Zoltán Rozsnyai
Encyclopedia
Zoltán Rozsnyai was an Hungarian conductor and musical director.
Born in Budapest
, he was a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where he studied under Zoltan Kodaly
, Bela Bartok
, and Ernest von Dohnányi
, among others. Already a concert pianist at the age of 10, he was one of the youngest students ever accepted by the Academy. At 24, he was appointed Music Director of the Debrecen Opera in Hungary.
In 1954, he became permanent conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonia Concert Organization. In May 1956, he was awarded a prize at the International Conductor's Competition in Rome, which resulted an immediate invitation to return to Rome as a guest conductor. The same year, after the Revolution, Rozsnyai left Budapest for Vienna, where he founded the famous Philharmonia Hungarica
orchestra, composed of outstanding exiled musicians. With tireless effort, he built the Philharmonica Hungarica into one of the most outstanding concert orchestras in Europe. Under the auspices of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, Mr. Rozsnyai brought the Philharmonic Hungarica to America in 1959 for its first United States tour. They earned high critical acclaim everywhere. Individual guest invitations followed.
In 1961, Rozsnyai became a United States resident. In 1962, he became Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic
under Leonard Bernstein
. In 1963, he was named Music Director of the Cleveland Philharmonic and the next year, Music Director of the Utica Symphony Orchestra.
In 1967, Rozsnyai was selected over 130 candidates for the position of Music Director of the San Diego Symphony
. Under his direction, the Orchestra also made its first professional recording on the Vox label. This recording was added to Zoltan Rozsnyai's many record credits, which include Columbia Masterworks as well as distinguished European labels. In 1982 he built the Knoxville Symphony on the occasion of the World's Fair, and in 1987 he built the International Orchestra of San Diego. This orchestra consisted of a select group of young musicians who had performed with symphonic orchestras and musical ensembles all over the world.
The orchestra, being close to Mexico, performed on both sides of the border to unusual acclaim. He joined his International Orchestra of San Diego with the Pro-Musica Ensenada Choir and the Convivium Musicum Choir of Mexico and produced Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria and made a recording of Haydn's Seasons. He worked with the International University Orchestra of San Diego until September 10, 1990, when he died from a heart attack
.
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...
, he was a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where he studied under Zoltan Kodaly
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, Bela Bartok
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...
, and Ernest von Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
, among others. Already a concert pianist at the age of 10, he was one of the youngest students ever accepted by the Academy. At 24, he was appointed Music Director of the Debrecen Opera in Hungary.
In 1954, he became permanent conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonia Concert Organization. In May 1956, he was awarded a prize at the International Conductor's Competition in Rome, which resulted an immediate invitation to return to Rome as a guest conductor. The same year, after the Revolution, Rozsnyai left Budapest for Vienna, where he founded the famous Philharmonia Hungarica
Philharmonia Hungarica
The Philharmonia Hungarica was a symphony orchestra, based in Germany, which existed from 1956 to 2001.It was first established in Baden bei Wien near Vienna by Hungarian musicians who had fled their homeland after it was invaded by Soviet troops...
orchestra, composed of outstanding exiled musicians. With tireless effort, he built the Philharmonica Hungarica into one of the most outstanding concert orchestras in Europe. Under the auspices of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, Mr. Rozsnyai brought the Philharmonic Hungarica to America in 1959 for its first United States tour. They earned high critical acclaim everywhere. Individual guest invitations followed.
In 1961, Rozsnyai became a United States resident. In 1962, he became Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
under Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. In 1963, he was named Music Director of the Cleveland Philharmonic and the next year, Music Director of the Utica Symphony Orchestra.
In 1967, Rozsnyai was selected over 130 candidates for the position of Music Director of the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Symphony
The San Diego Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in San Diego, California. On 6 December 1910, it gave its first concert as the San Diego Civic Orchestra.Currently, the Symphony performs over 100 concerts each season...
. Under his direction, the Orchestra also made its first professional recording on the Vox label. This recording was added to Zoltan Rozsnyai's many record credits, which include Columbia Masterworks as well as distinguished European labels. In 1982 he built the Knoxville Symphony on the occasion of the World's Fair, and in 1987 he built the International Orchestra of San Diego. This orchestra consisted of a select group of young musicians who had performed with symphonic orchestras and musical ensembles all over the world.
The orchestra, being close to Mexico, performed on both sides of the border to unusual acclaim. He joined his International Orchestra of San Diego with the Pro-Musica Ensenada Choir and the Convivium Musicum Choir of Mexico and produced Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria and made a recording of Haydn's Seasons. He worked with the International University Orchestra of San Diego until September 10, 1990, when he died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Sources
- New York Times Obituary
- Time magazine
- Answers.Com
- San Diego Symphony
- Library of Congress - American Memory: The Leonard Bernstein Collection
- Famous Hungarians
- The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation - Recording Awards
- Artist Direct-Free Music Downloads
- CD Universe: Zoltan Rozsnyai
- ROZSNYAI / MASTERPIECE SERIES VOL. III LP