The Fryderyk Chopin Institute is a partner of “Maestra”

“Maestra” is a documentary film telling the story of Lidia Grychtołówna – the grand dame of Polish piano music. For over 90 years, the piano has been her daily companion.

Now, she faces perhaps her most profound challenge: confronting old age – and saying goodbye to the stage. This film is a true boxing ring, where passion fights against the effects of aging, with Chopin and Schumann as the timekeepers.

For decades, Lidia Grychtołówna performed alongside great artists such as Artur Rubinstein, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Aram Khachaturian, giving concerts all over the world. She is a strong, charismatic protagonist who dedicated her entire professional life to playing the piano.

This is a tender, quietly powerful portrait of aging – but not a social drama, nor a conventional biopic – it’s at bottom a rather funny comedy sometimes.

Grychtołówna never gives up, not even for a moment, and faces every obstacle with humour. In such moments, she often says: “Nothing can knock me down – they’ll have to finish me off with a hammer.”
The power of passion makes the impossible possible.

Grychtołówna gave her farewell concert at the age of 96, becoming the oldest performing concert pianist in the world. But this is not the end – a new adventure awaits her, this time connected to the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition.

The trailer for the film is available here.

Director: Magda Nabiałczyk
Cinematography: Agnieszka Kokowska
Produced by: Iwona Harris / LOLLIPOP FILMS
Estimated running time: 72 minutes
Film delivery: Autumn 2026