Irena Wiśniewska-Santor, known professionally as Irena Santor, is a Polish singer, musical performer and actress. Her career started in 1950 and continues to this day. For her clear mezzo-soprano, she enjoys an iconic status in Poland and is referred to as an influence for younger singers. From 1951 to 1959 Irena Santor was a member and the main soloist of the famous Polish folk groupMazowsze, with whom she toured on all continents. After leaving the group she decided to start solo performance. She was rewarded many prizes in her country and abroad on multiple occasions. Irena Santor made her acting debut in Stanisław Bareja's film Przygoda z piosenką. She appeared in many TV and radio shows, was part of jury some talent shows and different song competitions. The legendary singer also recorded soundtracks to Polish and Soviet films. In 2017, as first singer in Poland, she was awarded an honorary doctorate for her activities.
Early life and education
Irena Wiśniewska was born on 9 December 1934 in Papowo Biskupie in North Poland. She spent her childhood in Solec Kujawski, where her family had moved to in the mid-1930s. Her father was Bernard Wiśniewski, who was murdered in the autumn of 1939 – a few weeks after beginning of the Second World War. Her mother worked as a seamstress. After the war Irena's mother's heath was failing. In 1948, Irena and her mother lived in Polanica-Zdrój, a health resort town. Meanwhile, Irena attended the Gymnasium of Glass Decorating, and later the Vocational school of Glass Industry in Szczytna. Teachers discovered her vocal talent and at the end of the forties sent her to song competitions.
Career
In 1950 she met Zdzisław Górzyński, a prominent director of the Grand Theatre, Poznań, who visited Polanica-Zdrój. Górzyński was impressed with her vocal and recommended her to Tadeusz Sygietyński, who was creator and manager of the folk group Mazowsze. He organised casting and accepted Irena's candidacy but stipulated that she will take singing lessons under the direction of opera singer Wanda Wermińska. She agreed. In this year died her mother, so Irena moved to the Karolin, where she graduated music school and she passed matura exam. Her classmate in this term was actress Lidia Korsakówna. She was main soloist in folk group Mazowsze. With group she appeared in first color polish movie Przygoda na Mariensztacie and they recorded soundtrack to movie. In the fifties she traveled around the world with the band. After years Irena Santor said that she performed for Mao Zedong, which she regrets now. At that she met her future husband, Stanisław Santor, who was violinist in Mazowsze. Her most popular song from this period was Ej, przeleciał ptaszek – originally a folk song. After her marriage to Stanisław Santor, she left the group and started a solo career. In 2019 she was celebrating the diamond jubilee of her career with a concert tour called "Jubileusz, śpiewam, czyli jestem".
Private life
In 1958 she married Stanisław Santor. The couple divorced after 19 years, but they have been in good relations until his death in 1999. Until his death in 2018 her partner was Zbigniew Korpolewski, whom she met in the 1990s.
