Jan Kiepura was born in 1902 in Sosnowiec, where his parents ran a bakery. From childhood, he showed above-average intelligence and musical talent, although some claimed that he lacked refinement. – Some people say I’m conceited. However, I must categorically deny this harmful opinion. There are times when I question whether I am actually the best singer in the world – that’s sarcastic.
His song “Brunettes, Blondki” became a huge hit. He was one of the most popular Polish singers
Despite his parents’ concerns, he went to Warsaw, where he got a job at the Grand Theater. Due to excessive self-confidence, however, he did not stay there for long and eventually continued his development in Lviv, from where he returned to the capital as a . His performances on stage brought him instant popularity and fame, not only in Poland. – How sad it is that Polish artists must, almost without exception, seek fame abroad, because there is no place for them in the country. None of those who became great and famous abroad ever found recognition in the country – he said bitterly in an interview for “Polonia”.
He has performed concerts including: in Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Brno and Vienna. Later, audiences in London and Milan also loved him, and he even made his presence felt overseas. His unwavering popularity also earned him roles on screen, as in the 1930s he appeared in many excellent productions, mainly German ones, thus arousing the interest of Hollywood filmmakers.
Jan Kiepura demanded a meeting with the Marshal of the Third Reich. His courage quickly paid off
When it broke out, Kiepura was already a world-renowned artist. Although he had previously enjoyed considerable fame and recognition in Germany, the mood quickly changed. The reason was the tenor’s origins, as his mother came from a Jewish family and although she changed her faith before the wedding, it was not enough for her children to avoid persecution.
However, he had no intention of being responsible for something he had no control over, and he made that clear at every opportunity. It was no different when, under anti-Semitic laws, the Third Reich seized his German bank accounts. Enraged, he decided to clarify this with Herman Göring himself, whom Hitler gave the title of marshal. During the conversation with him, he did not bite his tongue and boldly expressed his position, demanding the immediate return of the savings.
Apparently the Nazi was both shocked and amused. Although many believed that this move was a shot in the arm, he managed to achieve his intended goal and almost immediately regained the right to use his property.
Ultimately, Kiepura and his wife, Eggerth, decided to go to the United States, where they became American citizens, which was supposed to help them develop their careers. However, he announced that he would return to Poland because his heart was there. When his father died, however, he did not receive a visa, and the PRL press took advantage of his absence at the funeral to present him in a bad light.
However, the audience did not allow themselves to be manipulated. He finally returned to the country in 1958, and was greeted at the airport by a crowd of loyal fans. From then on, he traveled regularly between his homeland and the USA, where he finally died on August 15, 1966, of a heart attack.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
