He is one of the most prominent Polish conductors. Ever since he was five years old, music has been an integral part of his life. He displayed extensive musical talent, especially as a violinist. He studied conducting in Prof. Stanisław Wisłocki's class at the Academy of Music in Warsaw, from which he graduated with honours. He simultaneously studied music theory and composition. He is a very active conductor, closely linked to the National Philharmonic in Warsaw since 1973, first as an assistant conductor and then as a permanent conductor in 1976-1978. He was artistic director of the Wielki Theatre in Łódź in 1979-1981, and in 1979-1983 - music director of the Warsaw Chamber Opera's Contemporary Stage. In 1984-1987 he was a guest leading conductor of the Polish Chamber Orchestra, today known as Sinfonia Varsovia. He was appointed general and artistic director of the Poznań Philharmonic in 1987, and filled the post till 1991. Since then he performs exclusively as a guest conductor, not accepting any proposals of permanent appointments.

   He has made numerous television and radio recordings, and released many albums. He has conducted in practically all the European countries, in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Hong Kong, the United States, and Cuba. He has performed in such concert venues as the Philharmonic and Schauspielhaus in Berlin, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Barbican Hall in London, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. He has also taken part in many international music festivals. Michniewski is a very versatile artist, conducting both symphony concerts and operas. He is valued not only for the classical repertoire he performs, but also for his interpretations of 20th-century music and the latest modern works.

He was a laureate of the conducting competition in Katowice (1974), won the Orfeusz annual prize awarded by Polish critics, for the inaugural concert of the Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music (1975), the Prix RAI for his composition Szeptet (1975), the Guido Cantelli First Prize at the International Conducting Competition at Teatro alla Scala (Milan, 1977), the Bronze Medal at the Ernest Ansermet International Conducting Competition in Geneva (1978) and the Critics' Prize at the Musikbiennale in Berlin (1987). In 1996 he received a Fryderyk award for his album with the music of Witold Lutosławski, recorded together with Krzysztof Jakowicz and the Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra.

   He collaborates with the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, where he prepared the world premiere of Elżbieta Sikora's opera The Heartsnatcher in 1995, and in 1997 conducted the orchestra during a recital by Ewa Podleś. In 2000 he prepared the world premiere of Roxanna Panufnik's The Music Programme, in 2001 he prepared the music side of the world premiere of Paweł Mykietyn's An Ignoramus and a Madman, in 2005 the premiere of Benjamin Britten's Curlew River, in 2006 the premiere of Leos Janaček's The Diary of the One Who Disappeared and Paweł Mykietyn's Shakespeare's Sonets, in 2007 Dobromiła Jaskot's Phaedra and Aleksandra Gryka's Alpha Kryonia XE and in 2009 Philip Glass The Fall of the House of Usher.

Photo: Archive