Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 17, 1912 in Klausenburg

Death

:

January 7, 1997 in Feilassing

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Sandor Végh was a Hungarian violinist and conductor who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. He was born on February 17, 1912, in Kolozsvár, Transylvania, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so music was an integral part of his upbringing. Végh began playing the violin at the age of six and showed exceptional talent from an early age. He studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he was a student of Jenő Hubay, one of the most renowned violin teachers of the time. Végh graduated from the academy in 1930 and began his career as a soloist and chamber musician. In 1937, Végh founded the Végh Quartet, which quickly gained a reputation as one of the finest string quartets in Europe. The quartet consisted of Sandor Végh on first violin, Sandor Zöldy on second violin, Georges Janzer on viola, and Paul Szabo on cello. The quartet's performances were characterized by their precision, clarity, and emotional intensity. During World War II, Végh was conscripted into the Hungarian army and served on the Eastern Front. After the war, he returned to Hungary and resumed his career as a musician. However, the political situation in Hungary became increasingly oppressive, and Végh decided to leave the country in 1946. Végh settled in Switzerland, where he continued to perform as a soloist and chamber musician. In 1950, he founded the Camerata Bern, a chamber orchestra that specialized in the performance of Baroque and Classical music. The orchestra quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and dynamic performances, and Végh became known as one of the leading conductors of his generation. In 1953, Végh was appointed as the conductor of the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, a position he held until 1962. During his tenure, he transformed the orchestra into one of the finest in Europe, and his performances of Mozart's music were particularly acclaimed. In 1962, Végh founded the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, a chamber orchestra that specialized in the performance of Classical and Romantic music. The orchestra consisted of some of the finest musicians in Europe, and its performances were characterized by their precision, clarity, and emotional intensity. Végh continued to perform and conduct throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and he received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1987, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, and in 1991, he was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. Sandor Végh died on January 7, 1997, in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 84. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest violinists and conductors of the 20th century, and his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated and admired today.

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