Droga do Karola Szymanowskiego

Abstract

The text forms a part of a recently published novel by Marek Sołtysik, Roman Maciejewski. Dwa życia jednego artysty (Roman Maciejewski. Two lives of one artist). The presented chapter Droga do Karola Szymanowskiego (Road to Karol Szymanowski) tells about the relationship between Szymanowski and Roman Maciejewski, a Polish composer, virtuoso pianist and the former’s student, expelled from the Warsaw Academy of Music for his support for Szymanowski, the then rector of the Academy. During his stay in Geneva at home of his would-be father-in-law, Ludwik Rajchman, Maciejewski, already an acclaimed musician, is informed about the approaching death of terminally ill Szymanowski and rushes to Lausanne to the latter’s deathbed. His own health problems prevent him from arriving earlier than several hours after Szymanowski’s demise. The untimely, although predictable, loss of a friend, mentor and source of inspiration evokes numerous recollections of the deceased, with whom Maciejewski has formed a strong artistic bond.