Adam Harasiewicz

Adam Harasiewicz
Harasiewicz in the Netherlands in 1963
Background information
Born (1932-07-01) 1 July 1932 (age 92)
Chodziez, Poland
GenresClassical
OccupationPianist

Adam Harasiewicz (born 1 July 1932) is a Polish classical concert pianist.

Harasiewicz was born in Chodziez. After studying violin for two months, at the age of 10 he began piano study, and at age 15 he obtained first prize in a contest at Rzeszów. At 18 he entered the State Higher School of Music in Kraków (at present Academy of Music in Kraków) where he studied with Zbigniew Drzewiecki.[1]

Harasiewicz studied with Drzewiecki for six years, and became pre-eminent as an interpreter of Chopin, excelling through a combination of superb technique, lyrical imagination, exceptional consistency of stylistic and idiomatic approach, and (through all of these) in playing of a characteristic temperament which identifies him as a true exponent of the Polish Romantic tradition.[2] He won the first prize at the V International Chopin Piano Competition in 1955.[3] He then spent some years in Belgium, before settling in Austria.[4] Harasiewicz was a member of the jury at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 1995, 2010, 2015, and 2021.[5]

He has recorded the complete works[6] of Chopin and also much by Szymanowski.[7]

  1. ^ Sleevenote, 'Adam Harasiewicz – Chopin Waltzes' (Philips LP, World Series Stereo PHC 9034).
  2. ^ J. Methuen-Campbell, Chopin Playing from the Composer to the Present Day (Victor Gollancz, London 1981), pp. 122-23, and citing Dr Jan Weber's note to a 2-record set of Concours first-prizewinners (1927–65) (Muza XL 0654-55).
  3. ^ "Harasiewicz Winner of the First Prize in 1955". konkurs.chopin.pl. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  4. ^ Methuen-Campbell (as above).
  5. ^ "Harasiewicz Member of the Jury in 1995". ddg.art.pl. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  6. ^ According to Methuen-Campbell (as above).
  7. ^ "Harasiewicz's Recordings at Allmusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2010.