István Szabó Lantos was a Hungarian-born classical music artist who was known for his exceptional skills as a violinist and conductor. He was born on August 7, 1949, in Budapest, Hungary, and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so it was natural for István to develop an interest in music from a young age. István began his musical training at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied violin under the guidance of renowned violinist Ferenc Rados. He quickly showed promise as a musician and won several awards and competitions during his time at the academy. After completing his studies, István began his professional career as a violinist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles in Hungary and abroad. He also began to develop an interest in conducting and started to study under the tutelage of conductor János Ferencsik. In 1976, István was appointed as the concertmaster of the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, a position he held for several years. During this time, he also began to conduct the orchestra on occasion, and his talent as a conductor soon became evident. In 1981, István was invited to conduct the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Hungary's most prestigious orchestras. This was a major breakthrough for him, and he quickly established himself as one of the country's leading conductors. Over the years, István conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. He also worked with many of the world's leading soloists, including violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. One of István's most memorable performances was his 1990 concert with the Berlin Philharmonic, where he conducted a program of works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. The concert was a huge success, and István received a standing ovation from the audience. In addition to his work as a conductor, István was also a highly respected violinist. He performed regularly as a soloist and chamber musician, and his recordings of works by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven are considered to be some of the finest interpretations of these works. Throughout his career, István received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1992, he was awarded the Kossuth Prize, Hungary's highest cultural honor, for his outstanding achievements as a conductor and violinist. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in 2004 for his contributions to Hungarian culture. Sadly, István passed away on January 31, 2019, at the age of 69. However, his legacy as a musician and conductor lives on, and he is remembered as one of Hungary's greatest classical music artists.

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