Franz Liszt Symphony Orchestra - Budapest

The orchestra was founded in 1987. The then largest concert management company, Interconcert, asked conductor Lajos Taligas to establish a large, 150-member, symphony orchestra. The aim of the company was to expand its business abroad where it had built prolific business relationships for decades previously.

 

The founder, Lajos Taligas' vision was to set up a multi-faceted orchestra that was able to perform both traditional chamber and symphony pieces as well as oratorios, operas and operettas to the highest standard. The ensemble considers performing musical pieces from Ferenc Liszt as one of its most important tasks given it was named after Liszt who was one of the most famous composers in the genre of symphony.

 

In order to maintain a consistent high standard of performances only the most qualified and talented musicians (usually music academy graduates), in a lot of cases internationally awarded soloists, with a lot of experience and repertoir could become members. This ensures quality performances in frequent shows even with short preparation times.

 

Apart from the Hungarian performances (Academy of Music, Vigado Concert Hall Budapest, Hungarian Television and Radio) the ensemble often appears in the most famous Western European concert halls, on concert tours and significant European festivals:

 

1986 Lourdes Spring Festival

1987 Margaret-Island Open Air Stage Budapest

       Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Germany

1988 G. Gershwin gala tour Germany

       Mannheimer Classic Open Air Concert with Beethoven IX. symphony

1990 Neujahrskonzert Milano

1991 Mozart Festival Passau

1992 Massenet Festival France

 

Over the years there have been a number of recording studios and recording companies offerring recording contracts: SONOTON, GINI Musikverlag, INTRSOUND, POLISTAR, ARIOLA, ARCO.

 

When founding the ensemble one of Lajos Taligas' main goal was to satisfy the needs of the concert management companies as well as audiences worldwide by performing light symphony pieces as well. This brought about interesting challanges and led to great relationships resulting in the establishment of smaller ensembles of the Budapest Franz Liszt Symphony Orchestra: Hungarian Light Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Salon Dance Ensemble. Later on the orchestra performed at all the European tours of Richard Clayderman, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Barry White.

 

It shortly became evident that the ensemble is a star in itself not just when it performs alongside world famous stars. In 1989 the ensemble took over the programme "POP GOES CLASSIC" from the Munich Symphonic Sound Orchestra. In addition to a number of soundtrack recordings this project also meant a triumphant and hugely successful 20 concert tour of Germany.

 

The conductor Lajos Taligas                                                                                           

Lajos Taligas was born in 1945 in Hungary. He began his studies at the Bela Bartok Secondary School of Music. He then attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest where he obtained his first degree as a cellist in 1968. He was a solo cellist of the MAV Symphony Orchestra for 20 years.

 

Between 1981 and 1984 he studied conducting under the tutelage of Andras Korodi and Ervin Lukacs. He obtained his degree in conducting in 1984. He undertook an advanced conducting course at the Respighi Accademia in Italy in 1985 where he received a diploma in conducting 

from Professor Franco Ferrara. From 1984 he was regularly conducting the concerts of the Budapest MAV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest and all over Hungary. In 1985 and 1986 he was the art and musical director of the Margaret Island Open Air Stage opera shows in Budapest. Since 2000 he conducts 65 musical performanses per yera abroad and apr.40 concerts in Hungary. 

 

In 1987 he was assigned to found the Budapest Franz Liszt Symphony Orchestra and the Hungarian Light Symphony Orchestra. In addition to the Hungarian, Budapest and country ensembles he regularly toured Europe with his two newly founded orchestras. He was a regular performer in not only Hungarian but also European concert halls, studios and on festivals.

 

Lajos Taligas has a wide range of experience which has enabled him to develop a unique talent essential for traversing a broad range of musical genres. He is not only an expert in classical genres, chamber, symphony, opera, operetta but also likes to conduct light music as well. For example, he performed on the concerts of Richard Clayderman, Engelbert Humperdinck and Barry White. He also conducted on the Munich Symphonic Sound Orchestra's programme "POP GOES CLASSIC" and its soundtrack recordings.

 

In addition to conducting Lajos Taligas' wide ranging jobs include organisational and managerial tasks such as art and music director, tour manager and institute manager. Since 1994 he has been the director of the Budapest Art School which employs 60 teachers and caters for 950 music and dance students.