Zoltán Kocsis
Encyclopedia
Zoltán Kocsis (ˈzoltaːn ˈkotʃiʃ) (born May 30, 1952) is a Hungarian
pianist
, conductor
, and composer
.
Born in Budapest
, he started his musical studies at the age of five and continued them at the Béla Bartók
Conservatory in 1963, studying piano
and composition
. In 1968 he was admitted to the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
, where he was a pupil of Pál Kadosa
and Ferenc Rados.
In 1970, he gave his first important debuts both at home and abroad. During the following 25 years he toured all over the world, performing with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic
, the Philharmonia
of London, and the Wiener Philharmoniker. American critic Harold Schonberg praised Kocsis' extraordinary technique and fine piano tone. Kocsis has recorded the complete solo and with orchestra piano work of Béla Bartók
. In 1990, his recording of Debussy's "Images" won "The Gramophone" Instrumental Award for that year.
In recent years, Kocsis has taken the role of conductor, especially with the Budapest Festival Orchestra
and the Hungarian National Philharmonic, where he is the current musical director.
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...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, 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...
, and composer
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...
.
Born 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...
, he started his musical studies at the age of five and continued them at the Béla 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...
Conservatory in 1963, studying piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
. In 1968 he was admitted to 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...
, where he was a pupil of Pál Kadosa
Pál Kadosa
Pál Kadosa was a piano teacher and Hungarian composer of the post-Bartók generation. His early style was influenced by Hungarian folklore while his later works were more toward Hindemith and expressively forceful idioms. He was born in Léva. He studied at the national Hungarian Royal Academy...
and Ferenc Rados.
In 1970, he gave his first important debuts both at home and abroad. During the following 25 years he toured all over the world, performing with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Philharmonia
Philharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
of London, and the Wiener Philharmoniker. American critic Harold Schonberg praised Kocsis' extraordinary technique and fine piano tone. Kocsis has recorded the complete solo and with orchestra piano work of Béla 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...
. In 1990, his recording of Debussy's "Images" won "The Gramophone" Instrumental Award for that year.
In recent years, Kocsis has taken the role of conductor, especially with the Budapest Festival Orchestra
Budapest Festival Orchestra
The Budapest Festival Orchestra was formed in 1983 by Iván Fischer and Zoltán Kocsis, with musicians "drawn from the cream of Hungary's younger players", as The Times put it...
and the Hungarian National Philharmonic, where he is the current musical director.