In 1946, when Władysław Szpilman published his autobiography, A city dies , it is still within the scope of the suffering he experienced during World War II, in his town, Warsaw, occupied by the Germans. It must be said that the Polish radio virtuoso pianist went through hell in the ghetto and in the capital almost completely destroyed. He helplessly to the deportation of his Jewish family to the extermination camp of Treblinka, which he narrowly escaped. Indeed, the famous artist in his country was then spotted by a music lover, which subtracts the convoy to death.
His uncensored autobiography, Szpilman is even accused of collaborating with the Nazis!
However, Szpilman is parked in the ghetto, he manages to escape. A Wehrmacht officer, Wilm Hosenfeld , the débusquera in Warsaw and save him from starvation. The virtuoso omits no detail in his autobiography. But the book suffers censorship on the eve of its release. It must be said that the Polish authorities after the war, under the yoke of Soviet rule, do not like that the author makes of a German officer, a hero, after discovering the horrors of the Holocaust.
Under pressure, Szpilman was forced to turn Hosenfeld in Austria! What also angry is the fact that it exhibits evidence Szpilman collaboration of Jews, Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians with the barbaric regime. Inconceivable at the time! Ironically, eleven years after his death, the famous pianist will in turn accused of collaboration with the Germans. The scandal broke in effect with the publication in 2011 of a biography of the Polish singer Wiera Gran , written by fellow Agata Tuszynska.
The heroine controversial Wiera, the accused was singing at the time in the ghetto, accompanied by pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, before an audience of dealers, Gestapo and presumably Germans. After the war, some wonder then if the beautiful Wiera, which are among the few survivors of the ghetto would not have used her charms to the enemy to escape. For its part, Szpilman refuses to help and will even erase his existence in his book. So in turn, Wiera implies that the famous pianist has compromised with the Germans. Doubt still exists today regarding Wiera. But the memory Szpilman is saved!
A prolific composer, he is the author of nearly five hundred songs
But it does not remain unless his autobiography suffered this censorship postwar. Shunned, the book falls into oblivion. In 1998, his son, Andrzej, stumbles on A city dies , in the library of his father and the fact again published under the title The pianist . In 2002, the screen adaptation of Roman Polanski receives a rain of awards (Golden Palm in 2002, Caesars 7 and 3 Oscar in 2003, those with the best performer for Adrien Brody in the role of Szpilman).
This international recognition it is unfortunately made posthumously, since the virtuoso died two years ago in Warsaw. This story – became famous – of his ordeal during the war nevertheless obscures his work and his talent. Because this piano prodigy born Sosnowiec, December 5, 1911 A mother also pianist and a violinist father, dedicated his entire life to music. Teenager, having studied with former pupils of the great Franz Liszt at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, he obtained a scholarship to study from 1931 to 1933 at the Academy of Arts in Berlin. He gives concerts and quickly composed his first symphonic works.
With the rise of Nazism, he returned to Warsaw, where he found success in film music component and popular songs. In 1935, he was hired by the Polish radio. But September 23, 1939, he must stop the Chopin recital he plays live while the building of the radio is achieved by German bombs. Six years later, the station transmits new programs. Symbolically, Szpilman resumed its interrupted work!
After the war, Wladyslaw will ever resume his career solo concert. It remains unable to bear the nervous tension following the hardships suffered during the Occupation. It nevertheless contributes to the rebirth of the Polish musical life. including occupying the direction of music department of the National Radio until 1963. A prolific composer, one owes him some five hundred songs and new symphonic works and film music.
No comments:
Post a Comment