Reminiscences of Kraków 1955

Students recall Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli during the Chopin Competition

Echo Krakowskie, 26 March 1955

Participants of the Chopin Competition in Kraków

Now we begin our journey through the castle, the oldest in Wawel [Royal Castle], the Rotunda of Felix and Adauctus, through a labyrinth of halls and cloisters, all the way to the Throne Room. The guides, who explain everything in Russian, French, German, and English, can't keep up with the dozens of questions. From the castle, we move on to Wawel Cathedral, and finally, we're back in the courtyard.

We return for dinner, after which a group of guests visits the music school on Basztowa Street [Ulica Basztowa, a historic street in Kraków's Old Town]. The school's director himself translates his warm welcome into four languages, and then the students show off their piano playing. We bid farewell with a glass of wine and bouquets of flowers, and return to the hotel.

And from the moment we arrived, we were accompanied by crowds of people, mostly young people. Yesterday, a long line of people lined up in front of the hotel, impossible to get through without first signing at least a few dozen autographs. Everyone was asking questions of the Polish pianists, who were in the first group to travel from Warsaw directly to Zakopane.

In the evening, the entire "Grand" sets off for the Philharmonic. The hall is incredibly packed. Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli will be playing. [If this is the recital of 24 March, then the information conflicts with other accounts - see Warsaw 1955 page]

Before the recital begins, the audience spots [Vladimir] Ashkenazy, Fu-Tsung [Fou Ts'ong], and [Bernard] Ringeissen on the first-floor balcony. Applause erupts, turning into a standing ovation as the pianists rise to their feet, bowing, and expressing their gratitude for the warm welcome.

Then a recital. The program includes Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms, and at the end, eight magnificent encores. The hall rises from their seats, chanting the name of the great Italian artist.

After dinner, there were warm greetings and farewells. Oscar Gacitua arrived from a concert in Gniezno, and Bernard Ringeissen and his mother are leaving for Poznań.

Echo Krakowskie, 27/28 March 1955

A group of Chopin Competition participants arrived in Zakopane [a town famous as a winter resort, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains] and has already made their first trip to... Krupówki Street.

(By phone from Zakopane)

The participants of the Chopin Competition who were having fun in Krakow on Friday visited Nowa Huta and then went to Oświęcim (Auschwitz).

There's no need to ask about the impressions of your stay in the former concentration camp.

At 3 p.m. we are back in Krakow, but we don't go to the "Grand" - Parisians who returned from Zakopane in the morning live there - and we only go to the market square for dinner at Wierzynek's.

After another two hours, we boarded the bus again to head to Zakopane, where we arrived around 8 p.m.

In Zakopane we stayed at the Orbis Hotel. Here we meet Harasiewicz, Obidowicz, and Kerner. Fu Tsung also suddenly appears out of nowhere, having announced in the morning that he was not leaving Krakow and had stayed at the hotel.

After dinner, a walk along Krupówki Street [famous tourist street] - but not too long, because the whole day's journey takes its toll.

New guests arrived in Zakopane yesterday: Prof. Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Nina Lelczuk, who had a concert in Krakow in the evening, Malinee Peris.