Białkiewiczówna Irena

Irena Białkiewiczówna, married to Andrault de Langeron (* 6.2.1891 Nieżyn, Ukraine – April 11, 1957 Warsaw) was a composer, pianist, violinist and singer. She studied composition with Piotr Rytel, Zygmunt Noskowski and Roman Statkowski, and the piano with Aleksander Michałowski at the Warsaw Conservatory. It was also where she made her debut as a violinist, performing, among others, his own Violin Sonata in D minor (1914).

Being from 1914 in Italy, she perfected vocal skills with Mattia Battistini; there she also explored the secrets of composition in Ottorin Respighi. Once again in Italy (1920-1924), she performed solo parts in Verdi’s operas. She spent several years of her life (1924-1931) in America. After returning to Poland, she started working in composition and teaching. Her rich compositional output includes about 100 songs, orchestral pieces (including two symphonies), a violin concerto, three piano concertos, a string quartet, and piano and violin sonatas. Her pieces were played with great success by leading performers. Most of the unpublished compositions were destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising. The artist was a member of the Polish Composers’ Union.

Sheet music available on the website of the National Library.

Pieces with the violin:

• Violin Sonata in D minor
• Violin Concerto
• String Quartet