Poldowski facts for kids

Poldowski was the professional name of a talented Belgian-born British composer and pianist. She was born Régine Wieniawski on May 16, 1879. Her father was the famous Polish violinist and composer Henryk Wieniawski. Some of her first musical pieces were published under the name Irène Wieniawska.

She later married Sir Aubrey Dean Paul and became Lady Dean Paul. She used the name Poldowski for her music, which became very well-known.

Her Early Life and Family

Régine Wieniawski was born in Ixelles, Brussels. Her father, Henryk Wieniawski, was a famous violinist and composer from Poland. He taught music at the Brussels Conservatory. Her mother, Isabelle Bessie Wieniawski, was English. Her family had connections to many famous musicians like Rossini and Jenny Lind. Régine was named after her grandmother.

Some people thought Régine was born after her father died. But this was a mistake. Her father passed away in March 1880, when she was about ten months old.

Her Musical Journey

Régine started learning piano with a teacher named Miss Ellis. She later studied piano and composition at the Brussels Conservatoire when she was 12. She continued her studies in London and Paris with other famous teachers.

When she was eight years old, she met the famous singer Nellie Melba. Nellie Melba was just starting her career. At 14, Régine performed some of her own music in public. She dedicated some of her early songs to her neighbors, Octave Maus and his wife.

In 1896, Régine and her mother moved to London. There, she published some of her first works as Irène Wieniawska. In 1901, she married Sir Aubrey Edward Henry Dean Paul. She became Lady Dean Paul and became a British citizen. She still used the name Irène Wieniawska for her music.

Lady Dean Paul had three children. Sadly, her first son passed away when he was very young. This sad event deeply affected her. It inspired her to write three musical pieces: two songs called Soir and Berceuse d'Armorique, and a violin piece called Berceuse pour l'enfant mourant. After this, she started using the name Poldowski for her music.

In 1912, a singer named Gervase Elwes introduced her songs to audiences in England. He had admired her music for many years. He thought her songs were very original and well-made.

Poldowski moved to Brussels in 1912 because Queen Elizabeth of Belgium wanted to hear her music. She performed her Violin Sonata in D minor there. Her friend, the French pianist Lazare Lévy, also performed her music. In 1923, Lévy played her piano piece Caledonian Market. Henry Wood, another friend and conductor, also performed her music in London.

In 1916, Poldowski and her family became Roman Catholics. In 1919, she moved to the United States. Her "symphonic opera" called Silence was published there. This opera was later performed in London in 1920.

She returned to London in 1922. Many famous artists visited her, including playwright Alfred Sutro and composer George Gershwin.

In 1923, Poldowski organized a series of concerts at the Hyde Park Hotel. These concerts were very popular and attracted famous musicians like Arthur Rubinstein. She also opened a stylish fashion boutique. She even designed clothes for the British Royal Family. In 1925, she toured Spain, and the King and Queen of Spain gave her a diamond bracelet.

Her Music Style

Poldowski was a very talented composer, especially of songs. Her music was influenced by the French composer Claude Debussy. She wrote music for 22 French poems by Paul Verlaine. She also set English poems by writers like William Blake and W. B. Yeats to music.

Her Later Life

Poldowski became very ill with pneumonia. She had a lung removed. She passed away from a heart attack on January 28, 1932, in London. She was 52 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Poldowski para niños