Already through his birthplace Budapest, Benedek Horváth (*1989) feels in many ways very close to his “fellow countryman”, the great virtuoso and cosmopolitan Franz Liszt (1811-1886). Important stages of his career are inseparably connected with the pianist, and the interpretation of the great piano works of this pianistic visionary has occupied him since his early years of study. Benedek Horváth completed his soloist diploma at the Basel Music Academy and received important artistic impulses from András Schiff, Dimitri Bashkirov and Menahem Pressler. The pianist comes from a family of musicians and recorded his first CD as a soloist with the MATAV Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13. Since then he has been a finalist at prestigious competitions such as the Paloma O’Shea Santander Piano Competition, the Concours Clara Haskil in Vevey and other competitions. In 2016 he recorded a solo programme with works by Liszt and Bartók. The following year Benedek Horváth made his debut at New York’s Merkin Hall with the 2nd Piano Concerto by Franz Liszt. Other highlights of his career include solo performances of Mozart’s Piano Concerto KV 459 (with the Musikkollegium Winterthur) and performances (and CD recording) of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Totentanz with the Basel Symphony Orchestra. In November 2018 he was awarded the “Junior Prima”, one of the most important cultural prizes in Hungary.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung describes it perfectly: “One must only have experienced Sinfonieorchester Basel with its principal conductor Ivor Bolton to know what this fabulous orchestra is capable of achieving.” Be it in its own concert series, in Theater Basel, or in guest performances at home and abroad, this innovative ensemble constantly affirms its high level of tonal culture.
The Briton Ivor Bolton has been principal conductor since the 2016/2017 season. Among the conductors with whom Sinfonieorchester Basel has been and still is closely associated are such personalities as Johannes Brahms, Felix Weingartner, Gustav Mahler, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Gary Bertini, Walter Weller, Armin Jordan, Horst Stein, Otto Klemperer, Nello Santi, Pierre Boulez, Mario Venzago, and Dennis Russell Davies.
For some years now Sinfonieorchester Basel has become increasingly visible on the international concert scene, notably with tours in the United Kingdom in 2014, 2015, and 2017, Far East tours in 2010 and spring 2015, a European tour with David Garrett in March 2017, a tour of Germany with Jonas Kaufmann in January 2019, and to commemorate the Beethoven year, its Prometheus tour with Peter Simonischek in spring of 2020.
Franz Liszt: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 in Es-Dur | Sonate h-Moll | Totentanz
