Peter Eros
Encyclopedia
Hungarian-American conductor Peter Erős was born in Budapest
in 1932 and attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
, where he studied composition with Zoltán Kodály
, chamber music with Leo Weiner
, and conducting with László Somogyi
.
In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to The Netherlands. At age 27, he was named Associate Conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, a post he held for five years. While in Amsterdam, he assisted Otto Klemperer
in opera productions for the Holland Festival. In the summers of 1960 and 1961, he served as a coach and assisted Hans Knappertsbusch
at the Bayreuth Festival
, and in 1961 was assistant conductor to Ferenc Fricsay
for the Salzburg Festival
production of Mozart’s "Idomeneo
". He continued to assist Fricsay both in Salzburg and in Berlin
with the RIAS Symphony Orchestra and Deutsche Grammophon
through 1964. In 1965, Erős came to the United States for the first time at the invitation of George Szell
to work with him and the Cleveland Orchestra as a Kulas Foundation Fellow.
His principal appointments were as Music Director and Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra
(1966–1969) in Sweden, the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Orchestras (1967–1969, Sydney and Melbourne; 1975–79, Perth), the San Diego Symphony
and La Jolla Chamber Orchestra (1971–1980), and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra (1982–1989) in Denmark.
As a guest conductor, Peter Erős appeared regularly with major symphony orchestras and opera companies on five continents, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, Cleveland Orchestra
, National Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony
, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, Philharmoniker Hamburg
, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Swedish Opera
in Stockholm, Hamburg State Opera
, the Hague Residentie Orchestra
, and the Scottish National Orchestra, and made nine tours of South Africa. He received ASCAP awards in 1983 and 1985 for his programming of music by American composers.
Erős came to the University of Washington
School of Music in Seattle, Washington in 1989 as the Morrison Endowed Professor of Conducting and Music Director and Conductor of the University Symphony and Opera, where he taught until his retirement in 2010; he now holds the honorary title of Professor Emeritus. He also taught conducting from 1960-65 at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where his pupils included Hans Vonk
, Edo de Waart
, and Jan Stulen, and served as Director of Orchestral and Operatic Activities at the Peabody Conservatory of Music from 1982-85.
At the personal request of Richard Wagner
's granddaughter Friedelind, Peter Erős led the first set of recordings of orchestral works by Friedelind's father, Siegfried Wagner
. Two discs were released on the Delysé label, featuring the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erős: the Symphony in C and the tone poems Glück, Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär (Scherzo), Weltersteinspielung and Sehnsucht. He also conducted the first recording of the opera, "Jesus Before Herod" by Hungarian composer Gabriel von Wayditch
(1888–1969) with the San Diego Symphony
.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 1932 and attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
The Franz Liszt Academy of Music is a concert hall and music conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875...
, where he studied composition with Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, chamber music with Leo Weiner
Leo Weiner
Leo Weiner , was one of the leading Hungarian music educators of the first half of the twentieth century and a composer.- Education :Weiner was born in Budapest. He had his first music and piano lessons from his brother, and later studied at the Academy of Music in Budapest, studying with János ...
, and conducting with László Somogyi
László Somogyi
László Somogyi was an Hungarian conductor.- Biography :Somogyi received his musical training under Zoltán Kodály and Leo Weiner at the Ferenc Liszt Academy at Budapest, where he was later to become leading professor of the Conductor's Class...
.
In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to The Netherlands. At age 27, he was named Associate Conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, a post he held for five years. While in Amsterdam, he assisted Otto Klemperer
Otto Klemperer
Otto Klemperer was a German conductor and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of the 20th century.-Biography:Otto Klemperer was born in Breslau, Silesia Province, then in Germany...
in opera productions for the Holland Festival. In the summers of 1960 and 1961, he served as a coach and assisted Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch was a German conductor, best known for his performances of the music of Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner and Richard Strauss....
at the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
, and in 1961 was assistant conductor to Ferenc Fricsay
Ferenc Fricsay
Ferenc Fricsay was a Hungarian conductor. From 1960 until his death, he was an Austrian citizen.Fricsay was born in Budapest in 1914 and studied music under Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, Ernst von Dohnányi, and Leo Weiner. Fricsay had a meteoric rise to fame, making his first appearance as a...
for the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
production of Mozart’s "Idomeneo
Idomeneo
Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante is an Italian language opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been set to music by André Campra as Idoménée in 1712...
". He continued to assist Fricsay both in Salzburg and in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
with the RIAS Symphony Orchestra and Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
through 1964. In 1965, Erős came to the United States for the first time at the invitation of George Szell
George Szell
George Szell , originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer...
to work with him and the Cleveland Orchestra as a Kulas Foundation Fellow.
His principal appointments were as Music Director and Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Malmö Symphony Orchestra
The Malmö Symphony Orchestra is a Swedish orchestra, based in Malmö. Since 1985, the orchestra has given its main concert series in the Konserthuset, Malmö. The orchestra has a current complement of 94 musicians...
(1966–1969) in Sweden, the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
San Diego Symphony
The San Diego Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in San Diego, California. On 6 December 1910, it gave its first concert as the San Diego Civic Orchestra.Currently, the Symphony performs over 100 concerts each season...
and La Jolla Chamber Orchestra (1971–1980), and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra (1982–1989) in Denmark.
As a guest conductor, Peter Erős appeared regularly with major symphony orchestras and opera companies on five continents, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, National Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the leading symphony orchestra in Israel. It was originally known as the Palestine Orchestra, and in Hebrew as התזמורת הסימפונית הארץ ישראלית The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit...
, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, Philharmoniker Hamburg
Philharmoniker Hamburg
The Philharmoniker Hamburg is a German symphony orchestra based in Hamburg. Its current Music Director is GMD Simone Young. It is also the orchestra of the Hamburg State Opera....
, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in Stockholm, Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg State Opera
The Hamburg State Opera is one of the leading opera companies in Germany.Opera in Hamburg dates back to 2 January 1678 when the "Opern-Theatrum" was inaugurated with a performance of a biblical Singspiel by Johann Theile...
, the Hague Residentie Orchestra
Residentie Orchestra
Het Residentie Orkest is a Dutch orchestra based in The Hague. Its primary venue is the Dr. Anton Philipszaal....
, and the Scottish National Orchestra, and made nine tours of South Africa. He received ASCAP awards in 1983 and 1985 for his programming of music by American composers.
Erős came to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
Hans Vonk
Hans Vonk was a Dutch conductor.Vonk was born in Amsterdam, the son of Franciscus Cornelis and Wilhemina Vonk. His father was a violinist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and died when Vonk was age three. Vonk studied piano with Jaap Spaanderman at the Amsterdam Conservatory and law at Amsterdam...
, Edo de Waart
Edo de Waart
Edo de Waart is a Dutch conductor, and the Music Director of both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra....
, and Jan Stulen, and served as Director of Orchestral and Operatic Activities at the Peabody Conservatory of Music from 1982-85.
At the personal request of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's granddaughter Friedelind, Peter Erős led the first set of recordings of orchestral works by Friedelind's father, Siegfried Wagner
Siegfried Wagner
Siegfried Wagner was a German composer and conductor, the son of Richard Wagner. He was an opera composer and the artistic director of the Bayreuth Festival from 1908 to 1930.-Life:...
. Two discs were released on the Delysé label, featuring the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erős: the Symphony in C and the tone poems Glück, Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär (Scherzo), Weltersteinspielung and Sehnsucht. He also conducted the first recording of the opera, "Jesus Before Herod" by Hungarian composer Gabriel von Wayditch
Gabriel von Wayditch
Gabriel von Wayditch was a Hungarian-American composer whose output consisted primarily of 14 grand operas....
(1888–1969) with the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Symphony
The San Diego Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in San Diego, California. On 6 December 1910, it gave its first concert as the San Diego Civic Orchestra.Currently, the Symphony performs over 100 concerts each season...
.