Żyliński Faustyn, *13 February 1796 Żary (country Wilejka, Minsk Governorate) or 1793 Laskowiec (Minsk Governorate), †19 June 1867 Warsaw, Polish singer (tenor), teacher and conductor. He studied at schools in Budzisław, Lithuania; in his youth, he learned to play the violin. In 1814, he debuted in G. Paisiello’s La Frascatana in Minsk, in 1815–1823, and in 1838 and 1851, he sang in Vilnius. In February 1823, he performed for the first time at the National Theater in Warsaw in Le Petit Chaperon rouge by F.A. Boieldieu (he achieved success thanks to his cooperation with K. Aszpergerowa), then in Jadwiga, Queen of Poland by K. Kurpiński (7 April 1823), in The Barber of Seville by G. Rossini (from 29 October 1825), Der Freischütz by C.M. v. Weber (from 4 July 1826) and La muette de Portici by F. Auber (from 6 May 1832); he also worked in this theatre as a tutor. From 1833 to at least 1841, he was associated with the Grand Theater in Warsaw, where he appeared in Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie (from 15 April 1833), F. Hérold’s Zampa (from 9 March 1834) and Auber’s The Bronze Horse (from 13 August 1839); this staging, with the participation of P. and L. Rivoli, L. Rywacka and M. Turowska, gained great critical acclaim. At the Grand Theater, Żyliński also appeared in Boieldieu’s The White Lady, Auber’s Fra Diavolo and La fiancée, Rossini’s L’italiana in Algeri, and G. Meyerbeer’s Robert le Diable. Occasionally (September 1828), he replaced K. Kurpiński at the conductor’s desk. From 1823, he taught singing, privately and at the conservatory in Warsaw, initially as a deputy to C.E. Soliva in connection with his departure to Italy, and from 1825 on his own. However, he did not accept the offer to stay at the conservatory longer, and in 1827 he resigned, refusing to accept a reduction in his annual salary. He also performed as a soloist at concerts in Warsaw, he took part in M. Szymanowska’s concert (15 January 1827), in the performance of Haydn’s Creation (1835) and in the premiere of Elsner’s Passio Domini nostri (20 June 1838). Żyliński composed several masses, hymns and religious songs, all for voices and organ accompaniment; he presented them in Warsaw churches, mainly at the Sisters of St. Casimir Church, also at the Dominicans and Augustinians. He also wrote music for comedy operas. He had a voice that was beautiful and clear, but small; he was a respected singer, although his stage talent was not always appreciated. Due to his poor health, his roles were often taken over by J. Dobrski. Żyliński was buried at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.
Literature: Nekrologia półroczna, “Tygodnik Ilustrowany” 1867 no. 407; J. Heppen Półwiekowy jubileusz Teatru Wielkiego, “Kłosy” 1883 no. 931; E. Nowakowski Dawne szkoły muzyczne w Warszawie, “Echo Muzyczne, Teatralne i Artystyczne” 1891 no. 404 and 413; W. Tomaszewski Kronika życia muzycznego w Warszawie w latach 1831–1835, Warsaw 2011.
