianists. In the interpretation of Chopin’s works, he created his own style, different from the powerful and emotionally exuberant playing of Paderewski, combining lacy ornamental and figurative techniques with the subtlety of moods, refinement and elegance of phrasing. His playing was characterised by extraordinary flexibility of finger technique, pearliness of scales and arpeggios, and attention to the timbral qualities of the sound. His repertoire included the entire works of J.S. Bach, and L. van Beethoven and works by romantic composers, including R. Schumann and F. Chopin.

Michałowski’s compositional work is of marginal importance, although it enjoyed great success during his lifetime. It includes over 50 pieces, mainly piano dance and lyrical miniatures, representing the typical salon style of the 2^nd half of the 19^th century. They are characterised by lightness and elegance, undeniable pianistic polish; and early romantic lyricism and virtuosity in the spirit of F. Mendelssohn is associated here with the influence of F. Chopin and An. Rubinstein.

Literature: J. Kleczyński A. Michałowski, “Echo Muzyczne, Teatralne i Artystyczne” Warsaw 1887 No. 172; S. Niewiadomski A. Michałowski, “Muzyka” 1929 No. 2; Album pamiątkowy. A. Michałowski, ku uczczeniu 65-lecia pracy artystycznej, ed. W. Walter, Warsaw 1934; Z. Drzewiecki A. Michałowski – nestor pianistów (próba charakterystyki), “Muzyka Polska” X, 1938; J. Sierpiński A. Michałowski. W 110 rocznicę urodzin, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1961 No. 10.