Irena Anders

Irena Anders was a Polish stage actress and singer. During WWII she worked in the troupe of Henryk Wars and later in the "Polish Parade" band ("Polska Parada"), giving performances for the Polish Armed Forces in the West (commanded by general Władysław Anders). She was one of the first singers to sing the Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino.

Born as Iryna Jarosiewicz into a Polish-Rusyn family in Bruntál (present-day Czech Republic), she used the stage name Renata Bogdańska. After World War II, she remained in the United Kingdom. In 1948, she married General Władysław Anders. She starred in several movies. In 2003, a documentary film was made about her. On 12 May 2007, the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski awarded Anders the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, "for outstanding contribution to the independence of the Polish Republic, for Polish community and social activities".

She died, aged 90 from a heart attack on 29 November 2010, in London.

Selected discography

Gramophone (78 rpm) records

• Ludzie mówią / Słońce nad Paryżem (Polonia, Cat. 180 Op. 233A/234A)
• Uśmiech Wilna / Wróć (Polonia, Cat. 181 Op. 235/236 Fs. 723/724)
• Czarny kot / Nad jeziorem (Polonia, Cat. 207 Op. 287/290)
• Dlaczegoś spójrzałeś na mnie / Siano (Polonia, Cat. 208 Op. 288/289)
• Dziękuję ci / Serce i wino (Polonia, Cat. 209 Op. 291/293)
• Umowiłem się z nią na dziewiątą / Que sera, sera (Polonia, Cat. 210 Op. 292/294)
• Pod dachami Paryża / Bezsenna noc (Polonia, Cat. 211 Op. 295/297)
• Violetera / Walc księżycowy (Polonia, Cat. 212 Op. 296/298)

LPs

• Renata Bogdańska śpiewa kujawiaki Ref-Rena i inne piosenki (Renata Bogdanska sings kujawiaks by Ref-Ren and other songs): Melodia Records Co. (Chicago) LPM-1010 (mono) or SLPM-1010 (stereo)
• Do słuchu i tańca (For listening and dance): Melodia Records Co. (Chicago) LPM-1012 (mono) or SLPM-1012 (stereo)
• Renata Bogdańska śpiewa piosenki romantyczne (Renata Bogdanska sings romantic songs): Melodia Records Co. (Chicago) SLPM-1022
• Renata Bogdańska śpiewa piosenki sentymentalne (Renata Bogdanska sings sentimental songs): Melodia Records Co. (Chicago) SLPM-1024
• Moja córka i inne przeboje (My daughter and other hits): Melodia Records Co. (Chicago) LPM-1028

CDs

• (2010) Nagrania Orbis Polonia Londyn: Renata Bogdańska (Recordings of Orbis Polonia, London: Renata Bogdanska), Teddy Records TR CD 1014