Concerto Budapest
Orchestra, choir, ensemble
Formed
1907
E-mail
Web
Tel
+36 1 215 5770
Fax
+36 1 215 5462
Further contact
Távközlési Zenei Alapítvány
1094 Budapest, Páva u. 10-12.
1094 Budapest, Páva u. 10-12.
The Hungarian Symphony Orchestra embodies the spirit of the new Hungary: competitive, hard-working, smart, youthful, and ready to take its place as a vital force in the music life of a united Europe.
Although its traditions reach back to its foundation in 1907 as the Postal Orchestra, its present profile as a dynamic young orchestra dates back only to 1997 with the appointment of András Ligeti as its music director. In that short time the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra has risen rapidly from its humble origin to being one of Hungary's best and most exciting musical ensembles. Prior to the 1980s the Postal Orchestra garnered popularity through its public concerts and numerous radio broadcasts. It embarked on its professional career in 1983 when Ervin Lukács became the leader.
With the political upheavals in the former Eastern Bloc, in 1990 the Postal Orchestra's support shifted from the state postal service to a foundation established by a conglomerate of three companies. In 1992 Matáv, the Hungarian Telecommunication Company, remained as the orchestra's sole supporter, and the orchestra was renamed the Matáv Hungarian Symphony Orchestra. Since Ligeti's appointment the orchestra has developed greatly, both technically and artistically. It regularly appears at the Budapest Spring Festival and also performed at the Festival of the Cultural Capital of Europe (Santiago de Compostella, 2000) and in the Tibor Varga Festival (Budapest, 2001). In its concert tours abroad it has met with popular and critical success in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Macedonia.
The Hungarian Symphony Orchestra's roster of distinguished guest artists is a testament to the group's recognized high level of achievement. Guest soloists have included Mstislav Rostropovich, Vadim Repin, Dmitri Sitkovetsky and György Pauk from the international circuit. The finest of the established Hungarian musicians include Zoltán Kocsis, Jenő Jandó and Dezső Ránki. Among the guest conductors have been Yuri Simonov, Simone Young and János Fürst. And in the up and coming generation, violinists Barnabás Kelemen, Antal Szalai and József Lendvay, pianist Gergely Bogányi, and conductor Domonkos Héja have also appeared with the orchestra.
The ensemble regularly performs to full houses at Budapest's Academy of Music, while smaller groups present classical and contemporary works at other venues, on occasion even simultaneously. The work of the Sinfonietta on contemporary and modern music and the chamber orchestra on Bach, Mozart and Schubert support the full orchestra's work by developing each member's personal creativity and individual growth. The orchestra also excels in the music of its compatriot Béla Bartók and his contemporary Stravinsky.
Distinguished guests to have worked with the orchestra include soloists Barbara Hendricks, Jose Cura, Vadim Repin and Olga Kern, as well as conductor Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi who from 2006 is the orchestra's resident guest conductor. They also enjoyed a great success with Bobby McFerrin and in 2005, with Branford Marsalis. Hungarian Symphony Orchestra celebrated 100th anniversary in 2007.
Also in 2007, András Keller, outstanding violinist joined to the orchestra as its new music director.
Current performances of Concerto Budapest
Koncertkalendárium (www.muzsikalendarium.hu)
Although its traditions reach back to its foundation in 1907 as the Postal Orchestra, its present profile as a dynamic young orchestra dates back only to 1997 with the appointment of András Ligeti as its music director. In that short time the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra has risen rapidly from its humble origin to being one of Hungary's best and most exciting musical ensembles. Prior to the 1980s the Postal Orchestra garnered popularity through its public concerts and numerous radio broadcasts. It embarked on its professional career in 1983 when Ervin Lukács became the leader.
With the political upheavals in the former Eastern Bloc, in 1990 the Postal Orchestra's support shifted from the state postal service to a foundation established by a conglomerate of three companies. In 1992 Matáv, the Hungarian Telecommunication Company, remained as the orchestra's sole supporter, and the orchestra was renamed the Matáv Hungarian Symphony Orchestra. Since Ligeti's appointment the orchestra has developed greatly, both technically and artistically. It regularly appears at the Budapest Spring Festival and also performed at the Festival of the Cultural Capital of Europe (Santiago de Compostella, 2000) and in the Tibor Varga Festival (Budapest, 2001). In its concert tours abroad it has met with popular and critical success in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Macedonia.
The Hungarian Symphony Orchestra's roster of distinguished guest artists is a testament to the group's recognized high level of achievement. Guest soloists have included Mstislav Rostropovich, Vadim Repin, Dmitri Sitkovetsky and György Pauk from the international circuit. The finest of the established Hungarian musicians include Zoltán Kocsis, Jenő Jandó and Dezső Ránki. Among the guest conductors have been Yuri Simonov, Simone Young and János Fürst. And in the up and coming generation, violinists Barnabás Kelemen, Antal Szalai and József Lendvay, pianist Gergely Bogányi, and conductor Domonkos Héja have also appeared with the orchestra.
The ensemble regularly performs to full houses at Budapest's Academy of Music, while smaller groups present classical and contemporary works at other venues, on occasion even simultaneously. The work of the Sinfonietta on contemporary and modern music and the chamber orchestra on Bach, Mozart and Schubert support the full orchestra's work by developing each member's personal creativity and individual growth. The orchestra also excels in the music of its compatriot Béla Bartók and his contemporary Stravinsky.
Distinguished guests to have worked with the orchestra include soloists Barbara Hendricks, Jose Cura, Vadim Repin and Olga Kern, as well as conductor Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi who from 2006 is the orchestra's resident guest conductor. They also enjoyed a great success with Bobby McFerrin and in 2005, with Branford Marsalis. Hungarian Symphony Orchestra celebrated 100th anniversary in 2007.
Also in 2007, András Keller, outstanding violinist joined to the orchestra as its new music director.
Current performances of Concerto Budapest
Koncertkalendárium (www.muzsikalendarium.hu)