The work of few Slavic artists arouses such deep interest as the artistic legacy of Karol Szymanowski (1882–1937), the founder of the Polish school of composition in the 20th century. But his creative personality remains largely mysterious. It is perhaps somewhat irrational and ultimately incomprehensible. (Anatoliy Kalenychenko)

Karol Szymanowski was born a Pole, a Russian subject, whose ‘small homeland’ was Ukraine, and he was destined to become a link in the chain of countless generations of the most beautiful, most brilliant creators of the great community of culture. (Teresa Chylinska)

Innovative and traditional ideas were originally refracted through the prism of the thinking of a truly national artist, who stood at the origins of the Polish school of composition of the 20th century and rightfully opened a new page in its development. (Hanna Seredenko)

The composer, who read six European languages (in addition to Polish – Russian, German, French, English and Italian), had a wide range of interests – from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the latest trends of modernism – symbolism, acmeism and futurism. (Dmytro Polyachok)

Szymanowski's work is striking in its diversity. He was extremely sensitive to the trends of his time, absorbing and reworking various influences in his own way. Impressionistic subtle sound painting was combined in his palette with bright romantic pathos, heroic pathos, and heightened expression... It seemed as if he lived in several eras at once. The world of ancient myths and biblical legends was as close to him as the chivalrous Middle Ages, the archaic Gural folklore, and the poetic dreams and sleepy visions engraved in the legends, fairy tales, and epic poems of various peoples. (Marina Cherkashyna-Gubarenko)

If there is a spirit of light, fire and flame, Szymanowski is it, a true spiritual brother of the fiery mystical poets of Iran. (Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji)