Michael Halasz
Encyclopedia
Biography and career
Michael Halasz began his musical career as principal bassoonist with the Philharmonia Hungarica. After working with that group for eight years, he trained as conductor in Essen, and his first engagement as conductor was at the Munich Gärtnerplatztheater, from 1972 to 1975, where he conducted operetta productions.In 1975, Halasz moved to Frankfurt and worked as principal Kapellmeister under Christoph von Dohnányi. During this time, he conducted a number of major operas. In 1977, when Dohnányi moved to Hamburg, Halasz went with him, continuing his work as principal Kapellmeister at the Staatsoper in Hamburg. In 1978, Halasz was appointed General Musical Director of the Hagen Opera House, and in 1991 he was named Resident Conductor at the Vienna State Opera.
Halasz has made dozens of recordings for the Naxos
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
and Marco Polo labels, ranging from the complete symphonies of Beethoven and Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
's Symphonic poems to works by Mozart, Pergolesi
Pergolesi
Pergolesi as a surname may refer to:*Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, , composer*Michael Angelo Pergolesi, 18th century decorative artist...
, Dvorak
Dvorák
- Dvořák or Dvorak :* Ann Dvorak , American film actress* Antonín Dvořák , Czech composer of Romantic music* August Dvorak , American psychologist, co-creator of the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard...
, Mahler, Schubert and many others. He has also recorded several of Mozart's operas, notably Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
, Die Zauberflöte, and Le nozze di Figaro. Many of Halasz's recordings have received great critical acclaim.