Native of Lviv
The ninety-year-old Stanisław Skrowaczewski has a unique biography. Born in Lviv, he was a child prodigy who at the age of thirteen would perform live in a double role as pianist and composer in Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven. His instrumental career was shattered by World War II and a hand injury. He later resorted to studying composition and conducting, which he pursued in Paris under Nadia Boulanger, a famous conductor and educator who contributed to the achievements of many a Polish composer, including Grażyna Bacewicz, Zygmunt Mycielski, Wojciech Kilar, Marta Ptaszyńska and Zygmunt Krauze.
Maestro reminisces on post-war Wroclaw
Wroclaw was the first stop in Stanisław Skrowaczewski's career as a conductor. He came here in 1946, and until 1947 he would be a deputy to the then Director Stefan Syryłło, at an ensemble called the "first philharmonic orchestra". "We worked in extremely difficult conditions. The theatre in which we had our rehearsals was surrounded by ruins, and some districts were simply no-go areas," he would reminisce during one of his visits in Wroclaw. "All beginnings are beautiful, however. I could work with a lot of musicians from Lviv, and we knew each other well. I could also try my hand at Beethoven's symphonies. That's how you remember your first love," recounted Stanisław Skrowaczewski.
Career in America
A breakthrough for the artist came when he was offered to join the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. His talent was spotted in Rome at the 1956 International Orchestra Conducting Competition. This is where the eminent conductor George Szell, the then Maestro of the Cleveland Orchestra, could read the score of Skrowaczewski's String Symphony. When Szell and his ensemble made their first visit in Poland, Skrowaczewski would come and greet them at the railway station in Katowice. "His great performance was followed by a reception during which George Szell asked me if I would like to conduct my symphony in Cleveland. It was amazing. My legs were trembling," said Stanisław Skrowaczewski. He was under enormous pressure. "If I had failed, I would have lost my chance to settle in America," says the Maestro. The performance went well. "Everything went according to plan and I was offered to stay for the coming season."
The Polish conductor was received so well that lucrative offers soon followed suit, Skrowaczewski chose the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, which was previously conducted by such eminent artists as Eugene Ormandy and Anton Dorati. He would conduct the Minneapolis-based ensemble for 19 years where he would earn enormous respect and recognition. He is now holding the title of the orchestra's Conductor Laureate.
Stanisław Skrowaczewski in concert at the NFM
Classical music / Live music / For everyone
01 April 2016, 7 pm 
National Forum of Music
In concert at the NFM
Maestro Skrowaczewski performs in Wroclaw on a regular basis. His latest visit featured Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major by Bruckner, who is also one of his favourite composers. The performance went down in the history of the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance on 1 April will be no exception to this rule, since the Maestro is going to conduct the NFM Symphonic Orchestra in a brand new setting to bring out what is best in Bruckner again (Symphony No. 7). This is an unprecedented event, especially as Maestro Skrowaczewski was full of praise for the NFM design. "I'm sure that the concert hall will provide a great acoustic experience for the audience," he said several years ago. "I am happy for you and look forward to a new period in the life of the orchestra," he added. The Maestro has just hit it on the head.
