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Kazimierz Kowalski

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Kazimierz Kowalski
Kowalski (left) in Sanok in 2009
Born(1951-07-30)30 July 1951
Łódź, Poland
Died1 August 2021(2021-08-01) (aged 70)
Occupations
  • Operatic bass
  • Opera manager
  • Television presenter
Organizations
Awards

Kazimierz Kowalski (30 July 1951 – 1 August 2021) was a Polish operatic bass and opera manager at the Grand Theatre, Łódź, and a radio and television presenter. He founded an opera and operetta festival in the spa town Ciechocinek in 1998, and also the Polish Chamber Opera.

Life and career

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Born in Łódź,[1] the son of theatrical actor Wiesław Wierusz-Kowalski, Kowalski studied voice at the Academy of Music with Antoni Majak,[2][1] who was a singer and one of the founders of the Łódź Opera.[3] Kowalski participated in the 1976 International Vocal Competition in Toulouse, achieving the highest (third) prize. The same year, he was engaged as a soloist at the Teatr Wielki (Grand Theatre) in Łódź, making his debut in the role of Kecal in Smetana's The Bartered Bride,[2] and went on to perform leading roles.[4]

From 1994 to 1997, he was the theatre's general and artistic director. During his era, he led a live worldwide television broadcast of Moniuszko's The Haunted Manor.[2][5] The theatre was one of the few profitable theatrical institutions in Poland during his tenure.[2] In 1998 a new theatre, the Summer Theatre, opened in the spa town Ciechocinek, where he initiated a festival of opera and operetta, managing it for more than 20 years.[6] He also founded the Polish Chamber Opera.[2][5]

Kowalski appeared on radio and television in shows such as Good evening, this is Lodz and Kazimierz Kowalski invites you. From 2000, he presented a series on Polish Radio about notable Polish artists. He ran a series on Radio Łódź titled Henryk Debich's Archive.[4]

Kowalski managed the Grand Theatre again from 2005 to November 2008.[5] The theatre's obituary noted:

Indefatigable in supporting young vocal talents, he always expressed great respect and empathy for his older colleagues, remembered them, benefited from their knowledge and experience, and did not let the opera audience forget about them. Always energetic, chatty, rushing to another meeting, concert or interview, he always found time for conversation.[4]

Kowalski died on 1 August 2021, two days after his 70th birthday.[2][5] He had planned to celebrate his career of 50 years in October 2021.[4][5]

Operatic roles

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Operatic roles at the Grand Theatre included:[7]

Opera Composer Role Date
La bohème Puccini Alcindor 1977-04-02
Iolanta Tchaikovsky Bertrand 1978-03-19
Zorba Kander Niko 1979-02-24
Hrabina Moniuszko Chorąży 1979-12-08
Don Pasquale Donizetti Don Pasquale 1982-01-30
Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti Raimondo 1983-11-19
Mefistofele Boito Mefistofele 1984-06-23
Così fan tutte Mozart Don Alfonso 1986-10-05
La Traviata Verdi Doktor Grenvil 1987-03-07
Tosca Puccini Cesare Angelotti 1988-02-20
Der Rosenkavalier Richard Strauss Notary 1989-03-18
Kynolog w rozterce Henryk Czyż Delegate 1989-12-02
Devils of Loudun Penderecki Rangier 1990-06-23
Don Giovanni Mozart Leporello; Komtur 1991-03-23
Carmen Bizet Zuniga 1991-09-14
Un ballo in maschera Verdi Tom 1993-03-20
Aida Verdi Pharao 1993-09-25
Ubu król Penderecki Giron; ciura 1993-11-09
Prince Igor Borodin Konczak 1994-10-22
Don Pasquale Donizetti Don Pasquale 1995-01-21
La bohème Puccini Colline 1995-02-11
Rigoletto Verdi Sparafucile; Ceprano 1995-04-22
The Magic Flute Mozart Sarastro 1995-12-16

References

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  1. ^ a b Nolbrzak, Renata (28 November 2001). "Wywiad z Kazimierzem Kowalskim" (in Polish). Gmina Parzęczew. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Nie żyje Kazimierz Kowalski – śpiewak, prezenter, twórca Polskiej Opery Kameralnej". polskieradio24.pl (in Polish). 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. ^ Kowalski, Kazimierz (15 January 2021). "Antoniego Majaka wspomina Kazimierz Kowalski". cyfrowemuzeum.operalodz.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Zmarł Kazimierz Kowalski". operalodz.com (in Polish). Teatr Wielki w Łodzi. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Kazimierz Kowalski is dead. The opera singer died at the age of 70". polishnews.co.uk. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ Prętkowska, Katarzyna (6 August 2017). "Gwiazda Kazimierza Kowalskiego w Ciechocińskim Deptaku Sław". Telewizja Polska. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Kazimierz Kowalski". cyfrowemuzeum.operalodz.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
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