Krysia: A Polish Girl's Stolen Childhood During World War II

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Thomas would know. In 1972, the precocious ten-year-old cellist from Middlesbrough became a founder-member of the Brodsky Quartet, joined initially by her brother Michael and friend (and current Second Violin) Ian Belton. Over 50 years, 70 albums and just a handful of personnel changes later, the group is still going strong, Thomas’s singing cello its unbroken heart-line. His father was Eric Watson, the widely-known photographer of Neil and Chris and many other artists. I remember her playing with Tom Hoy and Robin Thyne as the Natural Acustic Band. They nade two albums for RCA in 1972, and Krysia made a solo album, again for RCA, called Krysia in 1974. I saw them at some of the Folk Clubs around Glasgow in the early 70s. I remember Krysia playing one gig with her leg in plaster from toe to thigh. The more I read about WWII, the more I am astounded by what the Polish people went through. I'm so glad that Krystyna Muhulka decided to write her story. Her tale is an aspect of the war that is not as well known and should certainly be preserved.

I was sorry to learn of Krysia's death. We were at school together in Glasgow until 1970 when I remember her leaving early to follow her music. That was a long time ago but it sounds like Kyrsia pursued her dreams and remained courageous to the end. 12 April, 2007 04:01 Anonymous said...

Research interests

The art critic Frances Spalding suggested that Nowak's Polish upbringing and a possible love of Marc Chagall contributed to the melancholy mood of her solo show at the Philip Francis Gallery in Sheffield in 1979. [6] Krysia and Robin Williamson were both on Al Stewart's 24 Carrots if memory serves me right. Also try to find a copy of the Shot in the Dark record (no cd as of yet). She had some very good songs on it. 15 May, 2008 14:09 Dave White said...

Formed in September 2020 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Aquilae Quartet brings together four young musicians from Poland, Scotland and Cornwall. The quartet receives regular coaching at GSMD from Krysia Osostowicz, as well as classes with other world-renowned chamber musicians such as Tim Boulton, Adrian Brendel, Levon Chilingirian, Simon Rowland-Jones and the Endellion Quartet. The Aquilae Quartet has performed in Cornwall as part of the Golowan Festival concert series directed by Tim Boulton, and was selected to give a recital at the Florence Academy of Arts by Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival, with subsequent invitations to return to Florence. I was acquiring adult language, and, unfortunately, I was learning to hate,” writes the author of this vivid memoir.

His recordings include DVDs of Prokofiev’s "The Love of three Oranges", Tchaikovsky’s "Tcherevichki", Shostakovitch’s "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" and more. He initiated the first ever recording of Rudi Stephan’s complete songs that was released in 2012. Formed in 2021, the Nova Ensemble consists of four young musicians studying at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. They first met as members of Cornwall Youth Orchestra and have been playing chamber music together since 2016. The Nova Ensemble has studied with Krysia Osostowicz, Robin Ireland, and Prach Boondiskulchok, and are ensemble-in-residence at the Nova Classical Music Festival, which takes place in Cornwall each summer. Watsons of Norleywood New Forest Honey began in 2021 with Krysia Watson. Following in her father’s beekeeping footsteps, they now have around 50 hives located around the New Forest National Park. Each produces a unique honey from their local nectar, so no two apiaries are the same. Presently Krysia’s hives are working on the heather crop, which is a wonderfully deep-tasting honey, believed to have the same number of antioxidants as Manuka Honey, but with far fewer food miles. They are also working on Sedum, Red Valerian, hebes, dahlias, Michaelmas daisies and some ground cover crops such as clovers.

Krysia’s research aims to document and improve understanding of the often unanticipated harms caused by interventions to marginalised and vulnerable populations with a view to improving the appropriateness and accessibility of policies and services. She uses qualitative methods and public involvement to develop insights into the experiences and perspectives of these often underserved and seldom-heard populations. Recent grants I heard her sing in 1978 at an Al Stewart concert in Austin Texas. To this day I think she was one of the most beautiful and enchanting women I've ever seen. Truly a wonderful voice. May she rest in peace. 24 April, 2007 09:53 Anonymous said... How sad to hear about Krysia. She was a friend of mine at Bearsden Academy. She loved walking in Milngavie moors which she claimed inspired her musically. This was an interesting read about a young person's experience during the Holocaust, and her path was slightly different than many tales you read which end in concentration camps. The author included a pronunciation guide, which I found helpful, and a map. Good read. An extraordinary collaboration between two musicians at the absolute top of their game. This is an adventure that takes in musical detours you'd be mad to ignore” Tradfolka b c d Kay, Ernest, ed. (1984). The World Who's Who of Women (7ed.). Cambridge, UK: International Biographical Centre. p.534. ISBN 0900332689.

What does this have to do with a 9 year old girl living in Lwów, a small city in eastern Poland? Everything. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, as it came to be called, sealed the fate of this young girl and her family once the war began. After the initial invasion and occupation of Poland by the Germans on September 1, 1939, the Soviet army invaded and occupied eastern Poland as per the Pact on September 17, 1939. Haraway, D. 1988. Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective. Feminist Studies , Autumn, 1988, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Autumn, 1988), pp. 575-599I wrote earlier about Krysia, having learned of her death today. The song about her father that I quoted was actually'You should have been a painter, PAPA...and not Daddy. Try to hear it on her album 'Krysia'...it is a stunning song, with seering vocals. Sadly I no longer have the album, but may be able to find it somewhere. Personally, I would so appreciate hearing from anyone who knew her more recently... 29 May, 2007 07:49 Anonymous said... In the 1980's Krysia toured with the pioneering chamber group Domus, a piano quartet with its own portable concert hall - a geodesic dome - winning two Gramophone awards and a worldwide audience. In 1995 she founded the Dante Quartet, which became recognised as one of Britain's finest ensembles, winning the Royal Philharmonic Society award for chamber music and playing throughout the UK, Europe and Japan. The Dante Quartet was very popular in the South West and was central to the formation of the Dante Summer Festival. No matter how many years go by I never fail to miss Krysia. When she left us someone very special left us and left us so much poorer.