---
name: "Krzysztof Penderecki"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/krzysztof-penderecki"
fi1m_id: "krzysztof-penderecki"
imdb_id: "nm0671678"
tmdb_id: 55975
wikidata_id: "Q153469"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "23 November 1933"
died: "29 March 2020"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-26T15:51:52.800436+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Krzysztof Penderecki

## Identity

Krzysztof Penderecki

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/krzysztof-penderecki
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** krzysztof-penderecki
- **IMDb ID:** nm0671678
- **TMDB ID:** 55975
- **Wikidata ID:** Q153469
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Penderecki, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q153469, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0671678/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55975

Composer. Born 23 November 1933 in Dębica, Podkarpackie, Polska. Died 29 March 2020.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 23 November 1933, Dębica, Podkarpackie, Polska
- **Died:** 29 March 2020
- **Active:** 1966–1980
- **Also known as:** Krystof Penderecki
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1980s 88 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Penderecki, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q153469, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0671678/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55975

## Biography

Krzysztof Penderecki (also credited as Krystof Penderecki) was a Polish composer and conductor. Born on 23 November 1933 in Dębica, he studied composition at the Academy of Music in Kraków, graduating in 1958, and later taught there. He began gaining recognition in 1959 at the Warsaw Autumn festival.

His music, including pieces such as Polymorphia and De Natura Sonoris, was used in numerous films. It featured in Stanley Kubrick’s *The Shining* (1980), as well as *The Exorcist* (1973), *Wild at Heart* (1990) and *Children of Men* (2006). He also composed original scores for Polish productions including *Katyn* (2007). Penderecki died on 29 March 2020 in Kraków.

*Sources: culture.pl, pitchfork.com, britannica.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Shining* (1980), Fi1m 88, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shining.md)
- *The Saragossa Manuscript* (1966), Fi1m 84, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-saragossa-manuscript.md)

## Complete filmography (52)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Highways And Motorways* (2025), Music
- *Die Teufel von Loudun - Bayerische Staatsoper* (2022), Music
- *Day* (2021), Music
- *As Tristes Lágrimas do Crocodilo* (2020), Music
- *Beth Gibbons: Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs)* (2019), Actor
- *Persephone* (2016), Music
- *Demon* (2015), Original Music Composer
- *De Piraeus a Gaza* (2011), Music
- *Inventorium of Traces* (2009), Music
- *Bolimorphy* (2008), Music
- *Martin Slivka: The Man Who Planted Trees* (2007), Actor
- *Katyn* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *Poles Poles* (2003), Actor
- *The House with Arched Windows* (2000), Music
- *Silence* (1991), Music
- *Sonata for Hitler* (1989), Music
- *The Lonely Voice of Man* (1987), Music
- *The Preservation of Secret* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Marked* (1984), Music
- *Cada ver es...* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *The Shining* (1980), Music — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shining.md)
- *Threnos* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Simiterio do Adão e Eva* (1974), Music
- *The Devils of Loudun* (1969), Writer, Music
- *Les Gauloises bleues* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Conscience* (1968), Music
- *Silence* (1968), Music
- *The Codes* (1966), Music
- *Zejście do piekła* (1966), Music
- *The Saragossa Manuscript* (1966), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-saragossa-manuscript.md)
- *Keeping a Distance* (1966), Music
- *Icons* (1966), Music
- *Passacaglia Dedicated to Royal Sigmond’s Chapel at the Wawel Castle* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *The Charm of the Wheels* (1966), Music
- *Icarus* (1966), Music
- *Hamlet x 5* (1966), Music
- *Sweet Rhythms* (1965), Music
- *Portrait of a Conductor* (1965), Music
- *Interpretacje* (1965), Music
- *Painters of the Baltic Coast* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Don Juan* (1963), Music
- *King Midas* (1963), Music
- *Trap* (1962), Music
- *Kidnapping* (1962), Music
- *Bitterness* (1962), Music
- *Space Travel* (1961), Music
- *The General and the Fly* (1961), Music
- *Basilisk Encounter* (1961), Music
- *Kaktus* (1960), Music
- *Bulandra and the Devil* (1959), Music
- *Please Find Henryk Mikołaj Górecki*, as on sam

## Gallery

- ![Krzysztof Penderecki](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-bd6331d16dd0.jpg) Krzysztof Penderecki — Adam Kumiszcza, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Krzysztof_Penderecki_20080706.jpg/1280px-Krzysztof_Penderecki_20080706.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![My own work for Dream OFF Penderecki (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-a554657f5b83.jpg) My own work for Dream OFF Penderecki (2013) — Kontrola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/00_dreamOFF_plakat_promo.jpg/1280px-00_dreamOFF_plakat_promo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Krzysztof Penderecki & Jarosław Pijarowski before "The dream Off Penderecki" album. (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-4c550e5d3a94.jpg) Krzysztof Penderecki & Jarosław Pijarowski before "The dream Off Penderecki" album. (2010) — Kontrola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/01JPijarowski.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jarosław Pijarowski obchodzi swe urodziny (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-488969ce6ecb.jpg) Jarosław Pijarowski obchodzi swe urodziny (2021) — Leszek Jańczuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/2021-12-18_J._Pijarowski_urodziny_009.jpg/1280px-2021-12-18_J._Pijarowski_urodziny_009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Church of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul, crypt, tomb of Krzysztof Penderecki5, 2a Grodzka street, Kraków, Poland (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-e7c372383a24.jpg) Church of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul, crypt, tomb of Krzysztof Penderecki5, 2a Grodzka street, Kraków, Poland (2022) — Zygmunt Put, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Church_of_Saints_Apostles_Peter_and_Paul%2C_crypt%2C_tomb_of_Krzysztof_Penderecki5%2C_2a_Grodzka_street%2C_Krak%C3%B3w%2C_Poland.jpg/1280px-Church_of_Saints_Apostles_Peter_and_Paul%2C_crypt%2C_tomb_of_Krzysztof_Penderecki5%2C_2a_Grodzka_street%2C_Krak%C3%B3w%2C_Poland.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Die Schwarze Maske (Krzysztof Penderecki)](https://film.one/media/person/59630/gallery-2ee9665c2418.jpg) Die Schwarze Maske (Krzysztof Penderecki) — Gerd Weiss, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Die_Schwarze_Maske_%28Krzysztof_Penderecki%29_-_LABW_-_Generallandesarchiv_Karlsruhe_57-3_Nr._12072.jpg/1280px-Die_Schwarze_Maske_%28Krzysztof_Penderecki%29_-_LABW_-_Generallandesarchiv_Karlsruhe_57-3_Nr._12072.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 39 won

- Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana 2014: Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (won)
- Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class 2014: Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class (won)
- honorary citizen of Kraków 2013: honorary citizen of Kraków (won)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit 2011: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (won)
- Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2009: Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (won)
- Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2009: Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (won)
- Order of the Badge of Honour 2009: Order of the Badge of Honour (won)
- Badge of Honor “Merits for Mazovia” 2008: Badge of Honor “Merits for Mazovia” (won)
- Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland 2008: Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland (won)
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture 2008: Golden Medal for Merit to Culture (won)
- Order of Bernardo O'Higgins 2008: Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (won)
- Polish Academy Award for Best Film Score 2008: Polish Academy Award for Best Film Score (won)
- Order of the Three Stars 2006: Order of the Three Stars (won)
- Order of the Three Stars, 3rd Class 2006: Order of the Three Stars, 3rd Class (won)
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture 2005: Golden Medal for Merit to Culture (won)
- Order of the White Eagle 2005: Order of the White Eagle (won)
- Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic) 2005: Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic) (won)
- Praemium Imperiale 2004: Praemium Imperiale (won)
- Great Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria 2003: Great Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (won)
- Romano Guardini award 2002: Romano Guardini award (won)
- State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia 2002: State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia (won)
- Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts 2001: Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts (won)
- Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic 2000: Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (won)
- Musikpreis der Stadt Duisburg 1999: Musikpreis der Stadt Duisburg (won)
- Officer of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas 1998: Officer of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (won)
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas 1998: Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (won)
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres 1996: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (won)
- Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta 1993: Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (won)
- Order of Cultural Merit 1993: Order of Cultural Merit (won)
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 1992: Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (won)
- Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition 1992: Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition (won)
- Grawemeyer Awards 1992: Grawemeyer Awards (won)
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1990: Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won)
- Wihuri Sibelius Prize 1983: Wihuri Sibelius Prize (won)
- honorary doctorate of the Bordeaux Montaigne University 1979: honorary doctorate of the Bordeaux Montaigne University (won)
- Herder Prize 1977: Herder Prize (won)
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta 1974: Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta (won)
- Grammy Trustees Award 1968: Grammy Trustees Award (won)
- Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta 1964: Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/krzysztof-penderecki