George de Godzinsky(1914-1994)

George de Godzinsky was of Polish origin. His parents were amateur musicians and the father played in restaurants. The family immigrated to Finland because of the Russian revolution. Godzinsky studied the piano at Helsinki Conservatoire in 1930-37 and played the piano at the Finnish National Opera. He accompanied the singer Fyodor Shaljapin on Shaliapin's Far-East Tour in China and Japan. He conducted at several opera houses (Helsinki, Stockholm, Gothenburg, among others). He also conducted the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra from the 1920s until 1990s. Gozdinsky had a very pertinent role in the Finnish musical life because of his multi-cultural background. He was a very popular musician and wrote some 200 "Schlagers", some 50 orchestral music (light classical, in the Wienna style), 12 stage works (operettas) and music for 64 movies. The music of Godzinsky is melodious and swinging - always very charming.