One of the most remarkable Polish singers, possessed of an exceptional scale of artistic capability which became apparent at the very outset of her career and was confirmed at prestigious vocal competitions. In 1958 she was awarded the Gold Medal at the International Competition in Toulouse. The next two years brought on subsequent competition victories: 1959 - 2nd prize in Vercella (1st prize was not awarded) and 1960 - 3rd prize in Sophia. She is an exceptionally universal singer, capable of performing grand opera roles, masterworks from the oratorio repertoire and songs of many different styles and historic periods. Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa’s stage interpretations are a rich and differentiated gallery of personae and female characters. They are an extraordinary acting, as well as vocal and musical achievement. She sings grand dramatic roles which are at once lyrical and greatly expressive: Jokaste in Stravinsky’s "Oedipus Rex", Bizet’s "Carmen", Princess Eboli in Verdi’s "Don Carlos", Kundra in Wagner’s "Parsifal", the Duchess in Tchaikovsky’s "Dame Pique", Klitemnestra in Strauss’ "Electra", Filippevna in Tchaikovsky’s "Onegin" and many others. Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa’s concert repertoire consists of a number of the most celebrated works in the oratorio and cantata repertoire, including the music of Bach, Bruckner, Dvorák, Mozart, Pergolesi, Rossini, Szymanowski and Vivaldi, as well as countless songs by Brahms, Debussy, Mussorgsky, Schubert and Schumann.
Polish music plays an important role in the singer’s recitals. She consistently propagates it abroad, performing works by Baird, Chopin, Górecki, Karłowicz, Lutosławski, Moniuszko, Penderecki, Szymanowski and others. Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa was born in Silesia, a region that she has kept in close touch with throughout her whole career. She graduated cum laude from the Conservatory in Katowice in 1969. Her teachers there included Irena Faryaszewska and Adrianna Lenczewska. She embarked upon an intensive artistic career while still in school. In 1957 she was employed by the Silesian Opera in Bytom. She was a soloist in the Silesian Opera for five years, after which she launched a long series of triumphs in Warsaw. Her position in the Warsaw opera during Bohdan Wodiczko’s tenure became stronger and stronger.
Initially she sang Amneris in Verdi’s "Aida". She then went on to perform Jokaste in Stravinsky’s "Oedipus Rex", Judith in Bartók’s "Duke Bluebeard’s Castle", as well as Cornelia in Haendel’s "Julius Caesar". Her repertoire soon included everything ever written for a mezzo-soprano - from Monteverdi, Bach and Haendel to Stravinsky, Honegger and leading Polish composers: Baird, Górecki, Lutosławski and Penderecki. After a triumphant performance as princess Eboli in "Don Carlos" on the stage of the Vienna Opera she went on to travel to Paris, Madrid, Moscow, Stockholm, Geneva, Brussels, Rome, Lille, Lyon, Budapest, Bucharest, Mexico City and Buenos Aires (Teatro Colón); she performed at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York and also in Canada, Latin America, and Africa.
She worked with the most renowned conductors, including Hans Swarowsky, Serge Baudo, Igor Markevitch, Jean Claude Casadeus, Kurt Sanderling... Just as long is the list of artists with whom she had performed in many different venues: Eva Marton, Katia Ricciarelli, Margaret Marchall, Lucia Popp, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, José Carreras, Cesare Siepi, Carlo Bergonzi, Jess Thomas, Nicolai Giaurov, Nicolai Gedda, Vladimir Altanov and others.
Her stage repertoire includes grand roles of opera heroines and characteristic roles which require specific vocal and performing characteristics: the old Gypsy Azucena, the monumental and vengeful Amneris, girlish Jessica, scornful Olga, coquettish Hostess in the inn, majestic Delilah, wanton Herodiade, bloody Klitemnestra, tender Nicania, tragic Jokaste, the old Duchess from "Dame Pique" and finally the jealous Sicilian girl Santuzza. Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa has also devoted her time to teach, working as professor of singing at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. Her graduates have already achieved artistic success in Poland and abroad.
After more than 40 years of spectacular success on the greatest opera and concert stages all over the world combined with important accomplishments in the field of teaching there can be no doubt as to the magnitude of a grand and vast career of this extraordinary artist, always teeming with creative energy.
Photo: Zofia Nasierowska
