Pianist Jan Ekier dies at 100
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
15.08.2014 12:54
Prominent Polish pianist and composer Jan Ekier has died in Warsaw, just two weeks before his 101st birthday.
Jan Ekier Photo: PAP/Archive/Paweł Supernak
Ekier was known primarily for his outstanding interpretations of Chopin’s music and as an internationally-acclaimed Chopin scholar and editor of his works. He served as editor-in-chief of the National Edition of Chopin’s Works.
Jan Ekier received an all-round musical education as a pianist, composer, musicologist and organist. In 1937 he won the eighth prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, and subsequently developed a fine concert career, performing across Europe, in Japan and the South America.
He sat on the jury of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw nine times, from 1949 to 1995, as well as on the juries of the competitions in Budapest (1956), Leipzig (1964), Paris (1967), Terni (1971, 1973), Prague (1973), Bolzano (1975, 1977), Geneva (1975, 1986), Seregano (1977), Munich (1977), Tel Aviv (1980), Tokyo (1983), Vienna (1985), Hamburg (1987) and Fort Worth (1989).
Jan Ekier was a holder of numerous distinctions, including the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish state distinction, which he received in 2010. He held an honorary doctorate from the Music Academy in Warsaw. (mk/jb)