ANTAL  SZALAI  -   Violin

“… The sound he makes is refined and smooth and he possesses a fabulous technique. In Bach’s d minor Partita he demonstrates an enviable ability to afford the music plenty of space – partly through his strict control of tempo heard in the Corrente – and a relish for building the broadest of structures in his majestic reading of the famous Chaconne …”. BBC Music Magazine.

« Impressive technique and musical intelligence from a significant youg talent… Szalai’s sound is full bodied, his vibrato intense but unobtrusive, his double-stops evenly gauged and his bowing mostly immaculate… a rare level of musicianship”.  GRAMOPHONE Magazine.

“Szalai garnered audience approval with his fluency, unfailing vibrato and calm demeanor whilst delivering one of the speediest renditions of the Tchaïkovsky Concerto’s finale on record… “ THE STRAD.

Still in his mid-twenties, Hungarian violinist Antal SZALAI is one of the most exciting and expressive artists on the international musical scene. Renowed for his matchless violin sound, dazzling technique and intellectual maturity, he is a young master of our time.

Antal SZALAI made his UK debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Ludovic Morlot playing the Glazunov’s Violin Concerto, with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin as part of their “Debut im Deutschlandradio”  series.

He gave performances with the St.Petersburg Festival Orchestra at the David Oistrakh Festival in Estonia (Tchaïkovsky Violin Concerto), with the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra in Vilnius (Brahms Violin Concerto).

Over recent seasons Antal SZALAI has performed with the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National d’Ile de France , the Monte Carlo Philharmonic , the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Hungary, the Budapest Philharmonic.

He has collaborated with eminent conductors such as Paavo Järvi, Shlomo Mintz, Gilbert Varga, Yoel Levi, Ludovic Morlot.

In addition to an accomplished career performing with orchestras, Antal SZALAI has given recitals in some of the most prestigious venues . He made his Carnegie Hall debut and has given performances at the Kennedy Center, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Palais des Beaus-Arts in Brussels, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Philharmonia in Berlin, Philharmonic Hall in St.Petersburg, Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

Antal SZALAI has recorded three albums for BMC Records and Hungaroton Classic.

His first album was named “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine and garnered praises from various publications including BBC Music Magazine and Classics Today.

 He is winner of several International Violin Competitions as Rodolfo Lipizer (Italy, 2004), Tibor Varga (Switzerland, 2005), George Enescu (Rumania, 2005), Queen Elisabeth (Belgium, 2005).

He started his musical career as a child prodigy, giving his first public performance when he was only five. At the age of 11, he performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto in  A with the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra. One year later, he played the Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in Budapest.

Lord Yehudi Menuhin called him “one of the most wonderful young violinists I have ever heard” after a performance of Bartok’s Violin Concerto given by the 15-year-old Szalai in Budapest.

Antal SZALAI studied in Budapest under Laszlo Denes at the Bela Bartok Musical School. He graduated from Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Peter Komlos and Jozef Kopelman), from Manhattan school of New York (Pinchas Zukerman) and from Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels (Katalin Sebestyen). In addition, Antal SZALAI attended masterclasses with Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Shlomo Mintz, Peter Kolmos and Erick Friedman.

Antal SZALAI plays the 1733 “ex-Garay” Stradivarius violin.

Last update : 30.03.2009

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