Zoltán Rozsnyai (January 29, 1926 – September 10, 1990) was a Hungarian conductor and musical director.
Born in Budapest, he was a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where he studied under Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók, and Ernest von Dohnányi, and conducting under János Ferencsik, 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 and subsequently the orchestras of Miskolc, Pécs and Györ in Hungary.
In 1954, he became permanent conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonia Concert Organization. In May 1956, he was awarded the second prize at the International Conductor's Competition in Rome, which resulted an immediate invitation to return to Rome as a guest conductor. After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Rozsnyai left Budapest for Vienna, where he founded the famous Philharmonia Hungarica, composed of outstanding exiled musicians. With tireless effort, he built the Philharmonia Hungarica into one of the most outstanding concert orchestras in Europe. Under the auspices of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, Mr. Rozsnyai brought the Philharmonia 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 Zoltán Rozsnyai's many record credits, which include Columbia Masterworks as well as distinguished European labels. In 1982 he built up the Knoxville Symphony on the occasion of the World's Fair, and in 1987 he founded 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.
External links
New York Times Obituary
Answers.Com
The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation - Recording Awards
March 11, 2023
zoltán, rozsnyai, january, 1926, september, 1990, hungarian, conductor, musical, director, born, budapest, graduate, franz, liszt, academy, music, where, studied, under, zoltán, kodály, béla, bartók, ernest, dohnányi, conducting, under, jános, ferencsik, among. Zoltan Rozsnyai January 29 1926 September 10 1990 was a 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 Dohnanyi and conducting under Janos Ferencsik 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 and subsequently the orchestras of Miskolc Pecs and Gyor in Hungary In 1954 he became permanent conductor of the Hungarian National Philharmonia Concert Organization In May 1956 he was awarded the second prize at the International Conductor s Competition in Rome which resulted an immediate invitation to return to Rome as a guest conductor After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Rozsnyai left Budapest for Vienna where he founded the famous Philharmonia Hungarica composed of outstanding exiled musicians With tireless effort he built the Philharmonia Hungarica into one of the most outstanding concert orchestras in Europe Under the auspices of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations Mr Rozsnyai brought the Philharmonia 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 up the Knoxville Symphony on the occasion of the World s Fair and in 1987 he founded 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 External links EditNew York Times Obituary Time magazine Answers Com Famous Hungarians The Walter W Naumburg Foundation Recording Awards Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zoltan Rozsnyai amp oldid 1059945449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
