Join us for the ceremonial unveiling of a plaque commemorating Jerzy Maksymiuk’s work for the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. The event will take place on Friday, September 11, 2024, at 6 pm in Plac Wolności in front of the NFM, honouring this great artist, who this year celebrates a double anniversary: 70 years of work and 90th birthday.
On the same day, at 7 pm in the ORLEN Main Hall, under the baton of the distinguished conductor, the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic will perform Four Sea Interludes from Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes op. 33a, and La mer – Claude Debussy’s symphonic beloved by Maestro. The NFM Choir will join the players to perform Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. The concert will open with The Call of Wisdom by Will Todd, sung by the NFM Girls’ Choir and the NFM Boys’ Choir conducted by Małgorzata Podzielny.
Jerzy Maksymiuk
Jerzy Maksymiuk was born in Grodno in 1936. His music studies culminated in three diplomas: in piano, composition, and conducting.
In 1961, he won First Prize at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski National Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz but abandoned piano to pursue conducting. In 1972, the artist founded the Polish Chamber Orchestra, which many critics soon recognised as one of the best orchestras in the world. In 1975, he became principal conductor of the Great Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (now Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra). The period between 1983 and 1991 was especially fruitful, as Jerzy Maksymiuk held the position of director of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, giving numerous concerts and touring with the ensemble. The title of Conductor Laureate, awarded to the artist, is a tribute to his achievements with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
In 1990, Jerzy Maksymiuk began his collaboration with the English National Opera, where he conducted two premiere performances. The following years were filled with concerts in many prestigious venues. He has performed with such renowned orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed extensively in Poland.
He has recorded approximately 100 albums, many of which have won prestigious awards.
Jerzy Maksymiuk has always championed contemporary music. He has participated in numerous Warsaw Autumn festivals (two Orpheus awards) and has premiered approximately 200 contemporary works in various countries. In recognition of these achievements, University of Strathclyde in Glasgow honoured him with the title of Doctor of Letters. Honorary doctorates have been awarded to him by the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, and the University of Białystok.
Jerzy Maksymiuk is also a composer (symphonic music, chamber works, ballet, songs, and film music). He has received numerous musical and state honours, including the Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. Białystok has awarded him the title of Honorary Citizen.