Vilmos Szabadi
Encyclopedia
Vilmos Szabadi, sometimes referred to as Wilhelm Szabadi (born 1959) is one of the best known Hungarian
violin
ists.
Szabadi studied under Professor Ferenc Halász at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
in Budapest
where on receiving his diploma, he became the youngest-ever member to join the teaching staff. Then he studied, after graduation, with Sándor Végh
, Ruggiero Ricci
and Loránt Fenyves. In 1982 he won first prize (with special mention) in the Hungarian Radio
Violin Competition and the following year in the Jenő Hubay
competition in Budapest. In 1985 Szabadi was awarded 3rd prize at the international Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
in Finland
where he has since been invited to perform regularly and to give master classes.
His career as an international concert violinist took off when Sir Georg Solti invited him to play Bartók
's 2nd Violin Concerto
during a Bartók Festival at the Royal Festival Hall
in London in 1988. The success of the concert (which was recorded by Philips
), led to invitations from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, the BBC Philharmonic
and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
. Szabadi was among the musicians invited by HRH Prince Charles to perform at the celebration in honour of Sir Georg Solti's 80th birthday held at Buckingham Palace
in 1992.
He has played in the following countries;
Conductors with whom he has appeared include Simonov, Ceccato, Nelson, Gardelli, Tabachnik, Loughran, Berglund, Renzetti, Kamu, Haenchen, Vásáry, Kobajashi, Adam and Ivan Fisher.
He has recorded for the BBC, Radio Classique (France), NDR (North German Radio), BRD (Bavarian Radio), Irish Radio, and lots of other Radio and TV stations.
He was the recipient of the Franz Liszt prize in 1993.
Festival in Cannes
, France, where the international jury chose the Szabadi recording of Dohnányi
Violin Concertos, and the complete Bartók edition (issued by Hungaroton
, the Hungarian record company) which includes Szabadi's version of the early Bartók violin sonata.
So far he has recorded 45 CDs / LPs / CDVs for several companies. From 1996 he has been the only violinist in Hungary to be contracted as an exclusive artist for the Hungaroton Classic record label. In 1999 the Hungaroton Prize was awarded to him.
violin made in Cremona
in 1778. However, in 1995 he appeared in a "Stradivarius
Series" in Madrid, playing one of the "Strad" instruments housed in the Royal Palace (Palacio Real).
, a resort on Lake Balaton. He still teaches at Keszthely but the festival moved to the baroque palace at Godollo
near Budapest. In 1999 he co-founded the Vienna Belvedere Trio with artists from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
: the following year the trio made its debut in the hall of the Musikverein to critical acclaim.
In 2006 Szabadi marked the Mozart anniversary with a number of concerts featuring works by that composer. In Manchester he played the violin sonatas with Andrew Wilde (pianist)
.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ists.
Szabadi studied under Professor Ferenc Halász 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...
in Budapest
Budapest
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...
where on receiving his diploma, he became the youngest-ever member to join the teaching staff. Then he studied, after graduation, with Sándor Végh
Sándor Végh
Sándor Végh was a Hungarian, later French, violinist and conductor. He was best known as one of the great chamber music violinists of the twentieth century.- Education :...
, Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci is an Italian-American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. He was born in San Bruno, California. Ricci's brother was cellist and his sister Emma played violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera.He is the son of Italian immigrants. His...
and Loránt Fenyves. In 1982 he won first prize (with special mention) in the Hungarian Radio
Hungarian Radio
Magyar Rádió is Hungary's publicly funded radio broadcasting organization. It is also the country's official international broadcasting station...
Violin Competition and the following year in the Jenő Hubay
Jeno Hubay
Eugen Huber , better known by his Hungarian name Jenő Hubay , was a Hungarian violinist, composer and music teacher.-Early life:Eugen Huber was born into a German family of musicians in Pest, Hungary...
competition in Budapest. In 1985 Szabadi was awarded 3rd prize at the international Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, named after Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, is a competition for violinists up to age 30. It is held every five years in Helsinki and is considered to be one of the top 3 most appreciated violin competitions in the world. The first competition...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
where he has since been invited to perform regularly and to give master classes.
His career as an international concert violinist took off when Sir Georg Solti invited him to play Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
's 2nd Violin Concerto
Violin Concerto No. 2 (Bartók)
Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 2, BB 117 was dedicated to the Hungarian violin virtuoso, Zoltán Székely, who requested the composition in 1936, and is a prime example of verbunkos style....
during a Bartók Festival at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London in 1988. The success of the concert (which was recorded by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
), led to invitations from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, the BBC Philharmonic
BBC Philharmonic
The BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra based at Media City UK, Salford, England. It is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall....
and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
. Szabadi was among the musicians invited by HRH Prince Charles to perform at the celebration in honour of Sir Georg Solti's 80th birthday held at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in 1992.
He has played in the following countries;
- Austria: Wiener Konzerthaus, Musikverein
- Belgium: Brussels- Theatre St.Michel
- England: London- Wigmore HallWigmore HallWigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, Barbican CentreBarbican CentreThe Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
, and Royal Festival HallRoyal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
; Manchester- Royal Northern College of MusicRoyal Northern College of MusicThe Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music... - Wales:Cardiff- St.David's Hall
- Ireland: Belfast- Ulster Hall; Dublin- National Concert Hall
- France: Paris- Châtelet, Conservatoire
- Russia: Moscow, St.Petersburg
- Netherlands: Amsterdam- ConcertgebouwConcertgebouwThe Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
- Italy: Turin- RAI Auditorium
- Spain: Madrid- Auditorio Nacional
- Germany: Stuttgart- Liederhalle (Mozart/Beethoven Halls)
- Finland: Helsinki- Finlandia HallFinlandia HallFinlandia Hall is a concert hall with a congress wing in Helsinki, Finland, by Töölönlahti bay. The building was designed by Alvar Aalto. The work began in 1967 and was completed in 1971.-Design and building:...
- USA: New York, Washington
- Canada: Toronto, Montreal
- Israel
- Lebanon
- South Korea
- Taiwan
Conductors with whom he has appeared include Simonov, Ceccato, Nelson, Gardelli, Tabachnik, Loughran, Berglund, Renzetti, Kamu, Haenchen, Vásáry, Kobajashi, Adam and Ivan Fisher.
He has recorded for the BBC, Radio Classique (France), NDR (North German Radio), BRD (Bavarian Radio), Irish Radio, and lots of other Radio and TV stations.
He was the recipient of the Franz Liszt prize in 1993.
Discography
He is the double prize-winner (1999, 2002) of the MIDEMMidem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...
Festival in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, France, where the international jury chose the Szabadi recording of Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
Violin Concertos, and the complete Bartók edition (issued by Hungaroton
Hungaroton
Hungaroton was the one and only record and music publisher company in Hungary for about 40 years.Hungaroton was founded in 1951, since then, its only competitors in the Hungarian music market were record labels like Melodiya, Supraphon and Eterna from other socialist countries. Previously called...
, the Hungarian record company) which includes Szabadi's version of the early Bartók violin sonata.
So far he has recorded 45 CDs / LPs / CDVs for several companies. From 1996 he has been the only violinist in Hungary to be contracted as an exclusive artist for the Hungaroton Classic record label. In 1999 the Hungaroton Prize was awarded to him.
Instrument
Szabadi usually plays an instrument on loan from the Hungarian state collection - a Lorenzo StorioniLorenzo Storioni
Lorenzo Storioni is considered one of the last of the classic Cremonese master violin makers/ Luthiers of the 18th century....
violin made in Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
in 1778. However, in 1995 he appeared in a "Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
Series" in Madrid, playing one of the "Strad" instruments housed in the Royal Palace (Palacio Real).
Chamber music
In 1995 Szabadi established, as Artistic Director, a chamber music festival in KeszthelyKeszthely
Keszthely is a Hungarian city of 21,100 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Balaton. It's the second largest city by the lake after Siófok....
, a resort on Lake Balaton. He still teaches at Keszthely but the festival moved to the baroque palace at Godollo
Gödöllo
Gödöllő is a town situated in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary, about northeast from the outskirts of Budapest. Its population is about 31,000 according to the 2001 census. It can be easily reached from Budapest with the suburban railway . Gödöllő is home to the Szent István...
near Budapest. In 1999 he co-founded the Vienna Belvedere Trio with artists from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
The Vienna Philharmonic is an orchestra in Austria, regularly considered one of the finest in the world....
: the following year the trio made its debut in the hall of the Musikverein to critical acclaim.
In 2006 Szabadi marked the Mozart anniversary with a number of concerts featuring works by that composer. In Manchester he played the violin sonatas with Andrew Wilde (pianist)
Andrew Wilde (pianist)
Andrew Wilde is an English classical pianist. Wilde studied at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, the city where he is still based. Wilde plays often as a recitalist, and has a particular affinity for the music of Chopin.However, he also has a wide...
.