Ferencsik János
conductor
Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1907
18th January 1907, Budapest - 12th June 1984, Budapest
One of the leading Hungarian conductors of his time, János Ferencsik was born in Budapest in 1907. He studied composotion from László Lajtha and arrangement from Antal Fleischer at the Budapest National Conservatory, then was engaged as an assistant conductor at the State Opera in 1927, rising to a position of full conductor in 1930. In 1930 and 1931, he served as an assistant conductor at Bayreuth, coaching many of the festival's most prominent singers. He conducted at the Vienna Staatsoper from 1948 to 1950, returning in 1964 (performances of Lohengrin, Aida, La Traviata, Don Carlos, Othello, Tannhäuser, Don Giovanni, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Turandot, Boris Godunov, The Flying Dutchman, and Rigoletto were made memorable by him). In 1953 he was made music director of the Budapest Opera, as well as principal conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, where he remained until the end of his life. Four years later, he led the London Philharmonic. His American debut came in 1962 when he conducted performances of Carmen, Der Rosenkavalier (with Schwarzkopf), and Falstaff at San Francisco. In 1963 Ferencsik brought his Hungarian company to Edinburgh to perform a Bartók triptych.
Throughout his career Ferencsik conducted concerts all over the world, got invitations to numerous recognized festivals. His repertoire covered the music literature of classicism, romanticism and 20th century symphonic works. He introduced 28 contemporary Hungarian pieces to his audience. Among other honors, he received the Award of Merit in 1952, the Award of Exellence in 1954, he was twice the recipient of the Kossuth Prize (1951, 1961) and the Batrók-Pásztory Award in 1986. His recorded legacy is substantial.
Ferencsik was an outstanding figure of the Hungarian music culture, and gained everlasting merits for promoting Hungarian music in foreign countries. His art is characterised by a firm sense of style and the continuation of the most eminent traditions.
In 1984 he was awarded with Béla Bartók-Ditta Pásztory Prize.
One of the leading Hungarian conductors of his time, János Ferencsik was born in Budapest in 1907. He studied composotion from László Lajtha and arrangement from Antal Fleischer at the Budapest National Conservatory, then was engaged as an assistant conductor at the State Opera in 1927, rising to a position of full conductor in 1930. In 1930 and 1931, he served as an assistant conductor at Bayreuth, coaching many of the festival's most prominent singers. He conducted at the Vienna Staatsoper from 1948 to 1950, returning in 1964 (performances of Lohengrin, Aida, La Traviata, Don Carlos, Othello, Tannhäuser, Don Giovanni, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Turandot, Boris Godunov, The Flying Dutchman, and Rigoletto were made memorable by him). In 1953 he was made music director of the Budapest Opera, as well as principal conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, where he remained until the end of his life. Four years later, he led the London Philharmonic. His American debut came in 1962 when he conducted performances of Carmen, Der Rosenkavalier (with Schwarzkopf), and Falstaff at San Francisco. In 1963 Ferencsik brought his Hungarian company to Edinburgh to perform a Bartók triptych.
Throughout his career Ferencsik conducted concerts all over the world, got invitations to numerous recognized festivals. His repertoire covered the music literature of classicism, romanticism and 20th century symphonic works. He introduced 28 contemporary Hungarian pieces to his audience. Among other honors, he received the Award of Merit in 1952, the Award of Exellence in 1954, he was twice the recipient of the Kossuth Prize (1951, 1961) and the Batrók-Pásztory Award in 1986. His recorded legacy is substantial.
Ferencsik was an outstanding figure of the Hungarian music culture, and gained everlasting merits for promoting Hungarian music in foreign countries. His art is characterised by a firm sense of style and the continuation of the most eminent traditions.
In 1984 he was awarded with Béla Bartók-Ditta Pásztory Prize.