Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Hungary

Birth

:

November 5, 1921

Death

:

January 15, 1994 in Morsang-sur-Orge

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

György Cziffra was a Hungarian classical pianist who was born on November 5, 1921, in Budapest, Hungary. He was the son of a Hungarian mother and a Romanian father. Cziffra's father was a coal miner who played the violin, and his mother was a pianist. Cziffra's parents recognized his musical talent at an early age, and he began playing the piano when he was three years old. Cziffra's family was poor, and they could not afford to buy him a piano. However, his mother was determined to help him develop his talent, so she made a piano out of cardboard and taught him how to play. When Cziffra was six years old, his mother took him to a music school in Budapest, where he was accepted as a student. Cziffra's talent was quickly recognized, and he began performing in public when he was eight years old. He won his first piano competition when he was ten years old, and he continued to win competitions throughout his teenage years. In 1942, Cziffra was drafted into the Hungarian army, and he was sent to fight in World War II. He was captured by the Russians and spent three years in a prisoner of war camp. While he was in the camp, he continued to play the piano, and he even gave concerts for his fellow prisoners. After the war, Cziffra returned to Hungary and resumed his career as a pianist. He quickly became one of the most popular pianists in Hungary, and he began to perform in other countries as well. In 1956, Cziffra fled Hungary after the Soviet Union invaded the country. He settled in France, where he continued to perform and record. Cziffra's performances were known for their virtuosity and passion. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Franz Liszt, who was also Hungarian. Cziffra's recordings of Liszt's music are still considered some of the best ever made. Cziffra received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1958, he won the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Liszt's "Transcendental Etudes." In 1961, he was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government. In 1972, he was awarded the Kossuth Prize, which is the highest honor that can be given to a Hungarian artist. Cziffra continued to perform and record until his death in 1994. He was known not only for his musical talent but also for his generosity and kindness. He often gave free concerts for children and for people who could not afford to attend his regular concerts. Today, Cziffra is remembered as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. His recordings continue to be popular, and his influence can be heard in the playing of many contemporary pianists.

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