Miklós Perényi

Renowned cellist Miklos Perenyi interprets three masterpieces by Britten, Bach and Ligeti. Exhibiting a stirring display of ferocity and finesse, Perenyi plays with detailed expertise. The repertoire includes Benjamin Britten’s Third Suite op.87, Bach’s Suite VI in D Major BWV 1012 and Ligeti’s cello sonata of 1948-1953. The program showcases Perenyi’s rich sonic palette, a truly breathtaking release.

Brahms' piano quartets are the undisputed highlights of the composer's oeuvre. Hungaroton has recorded this album with some of the most prominent current classical artists, which allows the pieces to reveal their distinctive characteristics in a unique and unified atmosphere.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello are among the best known and most difficult compositions in the musical repertoire. Miklós Perényi, one of the greatest cellists of his generation, and a world-famous exponent of his instrument, recorded these masterpieces for Hungaroton 40 years ago. Now after four decades we can once more hear his unforgettable performance of these key works.Born in Hungary, he began cello lessons at the age of five with Miklós Zsámboki, a student of David Popper. At the age of nine, he gave his first concert in Budapest and went on to study between 1960 and 1964 with Enrico Mainardi in Rome and, in Budapest, with Ede Banda. In 1963 he became a prizewinner at the International Pablo Casals Cello Competition in Budapest. Casals invited him to his master classes in Puerto Rico in 1965 and 1966, and he went on to become a frequent visitor to the Marlboro Festival. In 1974, Miklós Perényi joined the faculty at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, where he has held a professorship since 1980. He was honoured with the Kossuth-Prize in 1980 and the Bartók-Pásztory-Prize in 1987.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for solo cello are among the best known and most difficult compositions in the musical repertoire. Miklós Perényi, one of the greatest cellists of his generation, and a world-famous exponent of his instrument, recorded these masterpieces for Hungaroton 40 years ago.

Concerto Budapest with conductor Andras Keller perform Dvorak's Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World" and are joined by cellist Miklos Perenyi for Silent Wood, Op.68, no.5 and the Rondo Op.94. The Slavonic Dances Op.46 Nos. 5, 6 and 8 complete the programme.

”The sort of musical talent Zoltán Kocsis displays is something we’re blessed with maybe once or twice a century. It is a priceless treasure that we should take good care of!” – writes György Kroó, an influential music critic of his time on 21 March 1970 about the then 18-year-old young musician. The quotation clearly illustrates the extent of professional interest in Kocsis’ achievements already in the early days of his career, and the expectations kept rising only to put a heavy burden and responsibility on the pianist. Many others have been seen to collapse under such pressure. A large number of young competition-winning talents even prodigies tend to disappear after a few years and fail to embark upon the career their talent would have destine them to pursue.

”The sort of musical talent Zoltán Kocsis displays is something we’re blessed with maybe once or twice a century. It is a priceless treasure that we should take good care of!” – writes György Kroó, an influential music critic of his time on 21 March 1970 about the then 18-year-old young musician. The quotation clearly illustrates the extent of professional interest in Kocsis’ achievements already in the early days of his career, and the expectations kept rising only to put a heavy burden and responsibility on the pianist. Many others have been seen to collapse under such pressure.

Jenö Jandó (piano), Béla Bánfalvi, Zoltán Kocsis, Miklós Perényi (cello), Werner Brock
Emperor Waltz Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Strings, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapesti Vonósok, Staatskapelle Dresden, Collner Cafehaus Ensemble, Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Sängerknaben, Joseph Francek, Geoffrey Simon, András Kórodi, Karoly Botvay, Hans Vonk, Kurt Redel, Béla Bánfalvi.