He studied piano in the class of Ludwik Stefański and composition with Krzysztof Penderecki at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków. He perfected his skills at courses taught by Pierre Schaeffer (electronic music) and Olivier Messiaen (composition) in Paris in 1967.
In 1960-75 he worked with the cabaret Piwnica pod Baranami. Parallel to this work, he was the music director of Kraków's Rozmaitości Theatre in 1963-66 and Warsaw's Ateneum Theatre in 1974-76. In 1977 he joined the Helena Modrzejewska Stary Theatre in Kraków as its music consultant, and was the theatre's director from 1980 to 1990.
He has received numerous awards, for example at the Opole Theatre Confrontations for the music for the productions Powrót Odysa / Return of Odysseus (1982), Rękopis znaleziony w Saragossie / The Saragossa Manuscript (1993), Sen srebrny Salomei / Salome's Silver Dream (1994), at the Kalisz Theatre Meetings for the music for Woyzeck directed by Tadeusz Bradecki (1982), the City of Kraków Prize (1988), the Aleksander Bardini Award (2000).
Stanisław Radwan is one of the most highly valued composers of theatre music. He has written over 200 compositions specifically for the theatres of Kraków (Stary Theatre, Rozmaitości Theatre, Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, STU Theatre, Ludowy Theatre, Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński Bagatela Theatre), Warsaw (Narodowy Theatre, Dramatyczny Theatre, Studio Theatre, Stefan Jaracz Ateneum Theatre, Powszechny Theatre, Współczesny Theatre), Częstochowa (Adam Mickiewicz Theatre), Katowice (Stanisław Wyspiański Silesian Theatre), Łódź (Stefan Jaracz Theatre, Nowy Theatre), Gdańsk (Wybrzeże Theatre), Wrocław (Edmund Wierciński Współczesny Theatre, Polski Theatre), Kalisz (Wojciech Bogusławski Theatre), Lublin (Juliusz Osterwa Theatre, Hans Christian Andersen Theatre), Sosnowiec (Zagłębia Theatre), Zakopane (Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz Theatre), Poznań (Nowy Theatre), Gdynia (Danuta Baduszkowa Music Theatre), and Szczecin (Polski Theatre). He has worked with many great stage and film directors, including Zygmunt Hübner, Konrad Swinarski, Jerzy Jarocki, Jerzy Grzegorzewski, Andrzej Wajda, Tadeusz Bradecki, Krzysztof Babicki, Krystian Lupa.
Major compositions:
- String Quartet (1963)
- Piano Sonata (1963)
- Formal Composition for soprano, reciting voice, flute, and 2 double basses (1964)
- Passacaglia for flute, cello, and harpsichord (1965)
- Sanatorium pod klepsydrą / The Hourglass Sanatorium - homage to Bruno Schulz for mixed chorus and instrumental group (1965)
- Music for the theatre production Dallas w samo południe / Dallas at High Noon, dir. Ryszard Smożewski (1965)
- Music for the film Szyfry / The Codes, dir. Wojciech Jerzy Has (1966)
- Music for the theatre production Woyzeck, dir. Konrad Swinarski (1966)
- Wailing Wall for 3 baritones and orchestra (1967)
- Music for the theatre production Anabaptyści / It Is Written, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1968)
- Music for the theatre production Tor / The Track, dir. Ryszard Smożewski (1968)
- Music for the theatre production Sędziowie / The Judges, dir. Konrad Swinarski (1968)
- Music for the theatre production Klątwa / The Curse, dir. Konrad Swinarski (1968)
- Music for the theatre production Rzecz listopadowa / The November Affair, dir. Bronisław Dąbrowski (1968)
- Music for the film Co jest w człowieku w środku / What's Inside the Man, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1969)
- Music for the theatre production Legenda / The Legend, dir. Józef Wyszomirski (1969)
- Music for the theatre production Zmartwychwstanie / Resurrection, dir. Lidia Zamkow (1969)
- Music for the theatre production Życie jest snem / Life Is a Dream, dir. Bogdan Hussakowski (1969)
- Barbarians for chamber orchestra (1970)
- Music for the theatre production W środku dnia i w środku nocy / In the Middle of the Day and in the Middle of the Night, dir. Ryszard Smożewski (1970)
- Music for the theatre production Ulisses / Ulysses, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1970)
- Music for the theatre production Sceny z miasta powiatowego / Scenes From a County Town, dir. Lidia Zamkow (1970)
- Music for the theatre production Tajemniczy ogród / The Secret Garden, dir. Maria Billiżanka (1970)
- Music for the theatre production Sławna historia o Troilusie i Kresydzie / The History of Troilus and Cressida, dir. Lidia Zamkow (1970)
- Music for the theatre production Paternoster, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1970)
- Music for the film Seksolatki / Sexteens, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Czajka / The Seagull, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Szczęśliwa przystań / The Happy Haven, dir. Andrzej Witkowski (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Wszystko dobre, co się dobrze kończy / All's Well That Ends Well, dir. Konrad Swinarski (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Pasja Doktora Fausta / The Passion of Doctor Faust, dir. Tadeusz Minc (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Śluby panieńskie / Maidens' Vows, dir. Marek Walczewski (1971)
- Music for the theatre production Balkon / The Balcony, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1972)
- Music for the theatre production Na czworakach / On All Fours, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1972)
- Music for the theatre production Barillon się żeni! / The Marriage of Barillon, dir. Włodzimierz Skoczylas (1972)
- Music for the film Dziewczyna i gołębie / The Girl and the Pigeons, dir. Barbara Sass-Zdort (1973)
- Music for the theatre production Proces / The Trial, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1973)
- Music for the film Opowieść w czerwieni / A Story in Red, dir. Henryk Kluba (1974)
- Music for the theatre production Bloomusalem, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1974)
- Music for the theatre production Komu bije dzwon / For Whom the Bell Tolls, dir. Lidia Zamkow (1975)
- Music for the theatre production Niedźwiedź / The Bear, dir. Jerzy Bińczycki (1975)
- Music for the theatre production Oświadczyny / The Betrothed, dir. Jerzy Bińczycki (1975)
- Music for the theatre production Matka / Mother, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1975)
- Music for the theatre production Bel-Ami i jego sobowtór / Bel-Ami and His Double, dir. Giovanni Pampiglione (1975)
- Music for the film Blizna / The Scar, dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski (1976)
- Music for the film Kradzież / Theft, dir. Piotr Andrejew (1976)
- Music for the film Próba ciśnienia / Pressure Test, dir. Tadeusz Junak (1976)
- Music for the theatre production Jaskinia filozofów / The Philosophers' Cave, dir. Jerzy Kaliszewski (1976)
- Music for the film Czysta chirurgia / Clean Surgery, dir. Tadeusz Junak (1977)
- Music for the film Sprawa Gorgonowej / The Gorgon Case, dir. Janusz Majewski (1977)
- Music for the theatre production Król Lear / King Lear, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1977)
- Music for the theatre production Wariacje / Variations, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1977)
- Music for the film Podróż Luizy / Luiza's Journey, dir. Tadeusz Junak (1978)
- Music for the theatre production Z biegiem lat, z biegiem dni... / As the Years Go By, dir. Andrzej Wajda and Anna Polony (1978)
- Music for the theatre production Pan Lemercier gra Don Kichota / Monsieur Lemercier Plays Don Quixote, dir. Witold Zatorski (1979)
- Music for the theatre production Hamlet, dir. Gustaw Holoubek (1979)
- Music for the film W biały dzień / In Broad Daylight, dir. Edward Żebrowski (1980)
- Music for the film Z biegiem lat, z biegiem dni... / As the Years Go By, dir. Andrzej Wajda and Edward Kłosiński (1980)
- Music for the theatre production Spiskowcy / Under Western Eyes, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1980)
- Music for the theatre production Ameryka / America, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1980)
- Music for the theatre production Rewizor / The Government Inspector, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1980)
- Music for the theatre production Skiz, dir. Witold Zatorski (1981)
- Music for the theatre production Powrót pana Cogito / Mr. Cogito - the Return, dir. Tadeusz Malak (1981)
- Music for the theatre production Tragiczna historia Hamleta / The Tragic Story of Hamlet, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1981)
- Music for the theatre production Powrót Odysa / The Return of Odysseus, dir. Krystian Lupa (1981)
- Music for the theatre production Mord w katedrze / Murder in the Cathedral, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1982)
- Music for the theatre production Oresteia, dir. Zygmunt Hübner (1982)
- Music for the theatre production Parawany / The Screens, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1982)
- Music for the theatre production Biedni ludzie / Poor People, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1983)
- Music for the theatre production Życie jest snem / Life Is a Dream, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1983)
- Music for the theatre production Z życia glist / Rain Snakes, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1983)
- Music for the theatre production Irydion, dir. Mikołaj Grabowski (1983)
- Music for the theatre production Już prawie nic / Running Low, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1983)
- Music for the film Zamiana / Exchange, dir. Rafał Kalinowski (1984)
- Music for the theatre production Antygona / Antigone, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1984)
- Music for the theatre production Gra o każdym / A Play About Anyone, dir. Andrzej Dziuk (1984)
- Music for the theatre production Zmierzch / Dusk, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1984)
- Music for the theatre production Pan Cogito szuka rady / Mr. Cogito Seeks Advice, dir. Zbigniew Zapasiewicz (1984)
- Music for the theatre production Affabulazione, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1985)
- Music for the theatre production Termopile polskie / Polish Thermopylae, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1985)
- Music for the theatre production Szewcy / The Shoemakers, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1986)
- Music for the theatre production Komu bije dzwon / For Whom the Bell Tolls, dir. Janusz Ostrowski (1987)
- Music for the theatre production Wiosna Narodów w Cichym Zakątku / Spring of the Nations in Quiet Corner, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1987)
- Music for the theatre production Republika marzeń / Republic of Dreams, dir. Rudolf Zioło (1987)
- Music for the theatre production Kaspar, dir. Andreas Wirth (1987)
- Music for the theatre production 10 Portretów z Czajką w tle / 10 Portraits with a Seagull in the Background, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1990)
- Music for the theatre production Zamiana / Exchange, dir. Marek Pasieczny (1990)
- Music for the theatre production Bracia Karamazow / The Brothers Karamazov, dir. Krystian Lupa (1990)
- Music for the theatre production Hiob / Job, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1990)
- Music for the theatre production Księżniczka Turandot / Princess Turandot, dir. Rudolf Zioło (1990)
- Music for the theatre production Godzina kota / The Hour of the Lynx, dir. Marek Pasieczny (1991)
- Music for the theatre production Ślub / The Marriage, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1991)
- Music for the theatre production Wesele / The Wedding, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1991)
- Music for the theatre production Miasto liczy psie nosy / The Town Counts Dog Noses, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1991)
- Music for the theatre production Malte albo Tryptyk marnotrawnego syna / Malte, or the Triptych of the Prodigal Son, dir. Krystian Lupa (1991)
- Music for the theatre production Antoniusz i Kleopatra / Anthony and Cleopatra, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Jaskinia filozofów / The Philosophers' Cave, dir. Tadeusz Malak (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Romeo i Julia / Romeo and Juliet, dir. Krzysztof Orzechowski (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Tak zwana ludzkość w obłędzie / So-called Humanity Gone Mad, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Kubuś Fatalista / Jacques the Fatalist, dir. Zbigniew Zapasiewicz (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Rękopis znaleziony w Saragossie / The Saragossa Manuscript, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1992)
- Music for the theatre production Złowiony / The Hooked, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1993)
- Music for the theatre production Wujaszek Wania / Uncle Vanya, dir. Rudolf Zioło (1993)
- Music for the theatre production Upadłe anioły / Fallen Angels, dir. Michael Hackett (1993)
- Music for the theatre production Sen srebrny Salomei / Salome's Silver Dream, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1993)
- Music for the theatre production Jak wam się podoba / As You Like It, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1993)
- Music for the film Spis cudzołożnic / List of Lovers, dir. Jerzy Stuhr (1994)
- Music for the theatre production Diabły w Brugelandii / Devils in Brugeland, dir. Liliana and Stanisław Ochmański (1994)
- Music for the theatre production Cztery komedie równoległe / Four Parallel Comedies, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1994)
- Music for the theatre production Don Kichote / Don Quixote, dir. Stanisław Ochmański (1994)
- Music for the theatre production Mishima, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1994)
- Music for the theatre production Kasia z Heilbronnu / Kate of Heilbronn, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1994)
- Music for the film Opowieść o Józefie Szwejku i jego Najjaśniejszej Epoce / The Tale of Josef Svejk and His Most Glorious Era, dir. Włodzimierz Gawroński (1995)
- Music for the theatre production Reformator / The Reformer, dir. Rudolf Zioło (1995)
- Music for the theatre production La Boheme, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1995)
- Music for the theatre production Dziady - Dwanaście improwizacji / Forefathers' Eve - Twelve Improvisations, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1995)
- Music for the theatre production Operetka / Operetta, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1995)
- Music for the theatre production Mizantrop / The Misanthrope, dir. Ewa Bułhak (1995)
- Music for the theatre production Biesy albo Mały Plutarch żywotów nieudanych / Devils, or the Little Plutarch of Failed Lives, dir. Ludwik Flaszen (1995)
- Music for the film Opowieść o Józefie Szwejku i jego drodze na front / The Tale of Josef Svejk and His Way to the War Front, dir. Włodzimierz Gawroński (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Grzebanie / The Burial, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Zima pod stołem / The Winter Under the Table, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Don Juan, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Pokojówki / The Maids, dir. Andrzej Domalik (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Panna Tutli-Putli / Miss Tutli-Putli, dir. Tomasz Gołębiowski (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Improwizacja wersalska / A Versailles Improvisation, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Improwizacja paryska / A Paris Improvisation, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Improwizacja wrocławska / A Wrocław Improvisation, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Król umiera czyli ceremonie / Exit the King, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Kram Karoliny / Caroline's Household, dir. Agnieszka Glińska (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Nie-Boska komedia / The Un-Divine Comedy, dir. Krzysztof Babicki (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Francis Bacon, czyli Diego Velázquez na fotelu dentystycznym / Francis Bacon or Diego Velázquez in a Dentist's Chair, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1996)
- Music for the theatre production Burza / The Tempest, dir. Rudolf Zioło (1997)
- Music for the theatre production Faust, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1997)
- Music for the theatre production Noc listopadowa / November Night, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1997)
- Music for the theatre production Saragossa, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1998)
- Music for the theatre production Miarka za miarkę / Measure for Measure, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1998)
- Music for the theatre production Złoty klucz / The Golden Key, dir. Stanisław Ochmański (1998)
- Music for the theatre production Historia PRL / The History of People's Poland, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (1998)
- Music for the theatre production Łgarz / The Liar, dir. Giovanni Pampiglione (1998)
- Music for the film Przygody dobrego wojaka Szwejka / The Adventures of the Good Soldier Svejk, dir. Włodzimierz Gawroński (1999)
- Music for the theatre production Sędziowie / The Judges, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1999)
- Music for the theatre production Nowe Bloomusalem / New Bloomusalem, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (1999)
- Music for the theatre production Kariera Artura Ui / The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (1999)
- Music for the film Wyrok na Franciszka Kłosa / The Condemnation of Franciszek Kłos, dir. Andrzej Wajda (1999)
- Music for the theatre production Dawne czasy / Old Times, dir. Agnieszka Lipiec-Wróblewska (2000)
- Music for the theatre production Centurion, opowieść o Krzyżu / The Centurion, a Tale of the Cross, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2000)
- Music for the theatre production Swidrygajłow / Svidrigailov, dir. Andrzej Domalik (2000)
- Music for the theatre production Requiem dla gospodyni / Requiem for a Housewife, dir. Kazimierz Dejmek (2000)
- Music for the theatre production Trzy siostry / Three Sisters, dir. Andrzej Domalik (2001)
- Music for the theatre production Przyjaciele odchodzą / Friends Depart, dir. Tadeusz Malak (2001)
- Music for the theatre production Pastorałka na nowy wiek / Nativity Play for a New Century, dir. Krzysztof Orzechowski (2001)
- Music for the theatre production Sen nocy letniej / A Midsummer Night's Dream, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (2001)
- Music for the theatre production Nondum, dir. Magdalena Łazarkiewicz (2002)
- Music for the theatre production Morze i zwierciadło / The Sea and the Mirror, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (2002)
- Music for the theatre production Tango, dir. Mikołaj Grabowski (2003)
- Music for the theatre production Szkoła żon / The School for Wives, dir. Ewa Kutryś (2003)
- Music for the theatre production Opera mleczna / The Milky Opera, dir. Mikołaj Grabowski (2003)
- Music for the theatre production Byczek Fernando / Fernando the Bull, dir. Stanisław Ochmański (2003)
- Music for the theatre production Ostatni / The Last One, dir. Tadeusz Bradecki (2003)
- Music for the theatre production Duszyczka / Little Spirit, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (2004)
- Music for the theatre production Błądzenie / The Erring, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (2004)
- Music for the theatre production Wyzwolenie / Liberation, dir. Mikołaj Grabowski (2004)
- Music for the theatre production Makbet / Macbeth, dir. Andrzej Wajda (2004)
- Music for the theatre production On. Drugi Powrót Odysa / He. The Second Return of Odysseus, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski (2005)
- Music for the theatre production Mewa / The Seagull, dir. Andrzej Domalik (2005)
- Music for the theatre production Kosmos / Cosmos, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (2005)
- Music for the theatre production Wieczór Jubileuszowy / Jubilee Evening, dir. Bogdan Tosza (2006)
- Music for the theatre production Boy, Honor i Ojczyzna / Boy, Honour, and Fatherland, dir. Stanisław Tym (2006)
- Music for the theatre production Miłość na Krymie / Love in the Crimea, dir. Jerzy Jarocki (2007)
- Music for the theatre production Stara kobieta wysiaduje / An Old Woman Broods, dir. Stanisław Różewicz (2007)
Author: Małgorzata Kosińska: Polish Music Information Center, Polish Composers' Union, December 2007; Updated: November 2008