PENDERECKI, KRZYSZTOF

(23 November 1933, Debica, Poland)

Composer and conductor of the avant-garde, he first achieved popular notice with hisSt.LukePassion(1966). He directed the Kraków Academy of Music from 1972–1987 and has held many university residencies. His major contributions to sacred music include aDies Irae(1967) in memory of the Auschwitz victims,Utrenia(1971) a sequel to thePassionincorporating aspects ofByzantinerites, anoratorio-likeParadise Lost(1978), another oratorio,Seven{}Gates of Jerusalem(1996), a PolishRequiem(1984, rev. 1993), andCredo(1998). He also composed manypsalms, canticles, and otherversicles.