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George de GodzinskyFinnish composer, conductor and pianist, professor
Date of Birth: 05.07.1914
Country:  Finland |
Content:
- Georges de Godzinsky
- Collaboration with Feodor Chaliapin
- Opera and Ballet Career
- Radio Orchestra Conductor and Accompanist
- Musical Compositions
Georges de Godzinsky
Early Life and EducationGeorges de Godzinsky was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, the son of a Polish official and a pianist. After the Russian Revolution, his family moved to Finland, where he attended the Russian Lyceum in Helsinki. In 1930, he enrolled at the Helsinki Conservatory, studying under prominent composers such as Erkki Melartin, Leevi Madetoja, and Selim Palmgren.
Collaboration with Feodor Chaliapin
While at the conservatory, Godzinsky met the renowned opera singer Feodor Chaliapin, who invited him to join him on a concert tour of the Far East in 1935-36. During the tour, Godzinsky gave 57 performances in Manchuria, China, and Japan. His experiences with Chaliapin inspired a book by Nikolai Gorbunov titled "Feodor Chaliapin in Japan and China."
Opera and Ballet Career
After his collaboration with Chaliapin, Godzinsky embarked on a career in opera. He worked at various opera houses, including the Gothenburg Opera in Sweden. In 1942, a recording of the song "No, Molotov," conducted by Godzinsky, was released. From 1959 to 1965, he served as ballet master in opera houses in the United States, Bergen, Warsaw, and Paris. His final performance was a production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" at the Lahti Opera in 1977.
Radio Orchestra Conductor and Accompanist
Godzinsky served as Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Orchestra for nearly five decades. He was also a renowned accompanist and arranger. In the pre-war period, he performed with the Harmony Sisters vocal trio and later joined the Kipparikvartetti all-male quartet.
Musical Compositions
Godzinsky composed 12 operettas and musicals, four ballets inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, and numerous symphonic and chamber works. He wrote music for films and stage productions. Among his popular Finnish hit songs are "Katupoikien laulu," "Äänisen aallot," and "Pohjolan yö."
