Biography in headwords

28 December,1928 Born in Budapest.

1949-1957 Pupil of János Viski at the Academy of Music and also studied conducting with László Somogyi.

1960-66 Musical director of the State Puppet Theatre.

1966-68 Musical director of the Hungarian Army Art Ensemble.

1970-1974 Conductor and (from 1972) musical director of the Budapest Operetta Theater.

1972-1992 Professor at the Academy of Music in Budapest, from 1976 the Head of the Music Theory Department.

1975 Pezzo concertato for violoncello and orchestra won second prize at Trieste International Composers’ Competition

1979 The recording of his one-act opera, The Respectful Prostitute won the Gran Prix International du Disque Lyrique.

1989 World premiere of Via crucis (commissioned by the Festival d’Art Sacre Paris) at the cathedral Eglise in Paris.

Prizes and awards:
Erkel Prize (1962, 1964, 1978), Merited Artist (1981), Bartók-Pásztory Award (1989, 2005), Excellent Artist (1996), Silver Pen Award (1998), Kossuth Prize (1998), Artisjus Music Award (2003)

Violin Concerto No. 1 (1961-62)

Orogenesis (1969-70) for mixed choir and orchestra, 42’

Disposizioni (1975), for cimbalom

Fifthmusic (1978-79), for violoncello

Scenes (1978-81) for soprano and bass baritone solo and orchestra from Thomas Mann’s tetralogy Joseph and his Brothers, 24’

Five Arrogant Ideas (1979), for brass quintet

Harmony of Silence (1980) for orchestra, 14’

Violin Concerto No. 2 (1986), 22’

Concertino semplice (1986), for cimbalom and strings, 10’

Respectfully yours, Mr. Goodman! (1988), for clarinet

Stabat Mater (1991) – for mezzosoprano solo, mixed choir and orchestra, 30’

Piano Concerto (2000), 22’