Composer and conductor Wojciech Michniewski has passed away.

Michniewski was born on April 4, 1947. He studied at the State Music Academy in Warsaw. He began his career in 1973 as conductor of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1979-81 Michniewski was artistic director of the Teatr Wielki in Łódź, and was music director of the stage for contemporary music of the Warsaw Chamber Opera until 1983.

Michniewski directed the world premieres of the operas “Wyrywacz serc” by Elżbieta Sikora, “The Music Programme” by Roxanna Panufnik, and “Ignorant i szaleniec” by Paweł Mykietyn at the Teatr Wielki Michniewski.

Vocal works composed by Michniewski include, “Trzy pieśni do słów siostry” for soprano and piano,
“Intermezzo” for soprano and chamber orchestra, and “Septet” for two sopranos, two mezzo-sopranos, two contralto players and bodybuilder.

Michniewski was awarded the Fryderyk in 1999 for a gala concert featuring Rossini’s music. For his services to contemporary Polish music, Michniewski received the Prize of the Polish Composers’ Union.

He passed away on Jan. 29, 2026.