Antalffy-Zsiross Dezső
organ
Place of Birth
Nagybecskerek (Zrenjanin - Serbia)
Date of Birth
1885
Dezső Antalffy-Zsiross was born on July 24th, 1885 in Nagybecskerek (now Zrenjanin, Serbia). He studied organ and composition with János Koessler at the Budapest Academy of Music, then continued his studies with Max Reger and Karl Straube in Leipzig and subsequently with Enrico Bossi in Bologna. Between 1906 and 1907 he was coach at the Opera of Cologne, then up to 1921 organ and harmony professor at the Budapest Academy of Music as well as chief organist and choirmaster of the St. Stephen Cathedral in Budapest.
In 1921 he set out for a concert tour of the United States, in the course of which he was invited to teach organ at the Eastman Music School in Rochester between 1922 and 1923. From that time on up to 1926 he was conductor and composer of Max Reinhardt's travelling company. In the meantime he was teaching again at the Budapest Academy of Music in 1925/26, then became a professor of church music at the Columbia University of New York.
Between 1932 and 1942 he was organist and composer of the Radio City Music Hall in the Rockefeller Center and, in addition, member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1938 onwards. In his absence he was elected director of the Budapest National College of Music in 1938 and was sent an air-ticket to return. The worsening international situation and his declining health hindered him, however, in meeting this obligation.
From 1942 onwards he was mostly in hospital, incapable of work. In this difficult phase of his life he was supported by friends, among others Albert Szirmai. He died in Denville (New Jersey) on April 29th, 1945. As an organist he belonged to the most outstanding performers of his time but his achievments as componist are also noteworthy. He wrote orchestral and chamber works, choirs and works for piano and organ which were issued by several publishers.
(István Koloss)
In 1921 he set out for a concert tour of the United States, in the course of which he was invited to teach organ at the Eastman Music School in Rochester between 1922 and 1923. From that time on up to 1926 he was conductor and composer of Max Reinhardt's travelling company. In the meantime he was teaching again at the Budapest Academy of Music in 1925/26, then became a professor of church music at the Columbia University of New York.
Between 1932 and 1942 he was organist and composer of the Radio City Music Hall in the Rockefeller Center and, in addition, member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1938 onwards. In his absence he was elected director of the Budapest National College of Music in 1938 and was sent an air-ticket to return. The worsening international situation and his declining health hindered him, however, in meeting this obligation.
From 1942 onwards he was mostly in hospital, incapable of work. In this difficult phase of his life he was supported by friends, among others Albert Szirmai. He died in Denville (New Jersey) on April 29th, 1945. As an organist he belonged to the most outstanding performers of his time but his achievments as componist are also noteworthy. He wrote orchestral and chamber works, choirs and works for piano and organ which were issued by several publishers.
(István Koloss)