The Polish musician and teacher was a titan in his field. In 2002, Olejniczak recorded the piano parts for Roman Polanski’s Oscar-winning film 'The Pianist'. Polish musician and teacher Janusz Olejniczak, who played the piano parts in the 2002 Oscar-winning movie , has died at the age of 72, his family confirmed today.
The family's statement to the media said Olejniczak died Sunday of a heart attack. The statement said that his “extraordinary musical sensitivity, especially in the interpretations of music by Frederic Chopin, brought him international fame and recognition.” Aleksander Laskowski, a spokesman for the national Frederic Chopin Institute, said the staff were “deeply saddened” by Olejniczak's death.
Laskowski described him as “one of the most outstanding contemporary performers of Chopin's music,” also on period instruments, and a superb teacher. Composer and conductor Jerzy Maksymiuk, who was a personal friend, said Olejniczak's “sensitive soul and extraordinary talent transpired throughout his interpretations” in which he created a “unique aura.” Maksymiuk said he had lunch with Olejniczak on Sunday and they discussed his “great plans” which he was determined to pursue despite his health problems.
Born on 2 October 1952, in Wroclaw, Olejniczak began his piano education at the age of 6. He studied in Warsaw, Paris and Essen. Olejniczak's international career was launched in 1970 when, aged only 18, he was a laureate of the 8th Internationa.
