Description

JOSEPH SZIGETI (BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 5 SEPTEMBER, 1892 – LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND, 19 FEBRUARY, 1973)

 

 

 

 

Szigeti was born Joseph “Jóska” Singer to a Jewish family in Budapest, Austria-Hungary. He began his studies at a local music school; while still a child, he was placed in the advanced class of Hubay at the Budapest Academy of Music; then made his debut in Berlin at age 13. He made his first appearance in London when he was 15; subsequently toured England in concerts with Busoni; then settled in Switzerland in 1913; was a professor at the Geneva Conservatory (1917-25). He made an auspicious U.S. debut playing the Beethoven Concerto with Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra at N.Y.’s Carnegie Hall (Dec. 15, 1925); thereafter he toured the U.S. regularly while continuing to appear in Europe. With the outbreak of World War II, he went to the U.S. (1940), becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1951. After the end of the war, he resumed his international career; settled again in Switzerland in 1960 and gave master classes. Szigeti was an artist of rare intellect and integrity; he eschewed the role of the virtuoso, placing himself totally at the service of the music. In addition to the standard repertoire, he championed the music of many 20th-century composers, including Stravinsky, Bartók, Ravel, Prokofiev, Honegger, Bloch, and Martin.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Ave Maria (Schubert, arr. Wilhelmj) 07955 z 5467f 19-9-11

Bagatelles, Op. 13 No. 9, L’abeille (Schubert) 07915 2677f 1-11-08

Divertimento No. 17 in D Major, K. 334 III. Minuet (Arr. W. Burmester for Violin & Piano) 07915 2677f 1-11-08

Hullamzo a Balaton Scène de la Csarda Op. 5 No 33 (Hubay) 07910 2608f 30-9-08

Kreutzer Sonata Andante Variations Op. 47 (Beethoven) 07948 ac 4736f 4-1-11

Nocturne (Arnold) 3-7934 ab 13028e 4-1-11

Nocturne in A minor Op. 42 (Hubay) 07912 1679f 1-11-08

Prelude from Sonata in E major BWV1006 (Bach) 07911 2611f G&T 30-9-08

Romance in E flat Op. 44 (Rubinstein) 07914 2674f 1-11-08

Sonata No. 9 Andante & Larghetto (Handel arr. Hubay) 07984 z 6948f 1-1-13

Ungarische Weisen (Laszlo) 07921 3123f 8-6-09

Unter ihrem Fenster Op. 38 No. 2 (Hubay) 07946 4113f 5-4-10

Valse triste Op. 44 (Sibelius) 07971 ai 6217f 3-4-12

Zephir Op 35 No. 5 (Hubay) 07913 2676f 1-11-08

Zephir Op 35 No. 5 (Hubay) 07913x z6949f 1-11-13