"She is short and lively and she sways like a flame."
Walls Journal (Great Britain)
"Agnieszka Duczmal […] is first-rate in the creation of orchestral colors."
The Village Times (USA)
Poland's most famous female conductor was born in a family with musical traditions. In 1971 she graduated from the State Higher Music School in Poznań, with a major in conducting in the class of professor Witold Krzemieński, and earned a distinction. The same year she took up the position of an assistant conductor in the Poznań State Philharmonic, and then as a conductor in the Poznań Opera where she prepared, e.g. the Polish premiere of B. Britten's Summer Night's Dream, the premiere of Rigoletto by G. Verdi and the Romeo and Juliet ballet by S. Prokofiev.
During her studies, in 1968 she founded a chamber orchestra that was transformed in 1977 into the Orchestra of the Polish Radio and Television, and then into the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio. Agnieszka Duczmal has been the Orchestra's director and artistic director since it was formed.
In 1970 Agnieszka Duczmal was awarded a prize in the 1st Polish National Conductors' Competition in Katowice. In 1975 she earned a distinction at the 4th International Herbert von Karajan Conductors' Competition in West Berlin. A year later, along with her Orchestra, she won the Herbert von Karajan Silver Medal at the International Young Orchestra Meeting in West Berlin. In 1982 she received the title of "La donna del mondo" (Woman of the World) awarded by the Saint Vincent International Center of Culture in Rome, under the patronage of UNESCO and the president of Italy, for superb, worldwide achievements in the area of culture, arts and social activity.
Agnieszka Duczmal conducts symphonic orchestra concerts in Poland and abroad. She was the first woman conductor to perform on the stage of Milan's Teatro alla Scala.
Until 2009, along with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, she recorded 47 albums, and over 9000 minutes of music for the Polish Radio. She has recorded over 100 concerts and musical programs for the Polish Television, e.g. as part of such series as "In Stereo and in Color" or "Guests of Agnieszka Duczmal", as well as 5 hours of music for Télévision Française 1 and one hour-lasting program with Polish music for Japanese television NHK. She has also made numerous recordings for German and Belgian radiophonies, the BBC in London, CBC in Montreal, radio and television in Mexico and Japan. Her artistic portfolio includes numerous premieres, e.g. the world's first recording of Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach in an ingenious transcription for a chamber orchestra by J. Koffler.
Conductor presents the audience interesting projects, which join music with ballet and paintings. There is a noteworthy project : "The Four Seasons - For Stages of Life" presenting Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi and Cuatro Estaciones Portenas by A. Piazzolla against a background of monumental picture by Mariusz Kałdowski. Mrs. Duczmal regularly promotes young and talented musicians from Poland.
Agnieszka Duczmal has been touring with her Orchestra extensively, and has performed with the world famous soloists in prestigious concert halls of Europe, both Americas, Africa and Asia.
"Duczmal has an inquiring mind that never takes the music at face value.
She shapes and shades the phrasing of her orchestra with striking originality"
The Independent, London (Great Britain)