World-Class Musical Talent
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Born in what is now Austrian Burgenland, Franz Liszt was a true European, giving virtuoso piano performances from Lisbon to Moscow, and from Dublin to Istanbul. Despite being more comfortable speaking German or French (he studied in Paris), he always considered himself Hungarian – and Hungarians have always known him as Ferenc. In addition to his groundbreaking compositions, he was a committed teacher and established the Academy of Music.
Ferenc Erkel (1810-1893) Hungary’s father of opera, Erkel wrote Bánk Bán, which has since been made into a hugely successful film, as well as the Hungarian national anthem. However, his overall contribution to the Hungarian music scene is even more significant; he helped found the Academy of Music with his close friend Franz Liszt.Béla Bartók (1881-1945) is considered by many to be one of the most influential composers of the last century. In tandem with Zoltán Kodály, he was also responsible for collecting and cataloguing folk music from all over the region. Bartók's tranquil Budapest home is now a museum and venue for piano and chamber concerts.
Zoltán Kodály (1882- 1967) was not only a leading composer, but also an educator, ethnomusicologist, linguist, author and philosopher. A country boy from Kecskemét, his work draws on strong folk influences. Today, the prestigious Kodály Institute in his home town hosts a series of summer concerts attracting top names.
György Ligeti An avant garde pioneer of classical music, producing the type of atmospheric music that gained him worldwide recognition on the score to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. His compositions, although complex and unconventional, have a profound and disarming effect on the listener.Zoltán Kocsis One of the world's top pianists, Kocsis is a leading figure in world music and has played with most of the top orchestras. With Iván Fischer he jointly founded the Budapest Festival Orchestra, where he maintains a strong influence. He now specialises in conducting, most notably as Music Director of the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
András Schiff Hungary's top pianist now lives in Britain and is best known for his exquisite interpretations of Bach, Haydn and Mozart. His performances of Bach are peerless – he can sell out a concert in any European capital.Iván Fischer The energetic conductor's worldwide career began in London in 1976, where he won the Rupert Foundation competition. Invitations followed to most British orchestras, and he went on a world tour with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1982. Following these early international successes, Fischer returned to Hungary in 1983 to found the Budapest Festival Orchestra.
Éva Marton One of the world's finest sopranos, in her prime, Éva Marton's faultless performances attracted rave reviews from all over the world. She appeared in the film adaptation of Erkel's Bánk Bán.Erika Miklosa The youngest opera singer to be signed by the State Opera, Erika Miklosa has performed the Queen of the Night Aria from Mozart's Magic Flute more than 200 times and is booked out for years to come. You can listen to her distinctive voice on her award-winning website.
Andrea Rost One of the top lyric sopranos around today, Andrea Rost allies a fabulous voice to first-class acting skills. Rost also appeared in the Bánk Bán movie.Budapest Festival Orchestra
Founded in 1983, the Budapest Festival Orchestra is ranked among the best in the world. In its brief history, it has made numerous appearances at major festivals, won a stack of international awards, and released a long succession of critically acclaimed recordings. From day one, the orchestra has been conducted by Iván Fischer, who doubles up as its musical director.
Conducted by Zoltán Kocsis and Japanese import Kobayashi Ken-Ichiro, the National Philharmonic orchestra is known for exploring increasingly challenging music and breaking new ground – to widespread international acclaim.
The Győr Ballet, founded in 1979 and directed by Iván Markó, was an almost instant success, touring the world and landing a host of awards. Over the years, the company has appeared at the Seoul Olympics and the prestigious, and often controversial, Bayreuth Festival. Despite its international success, the Győr Ballet remains loyal to its roots, putting on dozens of performances in Hungary every year.
György Szabados One of the pioneers of Hungarian jazz in the seventies, Szabados is a great admirer of Béla Bartók, emulating his hero by adding local folk music to the international music scene. For more information on the musicians he helped inspire, visit www.majazz.hu.
Roby Lakatos Descended from a legendary family of Roma musicians, Lakatos is a virtuoso violist equally comfortable playing classical, jazz and his local brand of folk. A charismatic improviser, composer and arranger, he has played in major concert venues and festivals all over the world.
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