Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Hungary

Birth

:

February 25, 1944 in Békéscsaba

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

László Vidovszky was a Hungarian composer who was born on August 14, 1944, in Budapest, Hungary. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Vidovszky began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano and violin. He later attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied composition with Ferenc Farkas and György Ligeti. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in composition. After graduation, Vidovszky began working as a composer and music teacher. He taught at the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest from 1970 to 1974, and later at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1974 to 1990. He also served as the director of the Hungarian Radio Music Studio from 1981 to 1985. Vidovszky's music is characterized by its use of modernist techniques, including serialism and aleatoric music. He was also influenced by Hungarian folk music and the music of Béla Bartók. His compositions include orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. One of Vidovszky's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was composed in 1972. The symphony is in three movements and features a large orchestra. It is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and dissonant harmonies. Another notable work by Vidovszky is his String Quartet No. 2, which was composed in 1976. The quartet is in four movements and features a variety of modernist techniques, including microtonality and extended techniques. Vidovszky also composed several vocal works, including his opera The Last King, which was composed in 1985. The opera is based on the life of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and features a libretto by Péter Esterházy. The opera was well-received and has been performed in Hungary and abroad. In addition to his work as a composer, Vidovszky was also a respected musicologist. He wrote several books on music, including a biography of Béla Bartók and a study of Hungarian folk music. Vidovszky received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer and musicologist. He was awarded the Kossuth Prize, Hungary's highest cultural award, in 1985. He was also a member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vidovszky died on December 20, 2013, in Budapest, Hungary. He was 69 years old. His legacy as a composer and musicologist continues to be celebrated in Hungary and around the world.

More....