The music on the Polish Music Center’s March 29 concert returns to the limelight two distinguished Hollywood composers, whose importance in the history of Polish music is certainly unquestionable. Bronisław Kaper (1902-1983) and Henryk Wars (1902-1977), quickly rose to fame in Europe in the 1930s with their popular theatre and cabaret songs and successful film scores. Both settled in Los Angeles—Kaper in 1935, Wars in 1947—and continued their careers here. Bronisław Kaper was the first Polish composer to receive the Academy Award in 1954 for the hit song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo, from the film Lili with Leslie Caron. Henryk Wars (known as Henry Vars in America) scored the hit adventure feature, Flipper, as well as a number of Westerns for John Wayne’s production company.
Selections from some of the best-loved songs by Kaper and Wars will be performed in new arrangements by Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and composer, Jan Jarczyk, whose own compositions will close the program.
Free admission
Parking: $10 at USC Structure X: McCarthy Way & Figueroa Street
Information: 213 821 1356 or [email protected]
Website information: www.usc.edu/dept/polish_music
