The evening began with the presentation of the broadcaster’s top awards, often dubbed the “Radio Oscars.”
The honorary Golden Microphone was posthumously awarded to journalist Katarzyna Stoparczyk in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Polish media.
100 years of Polish Radio reimagined by L.U.C.
The gala was followed by a one-of-a-kind musical performance under the artistic direction of musician, rapper, and composer Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski.
Broadcast live across all Polish Radio channels, the concert fused electronic music, samples, and live instruments to create a modern, layered sound that paid homage to the history of radio, classical music, and Poland’s cultural roots.
On stage, the Polish Orchestra joined forces with the Rebel Babel Ensemble, while acclaimed artists including Krystyna Prońko, Natalia Kukulska, Ania Rusowicz, Paktofonika, and Krzysztof Cugowski took part in the performances.
Photo: Polish Radio
The show also featured rare traditional Polish folk instruments reconstructed by Professor Maria Pomianowska.
A century of Polish Radio brought to life through music and visuals
A striking visual component accompanied the music, illustrating 100 years of Polish Radio history through portraits of the country’s most influential figures in politics, culture, and science – from Józef Piłsudski and Pope John Paul II to Polish Nobel laureates such as Lech Wałęsa, Wisława Szymborska, Czesław Miłosz, and Olga Tokarczuk.
Their original voices were seamlessly integrated using lip-sync techniques to convey their most important messages, creating a unique audiovisual tribute to a century of broadcasting.
Particularly moving was the inclusion of Władysław Szpilman, an outstanding pianist, composer, and Holocaust survivor, whose performances were historically aired on Polish Radio and whose life story was depicted in Roman Polański’s Oscar-winning film The Pianist.
Thanks to modern technology, the legendary pianist Władysław Szpilman spoke in his own voice during the 100th anniversary of Polish Radio.
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