Krzysztof Śmietana
Krzysztof Śmietana was born in Poland, first studied at the Cracow Academy of Music, later moving to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he himself now teaches. He won most of the national awards in Poland and has been a prize winner in several major international violin competitions.He has made many recital and concerto appearances throughout Britain as well as abroad and is regularly heard on BBC Radio 3 including the highly acclaimed performances of both Szymanowski’s Violin Concertos with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. His recordings of the Panufnik’s Violin Concerto with London Musici for Conifer became the CD of the month in „CD Review” magazine. He has played the concerto throughout Europe prompting „The Strad” to comment on his „beautifully controlled, slow bowing and languorous vibrato”. He has recorded Faure’s Sonatas for Meridian, the Brahms’ Sonatas for ASV and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Robert Craft for Music Masters.
Adding to his activities as a soloist and chamber musician he has been appearing as a guest leader of several British Orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a soloist at the PROMS Festival with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.