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Biography
Ferenc Fricsay was born in Budapest on 9th August 1914.
1920–1933 Music studies and diploma from the Budapest Academy of Music (piano,
violin, clarinet, trombone, percussion, composition and conducting)
1930 Takes over the Young Musicians Orchestra from his father
1933–1943 Conductor of the Szeged Military Band and music director of the Szegediner
Philharmonic Orchestra
1944 Escapes from the Gestapo and goes underground in Budapest
1945–1948 Engagement at the Budapest State Opera
1946 Performance of “Carmen” at the Vienna
Volksoper
1947 World premiere of Gottfried v. Einem's “Dantons Tod” at the Salzburg
Festival
1948 World première of Frank Martin’s “Zaubertrank” at the Salzburg
Festival
1949–1952 Chief conductor of the Berlin RIAS Orchestra and General Music Director of the
City Opera
1950–1955 Guest performances and concert tours in Argentina ( Buenos Aires), WestGermany, Switzerland, England, Israel, USA (Houston) Lucerne Festival,
Munich
1956–1958 Named General Music Director of the State Opera in Munich (Otello, Wozzek, Die Fürsten Chowansky, Lucia etc)
1958 Reopening of the Cuvillies-Theater (Munich) with "Marriage of Figaro".
Cancel-
lation of all engagements due to illness
1959-1961 Chief conductor of the Radio-Symphony Orchestra of Berlin (RSO). Inaugural concert of the large hall of the Broadcasting Studio, Free Berlin
1961 On tour with Menuhin and the RSO; in July opening performance of the
Salz-
burg Festival with “Idomeneo”, World première of Kodaly's Symphony in the
Lucerne Festival. In September inauguration of the Deutsche Oper Berlin with “Don Giovanni”
1962 Publication of the book “Über Mozart und Bartok”
On February 20th, 1963 Ferenc Fricsay succumbs to his illness and dies in a Basle hospital.
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