Abel Korzeniowski (; born 18 July 1972) is a Polish composer of film and theatre scores.
Early life and education Korzeniowski was born in Kraków. He had contact with music from early childhood: his mother Barbara plays the cello and both his brothers Antoni and Andrzej are musicians. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Kraków majoring in cello and composer studies under the supervision of Krzysztof Penderecki.
Career Korzeniowski won acclaim as the composer of music for films and theatre plays. In 2000, he received his first major individual prize – Golden Lions for Best Film Score at the Gdynia Film Festival for his music to Jerzy Stuhr’s (The Big Animal).
Korzeniowski is a composer of film scores for several Polish films: Big Animal, Tomorrow's Weather, An Angel in Krakow, as well as Hollywood productions: Battle for Terra, Pu-239, Tickling Leo, A Single Man and W.E..
He composed the music for the adaptation of François Villon's 15th century work Le Testament. The play was first performed in Toruń in 2002 and was directed by Marta Stebnicka. In 2004, he composed a score for Fritz Lang's 1927 silent film Metropolis for the New Horizons Film Festival, a major Polish festival. The film was shown with music performed live in Cieszyn in 2004.
He won a San Diego Film Critics Society Award in 2009 for the Best score in A Single Man and was nominated for a 2009 Golden Globe in the best original score category for the same film. In 2012, he was nominated for Best Original Score for the film W.E., at the 69th Golden Globe Awards.
In 2012, Korzeniowski arranged Patricia Kaas’s album, , which was recorded as a tribute to Edith Piaf.
Since 2017, Korzeniowski has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Filmography Film and television Year Title Director Studio Notes 2000 The Big Animal Jerzy Stuhr OscilloscopeMilestone Films 2002 An Angel in Krakow Artur Wieçek Beres i Baron Media ProductionStudio Filmowe L&L 2003 Tomorrow's Weather Jerzy Stuhr Studio Filmowe Zebra 1927 Metropolis Fritz Lang UFAParufamet New score 2004 2007 Pu-239 Scott Z. Burns Beacon PicturesHBO Films 2007 Battle for Terra Aristomenis Tsirbas Snoot ToonsIM GlobalLionsgateRoadside Attractions 2008 What We Take from Each Other Scott Z. Burns 60Frames Entertainment Short film 2008 Confessions of a Go-Go Girl Grant Harvey 2009 Tickling Leo Jeremy Davidson 2009 A Single Man Tom Ford Artina FilmsDepth of FieldFade to BlackThe Weinstein CompanyIM Global 2011 Copernicus' Star Zdzislaw KudlaAndrzej Orzechowski Studio Filmów RysunkowychWytwórnia Filmów Dukumentalnych I FabularnychBank Spóldzielczy w SkoczowieKino Swiat 2012 W.E. Madonna Louise Ciccone Semtex FilmsIM GlobalStudioCanalThe Weinstein Company 2013 Escape from Tomorrow Randy Moore Mankurt MediaProducers Distribution AgencyFilmBuffCinedigm 2013 Romeo & Juliet Carlo Carlei Amber EntertainmentEcho Lake EntertainmentSwarovski EntertainmentIcon ProductionsEntertainment Film DistributorsRelativity Media 2014–16 Penny Dreadful John Logan Desert Wolf ProductionsNeal Street ProductionsShowtime Networks TV series 2015 A Grain of Truth Borys Lankosz 2016 Nocturnal Animals Tom Ford Fade to Black ProductionsArtina FilmsFocus FeaturesUniversal Pictures 2018 The Nun Corin Hardy New Line CinemaAtomic MonsterThe Safran CompanyWarner Bros. Pictures 2020 The Courier Dominic Cooke 42FilmNation EntertainmentSunnyMarchLionsgateRoadside Attractions 2022 Till Chinonye Chukwu Orion PicturesEon ProductionsFrederick Zollo ProductionsWhoop, Inc.United Artists ReleasingUniversal Pictures 2022 Emily Frances O'Connor Embankment FilmsIngenious MediaTempo ProductionsArenamediaWarner Bros. Pictures 2024 The Watchers Ishana Night Shyamalan New Line CinemaBlinding Edge PicturesInimitable PicturesWarner Bros. Pictures 2025 Good Boy Jan Komasa Recorded Picture CompanySkopia Film
Discography Albums Music for drama (2005) (2012)
Awards and nominations
+ Year Association Category Work Result Ref. 2000 Golden Lions Award Best Music for Film The Big Animal 2001 Golden Ducks Award Best Film Composer 2002 Ludwig Award Best Music for Theater Play Kafka 2002 Jancio Wodnik Award Best Music An Angel in Krakow 2005 Golden Knight Award Best Composer Tomorrow's Weather 2009 San Diego Film Critics Society Best ScoreA Single Man 2009 Golden Globe Awards Best Original Score 2009 International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Best Original Score for a Drama Film 2010 World Soundtrack Awards Best Original Film Score of the Year 2010 AFT Awards Best Original Score 2010 The International Cinephile Society (ICS) Best Original Score 2010World Soundtrack Award Public Choice Discovery of the Year 2011CUE Awards Best Dramatic ScoreW.E. ("Dance For Me, Wallis") Best Cue on Soundtrack 2011 International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Best Original Score for a Drama FilmW.E. 2012 Golden Globe Awards Best Original Score 2013International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Film Score of the YearRomeo & Juliet Best Original Score for a Drama Film Film Composer of the Year Romeo & Juliet Escape from Tomorrow 2015 International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Best Original Score for a Television SeriesPenny Dreadful 2015 British Academy Television Craft Awards (BAFTA) Best Original Television Music 2016 Anthony Asquith Award Best Original Score Nocturnal Animals
References
External links
Official Website
Interview with Abel Korzeniowski about his career until 2009