Zbigniew Preisner

Zbigniew Preisner, recognized as Poland's foremost contemporary composer for films, entered the world on May 20, 1955, in Bielsko-Biala. While pursuing studies in history and philosophy at the University of Cracow, he started creating music and delivered his debut film score in 1981 for Antoni Krauze's Prognoza pogody. Krauze facilitated Preisner's introduction to Krzystof Kieslowski, yielding their most productive partnership. Their collaboration began with 1985's Bez konca and extended through the 1987 television miniseries Dekalog and the 1991 feature La Double vie de Véronique, which earned both creators international recognition. That film also unveiled Preisner's invented Dutch composer persona, Van den Budenmayer, whose pieces continued to surface in later projects. The same year, Preisner moved beyond Eastern Europe to team with Brazil's Hector Babenco on At Play in the Fields of the Lord. Further associations followed with Louis Malle on Damage and with Agnieszka Holland on Olivier, Olivier and The Secret Garden. In 1993 he rejoined Kieslowski for Bleu, the opening installment of the director's renowned "Trois Coleurs" trilogy. Preisner's score for the trilogy's final chapter, 1994's Rouge, received a Cesar, France's equivalent of an Academy Award. The pair had planned a subsequent trilogy exploring Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory when Kieslowski died on March 13, 1996. Preisner later paid tribute to the director's life and achievements by releasing Requiem for My Friend.