No cause of death has so far been made known.
Having received initial musical training in Warsaw, Bronikowski graduated from the Music Conservatory in Sofia, Bulgaria. He developed his vocal skills with Alberto Zedda at the Accademia Rossiniana in Pésaro, Italy, and with Carlo Bergonzi at Milan’s La Scala.
At the age of 24, Bronikowski made his debut as Figaro in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville at the National Opera in Sofia, and soon sang leading parts, including those of Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen and Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, with top Polish opera companies.
In 2000, Bronikowski became the first Polish baritone to appear at the Royal Opera Covent Garden, as Dandini in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Four years later, he sang the part of Escamillo at La Scala.
He also performed at the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, the National Opera in Athens, and the National Opera in Shanghai.
A music critic for Poland's Rzeczpospolita daily, Jacek Marczyński, said: ”Bronikowski was an outstanding talent, endowed with a beautiful lyric voice. He was also a very modest and likeable man. He has left us far too early.”
(mk/gs)
