Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 3, 1913 in Györ, Hungary

Death

:

June 22, 1996

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

George Barati was a Hungarian-American conductor, composer, and violinist who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on April 3, 1913, in Budapest, Hungary, and showed an early interest in music. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so he grew up in a musical household. Barati began his musical education at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied violin with Jenő Hubay and composition with Zoltán Kodály. He also studied conducting with Béla Bartók, who had a significant influence on his musical style. Barati graduated from the academy in 1935 and began his career as a violinist with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1939, Barati left Hungary and moved to the United States, where he continued his musical career. He joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a violinist and later became the assistant conductor. He also worked as a conductor for the New York City Opera and the New York City Ballet. Barati's conducting career took off in the 1950s when he became the music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio. He held this position for 25 years and transformed the orchestra into a world-class ensemble. He also served as the music director of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. Barati was known for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music. He conducted many premieres of works by American composers, including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, and Aaron Copland. He also championed the music of his fellow Hungarian composers, including Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. In addition to his work as a conductor, Barati was also a prolific composer. He wrote music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions were influenced by his Hungarian heritage and his love of folk music. Some of his most famous works include his Violin Concerto, his Symphony No. 1, and his Suite for Orchestra. Barati received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1975 and was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit in 1993. He also received honorary doctorates from several universities, including Ohio State University and the University of Toledo. Barati continued to conduct and compose music well into his 80s. He died on September 2, 1996, in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 83. His legacy lives on through his recordings, his compositions, and the many musicians he inspired throughout his career.

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