István Kertész
An inordinately gifted conductor, István Kertész died at age 43 in a tragic drowning off the Israeli coast. He had already reached full maturity as a musician, proving his worth in opera, oratorio, and the symphonic repertory. His interests were wide-ranging, including works from the Classical and Romantic periods and large portions of twentieth century music.
Beginning with private lessons in childhood, Kertész studied piano and violin. He continued with violin training at the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest, adding composition under the supervision of such teachers as Weiner and Kodály. He pursued his conducting studies with László Somogyi, at the same time benefiting from studying the performances of Otto Klemperer, who was then working at the Hungarian State Opera. In 1953, Kertész was appointed resident conductor at Györ, two years later transferring his activities to Budapest, where he was hired as coach and conductor. Following the political uprising and Soviet response in 1956, Kertész moved with his family to Germany, subsequently acquiring German citizenship.
From 1958 to 1963, Kertész was general music director at Augsburg. His British debut took place with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 1960, followed by appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1961. His American debut came with a tour with the NDR Symphony Orchestra in 1961, during which he made a positive impression on American audiences and critics alike. An appointment as general music director in Cologne came in 1964 and 1966 brought both a Covent Garden debut, directing Un ballo in maschera. A global tour with the London Symphony Orchestra led to his succeeding Pierre Monteux as LSO principal conductor in 1966. In 1971, he became music director of Cologne's Gürzenich-Orchester, a position he held until his death two years later.
Kertész was decidedly non-interventionist as a conductor. With scrupulous attention to the composer's directions, his interpretations were more remarkable for sound musicianship than for striking individualism. Still, his performances often held high drama, and he was intentional about advocacy of works he believed in, which, in light of his broad interests, were numerous. At Cologne, he presented the German premiere of Verdi's Stiffelio as well as Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (a work he recorded in its first complete edition on disc).
For Decca, Kertész recorded a superb Bluebeard's Castle with Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry, still unsurpassed after several decades. His complete recordings of the Dvorák, Brahms, and Schubert symphonies still enjoy honorable places among the best versions committed to disc. The first Western recording of Kodály's Háry János (the complete opera) was made with the London Symphony under Kertész's direction. The Decca label coupling of Dvorák's Requiem and Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus is another fitting tribute to a superb artist too soon departed.
In addition to Bartók, Kertész was an indefatigable champion of works by Stravinsky, Henze, and Britten. Britten's Billy Budd was first presented to German audiences under Kertész's baton and he directed the first performance of the War Requiem heard in Vienna. For Ravinia Festival audiences, Kertész directed the War Requiem with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus shortly before his death. With soloists Phyllis Curtin, Robert Tear, and John Shirley-Quirk, the conductor's shattering interpretation left audience members limp.
© TiVo
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Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": I. Allegro
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat, S. 124 - Piano Concerto No. 2 in A, S. 125 (Album of 1960)
Julian von Karolyi, Philharmonia Hungarica, István Kertész
Clásica - Editado por Goldberg el 31/08/2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Edition - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 "Grand Sonata" & Symphony No. 4, Op. 60
Alfred Brendel, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por RED COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 11/12/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Viviani: Capricci Armonici Da Chiesa E Da Camera, Op. 4
István Kertész, Rezsö Pertorini, Judit Peteri
Música de cámara - Editado por Hungaroton el 15/07/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 & Rondo in G Major, Op. 51 No. 2
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yellow Edition - Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60 & String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132
István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por YELLOW COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 18/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kodaly Hary Janos Suite and Arias, Dances of Galanta, The Peacock Variations
John Leach, Olga Szönyi, István Kertész, Arthur Oldham, London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus
Clásica - Editado por Mangora Classical el 19/06/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace - Cadenza - Tempo 1 - Presto
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Egk: Furchtlosigkeit und Wohlwollen
István Kertész, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Fritz Wunderlich
Clásica - Editado por Orfeo el 1/01/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphony No.36; "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"...
Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, István Kertész
Clásica - Editado por Decca Music Group Ltd. el 1/01/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Rondo in C Major, Op. 51 No. 1
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato - Cadenza - Tempo 1
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Edition - Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60 & Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37
Conrad Hansen, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por RED COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 10/12/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orange Edition - Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60 & Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 &12
Paul Badura-Skoda, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por ORANGE COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 3/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orange Edition - Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 & Piano Sonata No. 18
Jörg Demus, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por ORANGE COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 5/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Edition - Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 & Piano Concerto No. 3
Conrad Hansen, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por RED COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 8/12/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Green Edition - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 2 No. 2 & Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37
Conrad Hansen, Alfred Brendel, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por GREEN COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 12/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yellow Edition - Beethoven: Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 & Symphony No. 2, Op. 36
István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Clásica - Editado por YELLOW COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 19/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yellow Edition - Beethoven: Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 & Symphony No. 4, Op. 60
Melos Quartet Stuttgart, Bamberg Symphony, István Kertész
Clásica - Editado por YELLOW COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house el 20/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Rondo in G Major, Op. 51 No. 2
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd el 3/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo