Jan Ignacy Paderewski
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Poland’s Independence, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute has announced a competition for a treatment of an English-language musical play over the life of pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941).
Paderewski was one of the highest paid artist of his time. As a touring pianist, he crossed the United States 30 times travelling in a private Pullman carriage, and embarked on journeys across Australia and Africa. The institute says in a statement: « A superb orator in 7 languages and an astute politician, he achieved the highest honour of becoming a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles as the first Prime Minister of independent Poland. An advocate for US intervention after the outbreak of World War 2, Paderewski sailed to America yet again, but was taken ill in New York City, where he died. He was buried at the Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. by special decree of President’s Roosevelt’s, who memorialized the artist’s remarkable life by calling him a Modern Immortal. »
The winner of the competition for the 3-page preliminary outline of the work will receive a cash prize ($5000) and the possibility of a full book commission and staging in the US. There will also be cash awards for 2nd and 3rd place entries.
