Photo: Unknown / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
What moves me about Szpilman is not the famous film but the man who refused to let history silence his music. Surviving the Warsaw ghetto and the destruction of his city, he returned to the piano and kept composing and playing for decades after. Polanski's The Pianist made him an icon, yet I find the real testament in the fact that he chose music over bitterness. To me his survival is itself a kind of masterpiece, and the dignity he carried into his eighty-eight years feels far larger than any single performance ever could.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Władysław Szpilman
- Name (Japanese)
- ウワディスワフ・シュピルマン
- Reading
- うわでぃすわふ・しゅぴるまん
- Born
- December 5, 1911 – July 6, 2000
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Boar
- Origin
- Sosnowiec, Poland
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- pianist / composer / writer / songwriter / musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Chopin University of Music
Awards & achievements
- Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Zasłużony Działacz Kultury
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Śmierć Miasta | — | |
| Notable work | The Pianist | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Władysław Szpilman born?
December 5, 1911 – July 6, 2000.
Where is Władysław Szpilman from?
Władysław Szpilman is from Sosnowiec, Poland.
What does Władysław Szpilman do?
Władysław Szpilman works as pianist, composer, writer, songwriter, musician.
What is Władysław Szpilman known for?
Notable works include Śmierć Miasta, The Pianist.
Pianist — see all → · Composer — see all → · More people from Poland →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.