High Polish state award to be presented to Hungarians composing Katyn Requiem

Budapest (MTI) – A high Polish state award will be presented to the three Hungarian personalities who have composed a requiem to the victims of the Katyn massacre, the Polish embassy said on Thursday.

Ambassador Roman Kowalski will present the Polish Republic’s Order of Merit, Knight’s Cross, to composer László Király, poet Zoltán Polner and conductor-theatre director Sándor Gyüdi at the embassy on Friday, it said in a statement.

The honour will be given to express thanks for the “exceptional gesture” the composers have made to Poland and the Polish people, the embassy said, adding that no such monumental piece has been created in memory of the victims of Katyn in Poland so far.

Hungary will commemorate the execution of some 22,000 Polish officers by Soviet secret police in the spring of 1940 on April 10.

The recording of the Katyn Requiem’s premiere will be broadcast on Radio Bartok in the evening on April 9.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters