Henryk Baranowski facts for kids

Henryk Baranowski (born February 9, 1943 – died July 27, 2013) was a talented person from Poland. He worked as a theatre, opera, and film director. He was also an actor, stage designer, writer, and poet.

Many people know him for his main role in the film Dekalog: One. This movie was directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski. He also played Josef in Rosa Luxemburg and Napoleon in Pan Tadeusz. Henryk Baranowski directed over 60 plays and operas in Europe, Russia, and the USA. He was also the Artistic Director of the Teatr Śląski (Silesian Theatre) in Katowice for a few years.

Early Life and Education

Henryk Baranowski was born in Tarnopol, Poland, on February 9, 1943. His father, Stanisław Baranowski, was a famous conductor and violinist. His mother, Irena, was from Kharkov.

In 1944, his family was sent to a labor camp in Germany. They stayed there for the last year of World War II. After the war, they lived in the American Zone for three years. Then they moved back to Poland.

Henryk Baranowski studied mathematics at the University of Wrocław. He also studied philosophy at the University of Warsaw. Later, he went to the State Theater School in Warsaw to learn how to be a director. He finished his studies in 1973.

Theatre Work

Henryk Baranowski started directing plays in 1973. His first play was The Maids by Jean Genet in Warsaw. He directed many plays in different Polish theatres. Some of these plays included Man and Wife and Ghosts. He also directed The Castle and Forefather's Eve.

One of his plays, Totenhorn, was stopped by government officials. But writers nearby signed a petition, and the play was allowed to continue. After directing The Trial, he moved to West Berlin in 1980.

In Berlin, he became well-known in the theatre world. He helped start a theatre company called TransformTheater Berlin. He also worked internationally, directing plays in Germany, Russia, Italy, Norway, and the USA. In 1991, he directed his first English-language play in Chicago. It won an award for its cast.

One of his plays, Loneliness on the Net, has been performed for almost ten years in Russia. It shows how popular and lasting his work was.

Opera Productions

Later in his career, Henryk Baranowski directed more operas. His production of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten won several awards in Poland. He also directed Life with an Idiot by Alfred Schnittke. This opera won three Russian Golden Mask Awards, including Best Production.

Selected Film Roles

Henryk Baranowski also acted in several films:

• Wszystko (1972)
• Rosa Luxemburg (1986) – He played Josef, Rosa's brother.
• Dekalog (1988) – He played Krzysztof in Dekalog: One and Dekalog: Three.
• Pan Tadeusz (1999) – He played Napoleon Bonaparte.

Radio Plays

He directed several radio plays for Polish Radio:

• 2011 – Dziewanna
• 2012 – A Dream About King David
• 2012 – Tułacze (based on Exiles)
• 2012 – When We Dead Awaken

Awards and Recognition

Henryk Baranowski received many awards for his work:

• 1976 – First prize for Hello and Goodbye at a festival in Szczecin.
• 1976 – First prize for his adaptation and direction of The Castle.
• 1991 – ITI Award for promoting Polish theatre abroad.
• 1992 – Award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his work in promoting Polish culture.
• 1992 – Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Ensemble in Chicago.
• 2000 – Golden Mask for Best Director and Silver Boat for best production for Akhnaten.
• 2004 – Golden Mask for Best Opera Production for Life with An Idiot.

See also

In Spanish: Henryk Baranowski para niños