A Pole with Jewish roots, traveller and student, the versatile composer and publicist Szymon Laks developed his artistic maturity in the fertile environment of the French capital between the world wars.

Close to the École de Paris, Laks' enthusiasm and openness for popular music, neo-classicism and Polish song can also be heard in his works. His work was abruptly interrupted by the Second World War and his deportation to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

In the song cycle created in 1947...