Ewa Demarczyk is known as a Black Lady of Polish song. Her singing style oscillates between the Gypsy and Jewish ones with added quick, sharp, and brief upward and downward glissandos. It tends to reminisce about the Hungarian Gypsies and their violin-playing style, most expressively, captures the audience with her Gypsy like dark, large and piercing eyes framed in contrasting white light complexion, oval face, and long straight hair. Her black simple dress adds to the mystery of the performance. Occasionally she sounds a bit like Juliette Greco and Edith Piaf.
Ewa Demarczyk is known as a Black Lady of Polish song. Her singing style oscillates between the Gypsy and Jewish ones with added quick, sharp, and brief upward and downward glissandos. It tends to reminisce about the Hungarian Gypsies and their violin-playing style, most expressively, captures the audience with her Gypsy like dark, large and piercing eyes framed in contrasting white light complexion, oval face, and long straight hair. Her black simple dress adds to the mystery of the performance. Occasionally she sounds a bit like Juliette Greco and Edith Piaf.
Tracks:
1st CD:
- Karuzela z Madonnami (A Carrousel with Madonnas) - lyrics by M. Bialoszewski
- Garbus (The Hunchback) - lyrics by B. Lesmian
- Tomaszow (The Town of Tomaszow) - lyrics by J. Tuwim
- Grande Valse Brillante - lyrics by W. Faber J. Tuwim
- Jaki smieszny (He's Funny) - lyrics by W. Faber
- Taki pejzaz (Such a Landscape) - lyrics by A. Szmidt
- Wiersze Wojenne (War Poems) - lyrics by K. K. Baczynski
- Pocalunki (Kisses) - lyrics by M. Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska
- Czarne Anioly (Black Angels) - lyrics by W. Dymny
- Groszki i roze (Sweet Peas and Roses) - lyrics by J. Kacper and H. Rostworowski
- Deszcze (Rain) - lyrics by K.K. Baczynski
2nd CD:
- Karuzela z Madonnami (A Carrousel with Madonnas) - lyrics by M. Bialoszewski
- Taki pejzaz (Such a Landscape) - lyrics by A. Szmidt
- Czarne anioly (Black Angels) - lyrics by W. Dymny
Line-up:
Ewa Demarczyk - vocal
Polish Radio Orchestra directed by Stefan Rachon
Music:
Zygmunt Konieczny
Recorded:
January 27-February 24, 1967 (CD 1)
October 9-20, 1963 (CD 2)
About:
Ewa Demarczyk was born in Krakow, on 16 January 1941. She is educated actress (studies at PWST in Krakow), and pianist (she studied also piano at Music Academy). Her debut took place in 1961 in "Cyrulik" cabaret, but in 1962 she started her co-operation with "Piwnica pod Baranami", where she found a core group of composers setting poetry to music (Zygmunt Konieczny, Andrzej Zarycki, Stanisław Radwan). A year later she took part in Polish song festival in Opole, where she excited the audience by the performance of first compositions of Zygmunt Konieczny ("The Marry-go-round with Madonnas" - poem by M. Białoszewski, "Black Angels" - poem by W. Dymny and "Such a Landscape" - poem by A. Szmidt). In 1966 she began to work also with Andrzej Zarycki and in the same year the form of her performances spread from a part of cabaret appearance or a short song recital to the independent music spectacle with the backing group of two pianos, two violins, cello, bass, guitar and percussion. She took part in many international music and theatre festivals, some of her performances were recorded by TV- and radio stations. She gave concerts in Olympia (Paris), in Salle Pleyel and Cornegie Hall (USA), in Canada, Cuba, Brazil, and many other countries. Getting numerous awards, she was nominated to half more. She is a performer with theatrical power and a voice that ranges from an intimate whisper to a fortissimo roar of passionate intensity. No matter if the audience doesn't understand her songs in Polish - the performance is always gripping - stunning and subtle, portraying pain and rage as well as love, tenderness and pray. Nevertheless she sings also in German, French, Spanish, Russian and English.
text courtesy of Ewa Demarczyk's tribute website
