Ewa Demarczyk
Encyclopedia
Ewa Demarczyk is a Polish singer. She is generally associated with the Piwnica pod Baranami
cabaret.
Demarczyk is recognized as one of the most talented and charismatic singers in the history of Polish music. She is praised for her unique interpretations, expression and unusual stage personality. Back in the 1960s she drew comparisons with Édith Piaf
. In Poland, Ewa would be often referred to as "the dark angel".
's student cabaret Cyrulik. After one year she left Cyrulik for Piwnica pod Baranami
, where she met Zygmunt Konieczny
, with whom she would work for the next four years.
Her first big success was a performance at 1963 National Festival of Polish Song in Opole
where she got an award for the songs "Karuzela z madonnami", "Taki pejzaż" and "Czarne anioły". Later the same year Ewa sang also at Sopot International Song Festival
and was named the best artist of 1963 by Polish journalists. In 1964 she took the second place in Sopot for "Grande Valse Brillante". The artist went on to perform at Olympia
in Paris, after Bruno Coquatrix
's invitation, as well as at the ceremony celebrating 20th anniversary of United Nations
.
In 1966 graduated from Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts
(however, later she never played any part in a movie). The same year the artist teamed up with another composer, Andrzej Zarycki. 1967 saw the release of her first full-length album, Ewa Demarczyk śpiewa piosenki Zygmunta Koniecznego, which proved to be a major success and was later certified Platinum.
Demarczyk departed from Piwnica pod Baranami in 1972. Two years later her next album was issued, including some new Polish songs plus four Russian-language versions of her previously known hits. It was released in Russia by the state-owned label Melodiya
and sold in excess of several million copies. Later in the 1970s Ewa Demarczyk was awarded with an honorary award at Opole Festival and Order of Polonia Restituta.
Her 1982 live album, simply titled Live, turned out to be a big success, achieving Gold certification in Poland. In the mid-1980s the singer founded her own theatre in Kraków. In spite of formal difficulties, it was soon shut down, although enjoyed interest. In the 1990s her albums were re-releases in CD format and the artist got a number of awards in recognition of her input to Polish culture. Ewa Demarczyk continued to perform live until the late 90s. In 2001 a foundation Teatr Ewy Demarczyk was created.
s like Polish writers Julian Tuwim
and Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński
or non-Polish, like Goethe, Mandelstam
, Rainer Maria Rilke
or those of avant-garde
writers like Miron Białoszewski, the genre that Demarczyk is associated with is sometimes called sung poetry
.
Her songs convey strong emotions, partly associated with the counter-culture movement in Poland during the 1970s and 1980s, when the country was under communist
rule. Because of censorship, her songs are not ostentatiously anti-communist or political. Nevertheless, through subtle means of imagery, symbolism and metaphors that implicitly refer to concepts of freedom, in some of the songs she has expressed the general discontent with the authoritarian rule of the period. Many other of her songs deal with existential topics.
In her performances, she unites both dramatic theatrical expression and vocal art (she is a graduate of both a drama school
and conservatory, where she studied piano
). Every song she performs is in fact a short musical drama of enormous intensity.
Piwnica pod Baranami
The Piwnica pod Baranami is a Polish literary cabaret located in Kraków, Poland. For over thirty years, in the People's Republic of Poland, Piwnica pod Baranami served as the most renowned political cabaret in the country, until the end of the communist era...
cabaret.
Demarczyk is recognized as one of the most talented and charismatic singers in the history of Polish music. She is praised for her unique interpretations, expression and unusual stage personality. Back in the 1960s she drew comparisons with Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
. In Poland, Ewa would be often referred to as "the dark angel".
Biography
She started career in 1961, when she joined Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeJagiellonian university medical college
Latin : Universitas Jagellonica Cracoviensis Motto Plus ratio quam vis Established 1364 University Jagiellonian University School Type Public Rector Prof...
's student cabaret Cyrulik. After one year she left Cyrulik for Piwnica pod Baranami
Piwnica pod Baranami
The Piwnica pod Baranami is a Polish literary cabaret located in Kraków, Poland. For over thirty years, in the People's Republic of Poland, Piwnica pod Baranami served as the most renowned political cabaret in the country, until the end of the communist era...
, where she met Zygmunt Konieczny
Zygmunt Konieczny
Zygmunt Konieczny — Polish composer of theatre music and film music.Zygmunt Konieczny spent his childhood in the village of Szczyrzyc. He debuted in the 1950s in the cabaret Piwnica pod Baranami in Kraków. Since then Konieczny composed many pieces for film, theater performances and singers such as...
, with whom she would work for the next four years.
Her first big success was a performance at 1963 National Festival of Polish Song in Opole
National Festival of Polish Song in Opole
National Festival of Polish Song in Opole is a yearly music festival in Opole, Poland. Together with Sopot Festival it is the most important music festival in Poland. Opole Festival is meant as a summary of yearly season of achievements of Polish song writers and performers...
where she got an award for the songs "Karuzela z madonnami", "Taki pejzaż" and "Czarne anioły". Later the same year Ewa sang also at Sopot International Song Festival
Sopot International Song Festival
The Sopot International Song Festival is an international song contest held in Sopot, Poland. It was the biggest Polish music festival altogether with the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, and one of the biggest annual song contest in Europe...
and was named the best artist of 1963 by Polish journalists. In 1964 she took the second place in Sopot for "Grande Valse Brillante". The artist went on to perform at Olympia
Paris Olympia
The Olympia is a music hall in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Located at No. 28, Boulevard des Capucines, its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre – Caumartin and Auber....
in Paris, after Bruno Coquatrix
Bruno Coquatrix
Bruno Coquatrix, was born in Ronchin, Nord on 5 August 1910 and died in Paris on 1 April 1979, buried in the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery . He is mainly known as the owner and manager of the music hall Paris Olympia...
's invitation, as well as at the ceremony celebrating 20th anniversary of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
In 1966 graduated from Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts
Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts
Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts , located in Kraków, Poland, was founded in 1946 by a well-known Polish actor, Juliusz Osterwa, who took the initial steps leading to the establishment of the Academy through the amalgamation of three local studios, the Theatre Actors' Studio at...
(however, later she never played any part in a movie). The same year the artist teamed up with another composer, Andrzej Zarycki. 1967 saw the release of her first full-length album, Ewa Demarczyk śpiewa piosenki Zygmunta Koniecznego, which proved to be a major success and was later certified Platinum.
Demarczyk departed from Piwnica pod Baranami in 1972. Two years later her next album was issued, including some new Polish songs plus four Russian-language versions of her previously known hits. It was released in Russia by the state-owned label Melodiya
Melodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
and sold in excess of several million copies. Later in the 1970s Ewa Demarczyk was awarded with an honorary award at Opole Festival and Order of Polonia Restituta.
Her 1982 live album, simply titled Live, turned out to be a big success, achieving Gold certification in Poland. In the mid-1980s the singer founded her own theatre in Kraków. In spite of formal difficulties, it was soon shut down, although enjoyed interest. In the 1990s her albums were re-releases in CD format and the artist got a number of awards in recognition of her input to Polish culture. Ewa Demarczyk continued to perform live until the late 90s. In 2001 a foundation Teatr Ewy Demarczyk was created.
Style
Her repertoire consists of difficult, not easily-accessible interpretations of poem texts. Since her songs are often based on poems of greatly appreciated "classical" poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s like Polish writers Julian Tuwim
Julian Tuwim
Julian Tuwim , sometimes used pseudonym "Oldlen" when writing song lyrics. He was a Polish poet, born in Łódź, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, of Jewish parents, and educated in Łódź and Warsaw where he studied law and philosophy at Warsaw University...
and Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński
Krzysztof Kamil Baczynski
Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński, was a Polish poet and Home Army soldier, one of the most renowned authors of the Generation of Columbuses, the young generation of Polish poets of whom many perished in the Warsaw Uprising.-Biography:...
or non-Polish, like Goethe, Mandelstam
Osip Mandelstam
Osip Emilyevich Mandelstam was a Russian poet and essayist who lived in Russia during and after its revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. He was one of the foremost members of the Acmeist school of poets...
, Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke , better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian–Austrian poet. He is considered one of the most significant poets in the German language...
or those of avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
writers like Miron Białoszewski, the genre that Demarczyk is associated with is sometimes called sung poetry
Sung poetry
Sung poetry is a broad and imprecise music genre widespread in Eastern European countries, such as Poland and the Baltic States, to describe songs consisting of a poem and music written specially for that text. The compositions usually feature a delicate melody and scarce musical background, often...
.
Her songs convey strong emotions, partly associated with the counter-culture movement in Poland during the 1970s and 1980s, when the country was under communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
rule. Because of censorship, her songs are not ostentatiously anti-communist or political. Nevertheless, through subtle means of imagery, symbolism and metaphors that implicitly refer to concepts of freedom, in some of the songs she has expressed the general discontent with the authoritarian rule of the period. Many other of her songs deal with existential topics.
In her performances, she unites both dramatic theatrical expression and vocal art (she is a graduate of both a drama school
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
and conservatory, where she studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
). Every song she performs is in fact a short musical drama of enormous intensity.
Discography
- 1967: Ewa Demarczyk śpiewa piosenki Zygmunta Koniecznego
- 1974: Ewa Demarczyk
- 1982: Live