Krzysztof Książek – Pianist
About
Krzysztof Książek was a semi-finalist and recipient of two special prizes at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw as well as the 3rd Prize and the special prize for the best performance of Mazurkas at the 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments.

Arensky, Rachmaninov, Works for two pianos (DUX 1720)

Chopin Piano Works (DUX 1319)

Santander Orchestra 2016 (DUX 1356)

Chopin. Koncert fortepianowy f-moll, Mazurki, Ballada/Kurpiński. Fuga i Koda B-dur (NIFCCD 056)

Apparition (ACD 263)

Krzysztof Książek / Chopin, Zhao (Agencja Muzyczna Polskiego Radia)
My life
My history
Awarded and appreciated for his performance of Fryderyk Chopin’s music and Polish music. The artist has performed at numerous festivals in Poland and abroad, among others: International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój, Festival “Chopin and His Europe”, Festival Chopin à Paris, New Year Music Festival in Gstaad, Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw. He has given concerts in Europe, Africa, the United States and Asia. He has performed under the baton of such conductors as Antoni Wit, Jacek Kaspszyk, Tadeusz Strugała, Grzegorz Nowak, Václav Luks, Jose Maria Florencio, Yu Feng, George Tchitchinadze, Łukasz Borowicz and Ewa Strusińska.
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A wide area of musical interests places him among the most universal artists of his generation. Apart from the canon of works by the most famous composers, he also reaches for less known pieces (e.g. Piano Concerto by S. Wisłocki, Symphonic Rhapsody for piano and orchestra by Z. Stojowski, Variations on a Nursery Theme by E. von Dohnanyi, or Yellow River Piano Concerto). He does not avoid the newest music either (Concerto for piano and percussion by Z. Bargielski). The artist derives great joy from performing music on historical instruments, the best proof of which, apart from cooperation with such ensembles as Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Collegium 1704 or {oh!} Historical Orchestra, is the recording of a recital on a replica of Chopin’s Warsaw piano – Buchholtz from about 1825. An important part of his activity is chamber music, which he studied under Prof. Kaja Danczowska, Prof. Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska and Dr. Sławomir Cierpik. Together with his wife Agnieszka Zahaczewska-Książek, he co-founded the Książek Piano Duo. The ensemble won First Prize at the Second International Polish Music Competition in Rzeszów (2021). It permanently cooperates with singer and composer Agata Zubel. Their album “Apparition” with songs by 20th century composers was awarded with FRYDERYK 2020. The pianist’s discography includes, apart from the aforementioned, records with Chopin’s music and suites for two pianos by Anton Arensky and Sergey Rachmaninov. Krzysztof Książek is a graduate of the Academies of Music in Kraków and Bydgoszcz in the class of Professor Stefan Wojtas. Currently, as part of his postgraduate studies in the class of Professor Arie Vardi, he is studying at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. He was a recipient of the “Młoda Polska” scholarship programme. In March 2014, he was awarded the Krystian Zimerman Scholarship. Krzysztof Książek is represented by the Ludwig van Beethoven Association.
Photo gallery
Photos
PHOTOS ARCHIWUM STOWARZYSZENIE IM. LUDWIGA VAN BEETHOVENA / BRUNO FIDRYCH, Piotr Markowski
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About me
Reviews
Maciej Chiżyński, resmusica.com
Krzysztof Książek, né en 1992, a été considéré par la plupart des critiques comme le meilleur pianiste polonais du Concours Chopin en 2015. Malgré des prestations remarquables, il ne s’est pas trouvé dans le groupe des finalistes du concours et, de ce fait, n’a pas eu...
Michał Klubiński, Beethoven Magazine
„Krzysztof Książek, Chopin Piano Works, DUX” Monograficzna płyta 26-letniego Krzysztofa Książka przynosi reminiscencję niezwykle bogatej osobowości artysty, który wszedł w elitarny i nierzadko proroczy krąg wielkich niedocenionych Konkursu Chopinowskiego....
Stanisław Dybowski, Twoja Muza
"Perfekcyjny Chopin Krzysztofa Książka" Wychowankowie profesora Stefana Wojtasa, to pianiści świetnie przygotowani, znakomicie wyuczeni, a jednocześnie tak ukształtowani, aby ich oryginalne cechy nie zostały utracone. Profesor, sam wspaniały pianista (dość...
Dariusz Marciniszyn, Ruch Muzyczny
"Książek znów zaskakuje" Krzysztof Książek to dziś jeden z najbardziej rozpoznawalnych pianistów młodego pokolenia w Polsce. Jego fenomenalne występy na ostatnim Konkursie Chopinowskim przysporzyły mu wielu zwolenników, dlatego też z dużą niecierpliwością...
Contact
Elżbieta Chojnowska
Phone
tel. +48 604 197 477