Dear Visitor, It is the mission of Hungarian Classical Music Foundation – MusiciansWho to inform the participants of Hungarian classical music life about new opportunities and events in the world of classical music. It is also important for us to present Hungarian musical society internationally, in order to establish new relationships both in Europe and overseas. This briefing is for those who wish to learn about Hungarian classical music life, but do not know where to look for some information.  It was on 20th November 1853 that, ’following the example of larger and mid-size cities of the learned world’ (as a contemporary poster put it), the Orchestra of the Hungarian National Theatre gave its first philharmonic concert, conducted by Ferenc Erkel. This event more than 150 years ago can be regarded as the beginning of modern Hungarian musical life. It was Erkel who created the Hungarian national opera at a European level and he organised higher musical education as well as concert life. This formed a foundation from which the careers of Bartók, Kodály, Dohnányi, Weiner, Lajtha, Ligeti and Kurtág could later spring.
 The idea of a Hungarian Academy of Music was first initiated in 1869 in order to facilitate higher musical education for talented students. Before that it had only been possible abroad, and the musicians had usually settled in the country of their education. Four years later and in a modest setting, but education could finally begin. Presidency of the institution was offered to Ferenc Liszt, but due to his other commitments he only spent the winter in Hungary, leading the courses of piano. The Academy had 38 students in the beginning, and it was soon in the frontline of the classical music world. Professors included, among others, the famous violinist Jenő Hubay, the outstanding cellist Dávid Popper, István Thomán, renowned professor of the piano and Hans Koessler, who successfully fulfilled church music ideas of Liszt not only as a professor of composition, but also as an organist and leader of the chorus.
Honorary professors of the famous Academy include all significant personalities of classical music from Eugen d’Albert to Sándor Végh. Today in Hungary it is possible in all regions, from Szombathely to Nyíregyháza and from Pécs to Győr to obtain a college or university diploma in music. There have been postgraduate courses (PhD, DLA) for about 10 years. Young graduates are not only supported by the state but also by several foundations and NGOs. The most important scholarships are Annie Fischer Scholarship for performers and Zoltán Kodály Scholarship for creative talents. These support 10-12 young artists each year. Musical education, however, should begin at the basics. In Hungary all children are given the civil right of studying music. 320 thousand children participate in the well-organised elementary musical education annually.  There are seven theatres in Hungary that have an operatic company at the moment. Most important among these is the palace at Andrássy út, work of Miklós Ybl, outstanding architect of the 19th century. The building was designed following the models of Paris and Vienna, wall paintings were done by the best Hungarian painters of the age: Károly Lotz, Bertalan Székely and Mór Than. The Hungarian State Opera and Erkel Theatre form one institution that has the largest repertoire in Europe today. Besides classical operas its mission also includes performance of contemporary Hungarian composers.
Dozens of orchestras (strings, chamber music groups and symphonic orchestras) follow the path Erkel set 150 years ago. There are orchestras in major cities (Debrecen Philharmonic Orchestra, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Szeged, Győr Symphonic Orchestra), and in Budapest many ensembles have won international fame. One of those is Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra that has published discs of Baroque music and a series with Maurice André. The Symphonic Orchestra of Hungarian Radio was founded by Ernő Dohnányi and is now conducted by Ádám Fischer, conductor in residence of the Bayreuth Festival. National Philharmonic Orchestra, once conducted by János Ferencsik but now led by Zoltán Kocsis or the younger of its kind, Budapest Festival Orchestra under the leadership of Iván Fischer, have called much attention to their work. Special place is taken by Amadinda Percussion Group and ÚMZE Ensemble, the latter performing mainly contemporary music as initiated by Bartók and Kodály. The name of Kodály would most probably be associated with choir music. The most important heritage of Kodály is revitalising Hungarian choir singing and writing original pieces for choirs. Professional choirs (Choir of the Hungarian Radio, National Choir, Military Men’s Choir, Kodály Choir) and amateurs (that only differ in their operations, not quality) are served with new masterpieces by new generations of composer such as Bárdos, Petrovics, Szokolay, Balassa, Vajda, Orbán or Csemiczky.  Concert life demands modern concert halls. There has been some significant development in this field recently. Kölcsey Convention Centre has been inaugurated in Debrecen recently, a new conference and concert hall is being built in Pécs. In Budapest the Palace of Arts is in full operation, incorporating Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, one of the largest concert halls of Europe that has excellent acoustics. When looking at the concert schedule it is apparent that - in Budapest and in the country - classical music is performed at dozens of venues each day, ranging from chamber music rooms to large halls for 2000 people, from the Hungarian State Opera to the Academy of Music.
Musical life is concentrated at various festivals. Budapest Spring Festival, launched in 1981, is the most prestigious of all, it hosts Hungarian and international performers for two weeks in mid-March each year. Budapest Autumn Festival is 15 years old in 2007, it was created as the successor of Budapest Art Week in 1992. It concentrates on contemporary music, it presents to the audience of Budapest the progressive artists and their outcome from the past decade. Other internationally known festivals include the Festival „Haydn at Eszterháza”, held in the palace of the Esterházy family, and Celebrating Mahler, initiated by the Budapest Festival Orchestra and presenting new, original Hungarian pieces ordered for the occasion besides the oeuvre of Mahler, who had worked in Hungary, too. Although music publishers are in a difficult situation, important publishers still believe in publishing classical music. The largest local publisher is Hungaroton. Its focus are contemporary composers and musical rarities, this year they publish the New Complete Works of Bartók. BMC issues discs of contemporary music and progressive jazz, offering opportunity to numerous Hungarian musicians. This overview is obviously not full. We haven’t mentioned for example the world famous quartets (Bartók, Kodály, Takács-Nagy or Keller) or early music festivals.  We also have number of museums (e.g. Liszt Museum) and memorial homes (Bartók Memorial House) for researchers.
Last but not least Hungarian Cultural Centres should be named. Located in major European cities they support and advertise Hungarian culture with numerous programmes and publications. _______________________ Hungarian Classical Music Foundation MusiciansWho.com Madách Trade Center, H-1075 Budapest Madách Imre út 14. A. ép. IX. em. Phone: +36 (1) 268-08-78 Fax: +36 (1) 4291390 |  | |
