Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Hungary

Birth

:

April 9, 1906 in Budapest, Hungary

Death

:

November 13, 1988 in Gerzensee, Switzerland

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Antal Dorati was a Hungarian-born conductor and composer who made a significant impact on the world of classical music during the 20th century. Born on April 9, 1906, in Budapest, Hungary, Dorati was the son of a violinist and a pianist. He began his musical education at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied composition with Zoltán Kodály and conducting with Albert Siklós. Dorati's career as a conductor began in 1924 when he was appointed as the assistant conductor of the Budapest Royal Opera. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and innovative conductor, and in 1929, he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. During his time with the Ballets Russes, Dorati worked closely with some of the most influential composers of the time, including Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev. In 1937, Dorati moved to the United States, where he became the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He remained with the orchestra for 11 years, during which time he established himself as one of the leading conductors in the country. In 1949, Dorati was appointed as the music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1961. During his time in Dallas, Dorati made a number of significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was a champion of contemporary music, and he commissioned and premiered a number of works by American composers, including Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, and Walter Piston. He also recorded a number of albums with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, including a highly acclaimed recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. In 1961, Dorati was appointed as the music director of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (now known as the Minnesota Orchestra). During his time in Minneapolis, Dorati continued to champion contemporary music, and he commissioned and premiered works by a number of composers, including Leonard Bernstein and Gunther Schuller. He also recorded a number of albums with the orchestra, including a highly acclaimed recording of Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. In addition to his work as a conductor, Dorati was also a prolific composer. He wrote a number of works for orchestra, including a ballet, a symphony, and a number of concertos. He also wrote a number of chamber works, including a string quartet and a piano trio. Throughout his career, Dorati received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1963, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, and in 1972, he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1975. Dorati continued to conduct and compose music until his death on November 13, 1988, in Gerzensee, Switzerland. He left behind a legacy as one of the most influential conductors and composers of the 20th century, and his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated and studied today.

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