Tamás Vásáry
Tamás Vásáry rose to prominence as a virtuoso pianist in Soviet-dominated Hungary, but flourished internationally in the 1960s and '70s following his departure to the West. In the late '70s he turned to conducting and toured extensively in that role, especially in the U.S. As a pianist Vásáry is best known for his interpretations of Chopin, though he also garnered acclaim for his Rachmaninov, Liszt, Brahms, Mozart, and Bach. Vásáry has exhibited a fairly lean and crisp style suited for both Baroque and Classical works, as well as a lush, lyrical manner appropriate for Romantic and post-Romantic music. His Rachmaninov features broad tempos and creamy textures, while his Chopin is a bit understated but always sensitive to the composer's shifting moods. As a conductor Vásáry is known for broad repertory as well and has made several notable recordings with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven symphony cycle), Northern Sinfonia (Chopin concertos), and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta (works by Honegger and Respighi). Vásáry's recordings are available on DG, Chandos, Decca, Globe, Hungaroton, Supraphon, and Brilliant Classics.
Tamás Vásáry was born in Debrecen, Hungary, on August 11, 1933. He was a child prodigy, debuting at eight in a performance of the Mozart D major Concerto, K. 107. He briefly studied with Ernö Dohnányi and then, at 14, captured first prize at the 1948 Liszt Competition. Vásáry studied music in Budapest at the Franz Liszt Academy under Józef Gát. Later on at the Liszt Academy, Vásáry served as assistant to Zoltán Kodály, who mentored the young pianist.
In 1956, the year of the failed Hungarian Revolt, Vásáry fled Hungary and settled in Switzerland. His career soon flourished: after his first recording (1958, on DG) and his debuts in London (1961) and New York (1962), Vásáry rose to international renown. Vásáry debuted as a conductor in 1971, but received his first appointment in 1979, as co-artistic director of the Northern Sinfonia, serving until 1982. From 1989-1997 Vásáry was principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and from 1993 served as music director of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Vásáry also guest-conducted various ensembles, including the major orchestras of New York, Baltimore, Detroit, London, Paris, and Berlin. He also continued to appear as pianist, sometimes conducting from the keyboard. In the new century Vásáry has remained active, working with, among other artists and ensembles, the Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra, which he founded in 2006.
© TiVo
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Chopin: Nocturnes
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Works
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi: Three Botticelli Pictures
Tamás Vásáry, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Linda Finnie, Raphael Wallfisch
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Apr 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: 4 Ballades / Liszt: Piano Sonata in B Minor
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 24 Aug 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy : Préludes - Suite bergamasque - Pour le piano
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Complete Symphonies & Piano Concertos (Collectors Edition)
Tamás Vásáry, Yuri Ahronovitch, Lorin Maazel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Works
Martha Argerich, Tamás Vásáry, Stanislav Bunin, Anatol Ugorski, Lazar Berman, Jean-Marc Luisada
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Liszt : Piano Works (Œuvres pour piano)
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2003
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Basic Chopin
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2
Tamás Vásáry, Ivo Pogorelich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Jerzy Semkow, Claudio Abbado
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Valses et Mazurkas
Classical - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on 1 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies
Andor Foldes, Evgeny Kissin, Roberto Szidon, Tamás Vásáry, Anatol Ugorski
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 29 Oct 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Masterpieces Vol. 3
Helmut Walcha, Daniel Barenboim, Tamás Vásáry, Salvatore Accardo
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Complete Piano Concertos
Tamás Vásáry, London Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1&2 (Instrumental)
Gábor Farkas, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry
Classical - Released by Hungaroton on 14 Apr 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin - Waltzes, Etudes & More
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 1 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: "Paganini" Rhapsody; 6 Preludes; "Corelli" Variations
Tamás Vásáry, Yuri Ahronovitch, Lazar Berman
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy: Suite Bergamasque, L. 75; Danse, L. 69; Deux Arabesques, L. 66; Pour le piano, L. 95; La plus que lente, L. 121; L'isle joyeuse, L. 106; Masques, L. 105
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Works
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 20 Sep 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Träumerei
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.2 & 3
Tamás Vásáry, London Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 5 May 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo