Budapest Rézfúvós Kvintett (Budapest Brass Quintet)
Orchestra, choir, ensemble
The band was founded in 1974. They were first called Jeunesses Musicales Brass Quintet and then Renaissance Brass Quintet. The Budapest Brass Quintet was founded in 1974. Early on it performed at youth concerts, but eventually - after successful test recordings at the Hungarian Radio - live concerts and recordings followed.
The Quintet’s international career took off in 1979, when they won the First Brass Chamber Music Competition in Paris named after Maurice André. One year later they released their first recording under the Erato label and made a radio recording in Radio France, Paris. This was followed by a series of concerts and, the year after, a tour of The Netherlands and Germany. Their first album in Germany was released in 1981, which was followed by a Hungaroton recording.
After a series of performances in Hungary the Quintet was invited to Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Then guest appearances in France, and later in Belgium, also became regular.
In 1993, the Quintet gave a few concerts in England, in particular in London, and the BBC also made a recording with them. This was followed by an overseas invitation, which paved the way for three more. The Quintet was guest of honour at the Baltimore Brass Festival.
November 1987 witnessed their 100th performance in Germany. 1989 was a year for another US tour, followed, in 1990, by a tour of Japan. Two annual concerts in Germany became the norm, while in France the Quintet began to be a regular feature mainly of summer festivals. The Quintet has recorded 7 CDs in Germany and has given concerts or made recordings in the following radios: Radio Bremen, Norddeutsche Rundfunk (Hannover), Deutschlandfunk (Cologne), WDR-Westdeutsche Rundfunk (Cologne), Südwestfunk (Koblenz), Süddeutsche Rundfunk (Stuttgart, Karlsruhe), Saarlandische Rundfunk (Saarbrücken), Bayerische Rundfunk (Munich). It has also performed on three occasions on the ZDF German TV channel.
In recognition of its outstanding rendering of Hungarian pieces in Hungary, the Quintet has been awarded the Composers’ Copyright Award for Excellence, the Hungarian Radio’s Award for Excellence and, in 1986, the Liszt Prize.
The Quintet’s repertory is extremely rich ranging from Renaissance to contemporary music and covering diverse styles. It has recorded CDs featuring the harp or percussion instruments, an extended quintet and, in 1994, the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The following Hungarian composers have composed music for the Quintet: István Láng, Sándor Balassa, Kamillo Lendvai, László Dubrovay, Miklós Sugár, Lajos Huszár, Frigyes Hidas, Géza Berki, Antal Farkas, László Kalmár, Miklós Kocsár, László Sári, István Bogár and Máté Hollós.
The Quintet’s international career took off in 1979, when they won the First Brass Chamber Music Competition in Paris named after Maurice André. One year later they released their first recording under the Erato label and made a radio recording in Radio France, Paris. This was followed by a series of concerts and, the year after, a tour of The Netherlands and Germany. Their first album in Germany was released in 1981, which was followed by a Hungaroton recording.
After a series of performances in Hungary the Quintet was invited to Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Then guest appearances in France, and later in Belgium, also became regular.
In 1993, the Quintet gave a few concerts in England, in particular in London, and the BBC also made a recording with them. This was followed by an overseas invitation, which paved the way for three more. The Quintet was guest of honour at the Baltimore Brass Festival.
November 1987 witnessed their 100th performance in Germany. 1989 was a year for another US tour, followed, in 1990, by a tour of Japan. Two annual concerts in Germany became the norm, while in France the Quintet began to be a regular feature mainly of summer festivals. The Quintet has recorded 7 CDs in Germany and has given concerts or made recordings in the following radios: Radio Bremen, Norddeutsche Rundfunk (Hannover), Deutschlandfunk (Cologne), WDR-Westdeutsche Rundfunk (Cologne), Südwestfunk (Koblenz), Süddeutsche Rundfunk (Stuttgart, Karlsruhe), Saarlandische Rundfunk (Saarbrücken), Bayerische Rundfunk (Munich). It has also performed on three occasions on the ZDF German TV channel.
In recognition of its outstanding rendering of Hungarian pieces in Hungary, the Quintet has been awarded the Composers’ Copyright Award for Excellence, the Hungarian Radio’s Award for Excellence and, in 1986, the Liszt Prize.
The Quintet’s repertory is extremely rich ranging from Renaissance to contemporary music and covering diverse styles. It has recorded CDs featuring the harp or percussion instruments, an extended quintet and, in 1994, the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The following Hungarian composers have composed music for the Quintet: István Láng, Sándor Balassa, Kamillo Lendvai, László Dubrovay, Miklós Sugár, Lajos Huszár, Frigyes Hidas, Géza Berki, Antal Farkas, László Kalmár, Miklós Kocsár, László Sári, István Bogár and Máté Hollós.