Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the great musician and statesman, who was born on 6 November 1860.

The resolution describes Paderewski as one of the most outstanding and important personalities in Polish history. A legendary pianist, composer, philanthropist and politician, he is one of the household names in Polish culture and politics.

Hailed by his contemporaries as the greatest pianist since Franz Liszt, Paderewski achieved the peak of his triumphant career at the turn of the 19th century, when his fame spread to all continents, except for Asia, and his financial success reached phenomenal dimensions, including an entry in the Guinness Book of Records in the category of the highest fee per note played.

He also entered the annals of music history as a talented composer. His opera Manru remains, to this day, the only Polish opera produced at the Metropolitan.

During World War I Paderewski supported Poland’s attempts to regain independence after more than 120 years of foreign rule. In 1919, as Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, he co-chaired (with Roman Dmowski) the Polish delegation for the Peace Conference in Paris and signed the Treaty of Versailles.

Paderewski died in the United States in 1941 and, following a decision by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was buried at Arlington Military Cemetery in Washington.

In 1992, at the request of President Lech Wałęsa, his remains were brought to Poland and buried at St John’s Cathedral in Warsaw. (mk)