Born in Warsaw on 1 November 1901, died in Paris on 11 December 1983; Simon Laks was a Polish-French composer. He first studied mathematics in Vilnius, then from 1921 harmony, counterpoint and composition at the Warsaw Conservatory and from 1927 to 1929 at the Paris Conservatoire with Pierre Vidal and Henri Rabaud. In Paris he earned his living as a violinist in cafés and on an ocean liner, accompanied silent films and taught music; he took part in the association of young Polish musicians. In 1941 he was arrested and interned in the Pithiviers camp, in July 1942 deported to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, where he played in the camp orchestra and survived, later as its arranger and conductor; in October 1944 he was moved to Dachau. After the liberation in the spring of 1945 he returned to Paris and in 1948 published his memoirs under the title “Musiques d’un autre monde”. His output comprises chamber music, songs, an opera and symphonic works. Two albums connect him with Cybele, both from 2022: Simon Laks: Works for Piano with Holger Groschopp and Simon Laks: Works for Cello with Adele Bitter, Mischa Meyer and Holger Groschopp.
Simon Laks
Composer
