Sari Biro
Encyclopedia
Sari Biro was a Hungarian
pianist.
"I believe that a performer must be a clear channel for the composer's message and not allow his or her own personality to interfere with the composer's intentions... A performer should extend, not absorb." (Sari Biro)
Sari Biro was born in Budapest
in Hungary
. She began piano lessons privately at the age of six, and received a scholarship to study in the Franz Liszt Academy. There she quickly distinguished herself, so the she was chosen as the soloist in the inaugural concert of the Hungarian national broadcasting system, playing under the baton of Erno von Dohnáni.
Arriving in the US in 1939, Biro quickly established herself as a recitalist there. Based in New York
, for the next 18 years she toured extensively, as well as making numerous radio broadcasts which were notable for the wide repertoire they introduced. She also made an innovative 13-week series of live television programmes in 1958, in which she talked about and performed a wide range of music. She championed both early and contemporary music, performing Giancarlo Menotti Darius Milhaud
, Leon Weiner (with whom she had studied in Budapest) and, of course, Bartók
, who admired her interpretations of his works. She also made the first recording by a woman of Mussorgsky
's Pictures at an Exhibition
in 1951.
In 1949, the American State Department named Sari Biro the most distinguished new citizen of the year. Also in that year, she became the only woman to perform nine piano concertos in three concerts at Carnegie Hall
.
She moved to San Francisco in the late 1950s. She gave her last New York recital in 1972, but continued to give master classes until 1990.
In contrast to her fragile appearance, her playing was powerful and commanding, and the elan and sense of communication in her performances made her a powerful advocate of the neglected music that she championed
The Sari Biro Memorial Award was established in 1995 at the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, Hungary. The award is given each March 24 (Mme. Biro's birthday) in the form of a monetary prize to an outstanding young piano student at the academy.
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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.
"I believe that a performer must be a clear channel for the composer's message and not allow his or her own personality to interfere with the composer's intentions... A performer should extend, not absorb." (Sari Biro)
Sari Biro was 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...
in Hungary
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...
. She began piano lessons privately at the age of six, and received a scholarship to study in the Franz Liszt Academy. There she quickly distinguished herself, so the she was chosen as the soloist in the inaugural concert of the Hungarian national broadcasting system, playing under the baton of Erno von Dohnáni.
Arriving in the US in 1939, Biro quickly established herself as a recitalist there. Based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, for the next 18 years she toured extensively, as well as making numerous radio broadcasts which were notable for the wide repertoire they introduced. She also made an innovative 13-week series of live television programmes in 1958, in which she talked about and performed a wide range of music. She championed both early and contemporary music, performing Giancarlo Menotti Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, Leon Weiner (with whom she had studied in Budapest) and, of course, 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...
, who admired her interpretations of his works. She also made the first recording by a woman of Mussorgsky
Mussorgsky
Mussorgsky can refer to:*The Mussorgsky family of Russian nobility;*Modest Mussorgsky, a Russian composer belonging to that family.*Mussorgsky , a 1950 Soviet film about the composer...
's Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite in ten movements composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.The suite is Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition, and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists...
in 1951.
In 1949, the American State Department named Sari Biro the most distinguished new citizen of the year. Also in that year, she became the only woman to perform nine piano concertos in three concerts at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
She moved to San Francisco in the late 1950s. She gave her last New York recital in 1972, but continued to give master classes until 1990.
In contrast to her fragile appearance, her playing was powerful and commanding, and the elan and sense of communication in her performances made her a powerful advocate of the neglected music that she championed
The Sari Biro Memorial Award was established in 1995 at the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, Hungary. The award is given each March 24 (Mme. Biro's birthday) in the form of a monetary prize to an outstanding young piano student at the academy.
External links
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