Grzegorz Kardaś

Grzegorz Kardaś (1909–1988), was a Polish pianist, composer and music director of the Polish theatre in Bydgoszcz and several other scenes in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship from 1948 till 1975.

Biography Youth and studies Grzegorz Kardaś was born on 22 November 1909, in Bydgoszcz (then Bromberg), from Franciszek, a white-collar worker, and Helena née Echaust. After graduating from primary school in Bydgoszcz, he attended a Salesian High School at Aleksandrów Kujawski. There, he passed in May 1930, his secondary school-leaving examination.

He began his musical education at the Bydgoszcz Conservatory of Music, then moved to Poznań. In this city, Kardaś attended the Piotrowski Music School and initially studied law. Two years later, he changed to musicology at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Adam Mickiewicz University. In 1933, when his father became seriously ill, he was forced to interrupt his studies to take up a paid work. He became a salesman at the Poznań's branch of Bydgoszcz-based Bruno Sommerfeld piano factory.

In 1934, Grzegorz began his artistic career by giving a concert on Radio Merkury, future Radio Poznań, now a regional station of Polskie Radio. The program included a duet with Stanisław Dzięgielewski, performed from Tadeusz Hernes's Stratosfera cabaret. Tadeusz Zygmunt Hernes (1906, Borzykowo – 1940, Katyn) was a journalist, satirist, and humorist, who founded and chaired the literary and artistic club Stratosfera, regularly collaborating with local papers and radio stations.

In 1937, after his graduation, Kardaś transferred to Warsaw to become the manager of Bruno Sommerfeld's local branch of pianos and grand pianos. At the same period, he started working with the national Polish Radio as a soloist.

Second World War During the German occupation, Grzegorz stayed in the Polish capital, earning a living by playing in cabarets and giving concerts with, among others, conductor Jerzy Stefan or pianist Irena Kurpisz-Stefanowa. He stayed active in an underground radio station. He also worked as a pianist at the Pomeranian Arts House on Gdańska Street. He additionally also worked as a pianist at the Ul café located on 20 May Avenue (present day Gdańsk Street).

Personal life His musical talents were matched by his character: kindness, conversational brilliance and sense of humor.

He was married to Zofia Aleksandra née Blizińska. They had a son, Andrzej Ryszard, born on 11 March 1939 in Warsaw. Kłopoty zbója Madeja (The Troubles of the Robber Madej), play by Ludmila Legut, 1977 (songs); Popas Króla Jegomości (His Majesty's King's Pasture), play by Adam Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki, December 1978 (music); Piosenki pana Grzegorza (Songs of Mr Grzegorz), 1980, celebrating Grzegorz Kardaś's artistic career 45th anniversary.