Artist database

The Hungarian Radio Children´s Choir was formed in 1954, the founders of the ensemble were Valéria Botka and László Csányi. In 1985 three new conductors took over the guidance of the chorus. János Reményi, who was awarded the Liszt prize, became the artistic director of the ensemble and his two colleagues were conductors Lenke Igó and Gabriella Thész. Since 1995 the artistic director has been Gabriella Thész and in 1997 the choir was joined by conductor László Norbert Nemes. In 2012 László Matók and Sándor Kabdebó conductors took over the guidance of the chorus.

The choir´s repertoire extends from Gregorian chants, through the polyphonic vocal music of the renaissance, to contemporary music. Besides regularly keeping Bartók´s and Kodály´s choral works on their repertoire they devote much attention to the performance of Hungarian and international contemporary choral works. Instrumental instruction which widely expands and develops the singers musical horizon is an important part of the choristers´ musical activities. Every year the Children´s Choir gives countless successful concerts and regularly appears at Hungarian and European artistic festivals and at other special events. The ensemble made several recordings for radio and television broadcast in Hungary and abroad. The number of their radio recordings is over two thousand. The choir often participates in oratorio performances both in Hungary and beyond. In 1988 the choir took part at the world premiere performance of Stockhausen´s opera Montag aus Licht (the first piece of the so called Light cycle) in ´´La Scala´´ in Milan. In 1993 they appeared at the Geneva Contemporary Music Festival where they sang works by Castiglioni and Donatoni. At the 1996 Budapest Spring Festival they took part in the performance of Penderecki´s Luke´s Passion. By today they have become regular participants of the Wien Modern Festival. In 1995 the choir sang the treble chorus in Mauricio Kagel´s St Bach´s Passion, in 1996 one boy from the choir was chosen to perform the treble solo in Péter Eötvös´s Atlantis. In 1997 six children participated in the performance of John Zorn´s Aporias. The same year the choir took part in the recording of Kodály´s Psalmus Hungaricus under Sir George Solti.

They have given concerts virtually in all countries of Europe, they travelled to the US and Japan several times, toured in South-Korea and Taiwan. They premiered Philip Glass´s Choral Symphony under Dennis Russel Davies at the Salzburg Festival in 1999 followed by a performance of the same work at the Flemish Festival in Gent In 2003 they toured Italy and gave Christmas concerts in Teatro Bellini in Catania, in Teatro Pergola in Florence and at Conservatorio Verdi in Torino. Further concert appearances include: April 2004 - Concert in Florence; Berio´s Ofanim. May 2004 - Concert in Stuttgart; Bartók: Seven choruses with chamber orchestra. September 2004 - Festival Opening Concert at Brucknerhaus, Linz; Mahler´s Symphony of a Thousand. In 2005, the choir and its directors were given the Bartók-Pásztory Prize in acknowledgement of their high artistic work. In May 2025, they were awarded the Music Ensemble of the Year Award at the Bartók Radio Music Awards.

Current performances of MR Children's Choir
Koncertkalendárium (www.muzsikalendarium.hu)