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. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd em 03/04/2020
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Beethoven: Rondo in G Major, Op. 51 No. 2
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd em 03/04/2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Edition - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 & Symphony No. 2
Alfred Brendel, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Classical - Lançado por RED COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house em 09/12/2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": III. Rondo. Allegro - Più allegro
Hans richter-Haaser, István Kertész, Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por The state51 Conspiracy Ltd em 03/04/2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Green Edition - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19 & Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37
Conrad Hansen, Felicja Blumental, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Classical - Lançado por GREEN COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house em 10/11/2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blue Edition - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 2 No. 1 & Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37
Alfred Brendel, Conrad Hansen, István Kertész, Bamberg Symphony
Classical - Lançado por BLUE COLLECTION by a.m. publishing house em 08/04/2021
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo