Krenz, Jan

Krenz, Jan, Polish conductor and composer; b. Wloctawek, July 14, 1926. During the German occupation, he managed to take lessons with Drzewiecki (piano) and Sikorski (composition). After the liberation, he studied at the State Higher School of Music in Lodz (1945–47) with Witkomirski (conducting) and Sikorski (composition). In 1946 he made his condcuting debut in Łòdź, and then was a conductor with the Poznan Phil. (1947–49). From 1949 he was a conductor of the Polish Radio Grand Sym. Orch. in Katowice, where he was its principal conductor from 1953 to 1968. He was artistic director of the Warsaw Opera from 1968 to 1973. From 1979 to 1982 he was Generalmusikdirektor in Bonn. He was a conductor with the Dutch Radio in Hilversum from 1983 to 1985. He also appeared as a guest conductor throughout Europe. In 1968 and 1996 he was honored with the Award of the Polish Composers’ Union.

Works

orch.: 2 syms.: No. 1 (1947-49; Warsaw, Jan. 13, 1950) and No. 2, quasi una fantasia (1989-92; Bonn, Feb. 11, 1993); Serenada klasyczna (Classical Serenade) for Small Orch. (1950); Taniec symfoniczny (Symphonic Dance; 1951); Serenade wiejska (A Country Serenade) for Small Orch. (1951); Rapsodia for Strings, Xylophone, Tam-tam, Timpani, and Celesta (Warsaw, May 30, 1952); Concertino for Piano and Small Orch. (Krakow, Oct. 30, 1952); Capriccio for 24 Instruments (1961-62; Warsaw, Sept. 20, 1962); Epitaphion (1989–90); Sinfonietta (1994-95; Zürich, March 20, 1996). chamber: Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1950); Musica for Clarinet (1958; Warsaw, Sept. 15, 1959); Musica da camera for String Quartet (1983; Wroclaw, Feb. 21, 1986); Sonatine per due for Violin (1986; Warsaw, Jan. 1987). vocal:Tryptyk for Voice and Piano (1946); Messa breve for Chorus (1982; Warsaw, Jan. 1984).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire