Krzysztof Penderecki
(c) Bruno Fydrich
Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki died on 29 March 2020, but the pandemic made it impossible to hold his funeral. Tomorrow, on the day of the second anniversary of his death a state ceremonial funeral will finally be held in Krakow. The composer’s ashes, which have rested in St. Florian’s Church for nearly two years, will be carried to the National Pantheon located in the crypt in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. The procession will march throughout the city and official guests will speak during the mass.
Many musicians and friends of the Penderecki family will attend the ceremony in Krakow, among them German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The last such grand funeral for a composer took place in Krakow 85 years ago; at the time, Karol Szymanowski was buried at the Rock with great pomp. Interestingly, both Krzysztof Penderecki and Karol Szymanowski died on the same day – 29 March; only Szymanowski died 85 years earlier.
