Aleksander Michałowski (17 May 1851 – 17 October 1938) was a Polish pianist, teacher, and composer, renowned for his intimate interpretations of Frédéric Chopin's works and his influential role in the Chopin tradition of Poland. Born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, then within the Russian Empire, Michałowski studied at the Warsaw Music Institute before further honing his skills in Vienna under the tutelage of Carl Tausig and in Paris, where he was mentored by Georges Mathias, a student of Chopin himself. Michałowski's pedagogic lineage placed him at the heart of the Polish Romantic piano tradition, which he passionately preserved and disseminated through his teaching at the Warsaw Conservatory and beyond.

Throughout his life, Michałowski combined performing with passionate educational work, where he helped nurture the next generation of pianists. He published a wealth of piano transcriptions and editions, with a particular focus on Chopin, and his interpretative insights have been recorded in the early 20th century, granting precious historical insight into the performance practices of his time. His work was captured in the primitive but invaluable recordings of the Gramophone & Typewriter era, leaving a legacy encapsulated in series such as "The Great Polish Chopin Tradition: Aleksander Michałowski." His discography, although limited by the technological restrictions of his era, remains a treasured window into the style and sensibilities of late 19th and early 20th-century pianism.

Genres

Historic Piano Performance

Polish Classical

Polish Classical Piano

Latest Release

The Great Polish Chopin Tradition: Karol Mikuli

Raul Koczalski•

Aleksander Michałowski

Album - 18 Tracks - Released December 1, 2012