The Senate of the Academy praised Zimerman as one of the world’s greatest living pianists, a man of extraordinary talent, an indefatigable promoter of Polish music and a philanthropist.
In a citation at Saturday’s ceremony, Piotr Paleczny, himself a pianist of international renown, described Zimerman as “an artist who is a national treasure for Polish music and music lovers”.
Recalling the unprecedented victory of the then 19-year-old Zimerman at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1975, Paleczny stressed that his worldwide career "belongs to the most spectacular achievements of the winners of the Warsaw competition in its almost century-long history”.
In closing, Paleczny quoted the words of Thomas Aquinas, who linked beauty with integrity or perfection, due proportion or harmony, and clarity or brightness. “I have no doubt that Krystian Zimerman’s personality and musical achievements fully embody these qualities”, Paleczny said.
In his thank-you remarks, Zimerman expressed his gratitude for the honorary doctor’s title and offered his thanks to his first piano teacher and mentor Professor Andrzej Jasiński, his friend Professor Paleczny and the entire faculty of the Academy of Music in Łódź.
In previous years, Zimerman received honorary doctorates from the Music Academies in Warsaw and Katowice, his alma mater.
Zimerman was born in 1956 in Zabrze, southern Poland. His victory at the 1975 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw skyrocketed him to international stardom, with an instant flow of invitations from leading orchestras and top conductors. Particularly acclaimed for his interpretations of Romantic music, he also excels in the contemporary repertoire. He was the dedicatee and first performer of Witold Lutosławski’s Piano Concerto.
During his long collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon, Zimerman has released almost 30 albums, which have earned him more than 50 prestigious awards.
Zimerman’s distinctions include the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Reborn Poland, the Gold Gloria Artis Medal for Cultural Merit, several Gramophone Awards, the French Legion of Honour and the Praemium Imperiale from the Japanese Artists’ Association.
A resident of Switzerland since 1984, he has dual Polish-Swiss citizenship.
(mk/mo)