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
-
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 / Coriolan Overture
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 3
Steven Mayer, London Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata / Chopin: Piano Music
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Walzer, Mazurken und Polonaise
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 3
Tamás Vásáry, London Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 3 & 4
Tamás Vásáry, Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Collins Classics on 18 Aug 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: 24 Préludes; Sonata No.2 "Marche funèbre"
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Honegger: Symphony No. 4, Pastorale d'été, Concertino & Prelude, Arioso et Fughette sur le nom de Bach
Tamás Vásáry, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Timothy Carey
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Aug 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 & No.2, Op.21
Tamás Vásáry, Berliner Philharmoniker, Jerzy Semkow, János Kulka
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No.8 & 14 & 23 & 26
Classical - Released by Collins Classics on 7 Feb 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.2 & 4
Tamás Vásáry, London Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 17 & No. 21
Tamás Vásáry, Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Collins Classics on 5 Sep 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin Weekend
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann: Carnaval - Romanze - Fantasie - Kinderszenen
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 25 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 / Prometheus Overture
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 / Egmont Overture
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonie n° 4 - Concertino pour piano & orchestre - Pastorale d'été...
Classical - Released by Chandos on 1 Aug 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3
Barnabás Kelemen, Tamás Vásáry
Chamber Music - Released by Hungaroton on 22 Oct 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In mir klingt ein Lied
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dohnanyi: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
Vilmos Szabadi, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Concertos - Released by Hungaroton on 15 Jul 2014
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