Witold Lutosławski was born in 1913, in Poland and from early childhood was playing on a piano. After a tragic event (Witold’s father was executed by Bolsheviks in 1918) he lived in Warsaw, where he studied both Music and Mathematics.
Soon Lutosławski decided to focus on music and all was going well, but with a start of the Second World War all progress was wiped out. Witold had to survive the danger of Nazi occupation of Poland. Days and nights could come to an abrupt closure with street execution or deportation to a concentration camp and subsequent death.
Witold Lutosławski worked as a pianist in cafes, in Warsaw and in 1944 escaped the annihilation of his hometown with just one piece of music: “Variations on a Theme by Paganini”.
In 1994 Witold Lutosławski died in Warsaw. By that time he was seen as one of the major European composers of the 20th century, performed all over the world, admired and awarded most prestigious prizes both in relation to his music and for his personal standing for Polish independence.
Witold Lutosławski most generous help to other people was often anonymous.
This set of CDs with Lutosławski’s music was published on the centenary of his birthday. The portrait was taken in Witold’s home – I still recall the soulful atmosphere of that session.