Tamás Vásáry
Tamás Vásáry rose to prominence as a virtuoso pianist in Soviet-dominated Hungary, but flourished internationally in the 1960s and '70s following his departure to the West. In the late '70s he turned to conducting and toured extensively in that role, especially in the U.S. As a pianist Vásáry is best known for his interpretations of Chopin, though he also garnered acclaim for his Rachmaninov, Liszt, Brahms, Mozart, and Bach. Vásáry has exhibited a fairly lean and crisp style suited for both Baroque and Classical works, as well as a lush, lyrical manner appropriate for Romantic and post-Romantic music. His Rachmaninov features broad tempos and creamy textures, while his Chopin is a bit understated but always sensitive to the composer's shifting moods. As a conductor Vásáry is known for broad repertory as well and has made several notable recordings with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven symphony cycle), Northern Sinfonia (Chopin concertos), and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta (works by Honegger and Respighi). Vásáry's recordings are available on DG, Chandos, Decca, Globe, Hungaroton, Supraphon, and Brilliant Classics.
Tamás Vásáry was born in Debrecen, Hungary, on August 11, 1933. He was a child prodigy, debuting at eight in a performance of the Mozart D major Concerto, K. 107. He briefly studied with Ernö Dohnányi and then, at 14, captured first prize at the 1948 Liszt Competition. Vásáry studied music in Budapest at the Franz Liszt Academy under Józef Gát. Later on at the Liszt Academy, Vásáry served as assistant to Zoltán Kodály, who mentored the young pianist.
In 1956, the year of the failed Hungarian Revolt, Vásáry fled Hungary and settled in Switzerland. His career soon flourished: after his first recording (1958, on DG) and his debuts in London (1961) and New York (1962), Vásáry rose to international renown. Vásáry debuted as a conductor in 1971, but received his first appointment in 1979, as co-artistic director of the Northern Sinfonia, serving until 1982. From 1989-1997 Vásáry was principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and from 1993 served as music director of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Vásáry also guest-conducted various ensembles, including the major orchestras of New York, Baltimore, Detroit, London, Paris, and Berlin. He also continued to appear as pianist, sometimes conducting from the keyboard. In the new century Vásáry has remained active, working with, among other artists and ensembles, the Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra, which he founded in 2006.
© TiVo
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Liszt: Rhapsodies hongroises (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Stereo Version)
Tamás Vásáry, Bamberger Symphoniker, Felix Prohaska
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Vasary joue Liszt (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 8
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Concertos for Flute, Oboe & Bassoon
Tamás Vásáry, Philharmonia Orchestra
Lounge - Released by Collins Classics on 15 Feb 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liszt: Concertos pour piano, Légende No. 2 & Étude d'après Paganini No. 2 (Mono Version)
Tamás Vásáry, Bamberger Symphoniker, Felix Prohaska
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 / Fidelio Overture
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 and 23 / Rondo in D Major
Tamas Erdi, Budapest Chamber Symphony, Tamás Vásáry
Concertos - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: The Complete Piano Duets Vol. 2
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinů: Sinfonietta Giocosa, Toccata e Due Canzoni & Sinfonietta La Jolla
Tamás Vásáry, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Julian Jacobson
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Nov 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Moonlight Sonata, Claire de lunes and Nocturnes
Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on 1 Jan 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: The Complete Piano Duets Vol. 1
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich, National Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry, Jerzy Semkow, Berliner Philharmoniker
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) (Classics) on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Symphonies No.9 & 8
Tamás Vásáry, Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Alternative & Indie - Released by CarltonClassics on 1 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Symphonies No.5 & 6
Tamás Vásáry, Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by CarltonClassics on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo