Look Who it Was Random video

Witold Malcuzynski plays Brahms Haendel Variations Op. 24 (2/2)

1,573 views · Published 9 December 2010 · 14:46 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: gullivior · 2010 · Music

Watch on YouTube

Witold Małcużyński (August 10, 1914 -- July 17, 1977) was a Polish pianist who specialized in Chopin.

Małcużyński was born near Warsaw. He began playing the piano at the age of 10 and eventually studied at the Warsaw Conservatory.

Originally he intended to study law but switched to music, studying under a pupil of Ferruccio Busoni. In 1936, he received an invitation to study under Ignacy Jan Paderewski, one of the great Romantic pianists of the "Golden Age". Małcużyński's playing was marked by great passion and poetry. In 1937 he met his future wife, the French pianist Colette Gaveau.

When World War II began he was in France. He joined the Polish Army there and together with the artistic-propaganda section visited Polish military camps. After the capitulation of France he together with his wife escaped to Portugal, where he met Grzegorz Fitelberg, well-known conductor. Fitelberg offered him a tournée in South America. Małcużyński went to Argentina in October 1940. In April 1942 he relocated to the United States. Essential to his American career was famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who initially helped him with organizational issues. After the war he moved to Switzerland where he lived.

He died in 1977 in Majorca, and was buried in the Powązki Cemetery, Warsaw, Poland.
(Wikipedia)

More from this channel