László Tihanyi
Encyclopedia
László Tihanyi is a Hungarian composer
and conductor
.
, Hungary on 21 March 1956 and pursued musical studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
, Budapest, where he studied composition with Rezső Sugár
and conducting with András Kórodi. Since 1979 has Tihanyi himself been a devoted professor at the Academy of Music, where he acted also as vice-rector between 2000 and 2005.
He regularly conducts at home and abroad, typically 20th century classical and contemporary programmes. He appeared with all major Hungarian orchestras and significant European contemporary music ensembles, as Ensemble Modern
, Contrechamps and Musikfabrik
. In 1991 he participated in the production of Maderna
's Hyperion at the Festival D'Automne à Paris and the subsequent European tour. In 2002 Péter Eötvös
asked him to be second conductor of his opera Three Sisters for the 2002 production for the Wiener Festwochen (besides Eötvös being first conductor himself).
In 1985 founded his own instrumental ensemble, the Intermodulation, dedicated to 20th and 21st century music, and has been the artistic director since then.
Tihanyi is the winner of prestigious awards, including the Erkel prize and the Bartók-Pásztory prize.
Beside being the "composer-in-residence" of the Ensemble Intermodulation, his works are performed all over Europe: the Hungarian Radio commissioned Irrlichtspiel, for violin and ensemble (a "pocket" concerto) in 1991. Then the Componensemble premiered Winterszenen (a work based on Schubert
’s Winterreise
). In 1992. Summer Music was dedicated to and premiered by the Ensemble Contrechamps in 1992, one of the as yet most performed chamber setting by Tihanyi. In 1994 L’Épitaph du Soldat (a short sequel to Stravinsky
's A Soldier's Tale
) was commissioned by Radio France
, and Serenata for four instruments by Rainbow over Bath in 1996. Schattenspiel was composed for members of the Forrás Chamber Music Workshop in 1997, and premiered in its original, four-movement version in the same year in Vienna. In 1998 two Swiss foundations, Pro Helvetia
and the Zuger Kulturstiftung Landis & Gyr commissioned Matrix for four hands. Atte was premiered in 1999 in Berlin by the UMZE Ensemble. The soloists were Csaba Klenyán (clarinet) and György Déri (cello). In 2002 Musikfabrik premiered Kosmos, and a number of further commissions followed, one of which was the 20 Night Meditations for 8 soloists and orchestra with double strings, that had its western hemisphere premiere in February 2007 at The Juilliard School
, New York.
His commission by the Opéra National de Bordeaux and the French state for his first opera Genitrix, based on the novel by François Mauriac
, premiered on 25 November 2007 in Bordeaux
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Biography
László Tihanyi was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary on 21 March 1956 and pursued musical studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
The Franz Liszt Academy of Music is a concert hall and music conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875...
, Budapest, where he studied composition with Rezső Sugár
Rezső Sugár
Rezsõ Sugár was a Hungarian composer.Rezsõ Sugár was born in Budapest. He studied musical composition under Zoltán Kodály at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1937 to 1942...
and conducting with András Kórodi. Since 1979 has Tihanyi himself been a devoted professor at the Academy of Music, where he acted also as vice-rector between 2000 and 2005.
He regularly conducts at home and abroad, typically 20th century classical and contemporary programmes. He appeared with all major Hungarian orchestras and significant European contemporary music ensembles, as Ensemble Modern
Ensemble Modern
Ensemble Modern is a chamber ensemble dedicated to the music of modern composers. Formed in 1980, the group is based in Frankfurt, Germany and made up variously of about twenty members from numerous countries....
, Contrechamps and Musikfabrik
Musikfabrik
The musikFabrik is an ensemble for contemporary music located in Cologne. Their official name is: musikFabrik Landesensemble NRW e.V. .-Overview:...
. In 1991 he participated in the production of Maderna
Bruno Maderna
Bruno Maderna was an Italian conductor and composer. For the last ten years of his life he lived in Germany and eventually became a citizen of that country.-Biography:...
's Hyperion at the Festival D'Automne à Paris and the subsequent European tour. In 2002 Péter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös
Péter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
asked him to be second conductor of his opera Three Sisters for the 2002 production for the Wiener Festwochen (besides Eötvös being first conductor himself).
In 1985 founded his own instrumental ensemble, the Intermodulation, dedicated to 20th and 21st century music, and has been the artistic director since then.
Tihanyi is the winner of prestigious awards, including the Erkel prize and the Bartók-Pásztory prize.
Beside being the "composer-in-residence" of the Ensemble Intermodulation, his works are performed all over Europe: the Hungarian Radio commissioned Irrlichtspiel, for violin and ensemble (a "pocket" concerto) in 1991. Then the Componensemble premiered Winterszenen (a work based on Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
’s Winterreise
Winterreise
Winterreise is a song cycle for voice and piano by Franz Schubert , a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller. It is the second of Schubert's two great song cycles on Müller's poems, the earlier being Die schöne Müllerin...
). In 1992. Summer Music was dedicated to and premiered by the Ensemble Contrechamps in 1992, one of the as yet most performed chamber setting by Tihanyi. In 1994 L’Épitaph du Soldat (a short sequel to Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
's A Soldier's Tale
Histoire du soldat
Histoire du soldat , composed by Igor Stravinsky, is a 1918 theatrical work "to be read, played, and danced" . The libretto, which is based on a Russian folk tale, was written in French by the Swiss universalist writer C.F. Ramuz...
) was commissioned by Radio France
Radio France
Radio France is a French public service radio broadcaster.-Mission:Radio France's two principal missions are:* To create and expand the programming on all of their stations; and...
, and Serenata for four instruments by Rainbow over Bath in 1996. Schattenspiel was composed for members of the Forrás Chamber Music Workshop in 1997, and premiered in its original, four-movement version in the same year in Vienna. In 1998 two Swiss foundations, Pro Helvetia
Pro Helvetia
The foundation Pro Helvetia is a public foundation of Switzerland, held by Confédération Suisse.-Presidents:*From 1939 to 1943, Heinrich Häberlin.*From 1944 to 1952, Paul Lachenal.*From 1952 to 1964, Jean-Rodolphe de Salis....
and the Zuger Kulturstiftung Landis & Gyr commissioned Matrix for four hands. Atte was premiered in 1999 in Berlin by the UMZE Ensemble. The soloists were Csaba Klenyán (clarinet) and György Déri (cello). In 2002 Musikfabrik premiered Kosmos, and a number of further commissions followed, one of which was the 20 Night Meditations for 8 soloists and orchestra with double strings, that had its western hemisphere premiere in February 2007 at The Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, New York.
His commission by the Opéra National de Bordeaux and the French state for his first opera Genitrix, based on the novel by François Mauriac
François Mauriac
François Mauriac was a French author; member of the Académie française ; laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature . He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur .-Biography:...
, premiered on 25 November 2007 in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
.
Prizes and awards
- 2002 - Hans Martin Ziegler prize of the city of KasselKasselKassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, Germany - 2001 - Bartók-Pásztory prize
- 1999 - "Merite culturel" prize from the Polish Minister of Culture and Science
- 1997 - Erkel prize
- 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1998 - Artisjus prize
- 1988 - Special prize of the Association of Hungarian Musicians
- 1981 - Szirmai Albert prize
Main works
- 2001 - 2006: Genitrix - Opera in two acts, based on the novel by François MauriacFrançois MauriacFrançois Mauriac was a French author; member of the Académie française ; laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature . He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur .-Biography:...
, libretto by László Tihanyi and Alain Surrans, text in French - 2002: 20 Night Meditations - for 8 solo instruments and orchestra
- 2002: Matrix/Kosmos - for piano four hands and ensemble
- Jan 2001 - Jun 2002: Linos - for harp
- 2001: Nächtliche Klauseln - for organ
- 1999: Atte - for clarinet, violoncello and ensemble
- 1998: Pimpalin’s Gown - A musical play for a speaking voice and six instruments, based on a tale by Alíz Mosonyi, in Hungarian
- 1998: Matrix - for piano four hands
- 1997: Schattenspiel • Shadow Play - for clarinet in A, violoncello and piano
- 1996: Serenata - for four instruments
- 1995 - 1996: The Passing of the Neptune - for piano
- 1995: Triton - for bassoon and ensemble
- 1994: Epitaph of the Soldier - for seven instruments
- 1992, rev. 1994: Tra duzioni - for double symphony orchestra, two small string orhestras and six female voices
- 1992: Summer Music - for six instruments
- 1991: Winter Scenes - for ensemble
- 1991: Night Scene - for four instruments
- 1989: Arkhé - for orchestra
- 1987, rev. 1995: Jan Jansson’s Journey from Denmark to Denmark—A Transcendent Musical Travel in Five Scenes - for flute
- 1986: Enodios - for orchestra
- 1984 - 1985: Krios (The Month of Ram)- for small orchestra
- 1984: Silence of the Winds - for ensemble
- 1984: Szirom • Petal - for an optional (keyboard) instrument
- 1977: Deux sonates à Olivier Messiaen • Two Sonatas for Olivier Messiaen - for violin and piano