Péter Somogyi – 1st Violin
György Lendvai – 2nd Violin
Balázs Tóth – Viola
László Pólus – Cello
The string quartet was formed in 1997 by former students of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. At the beginning of their work, they were helped by: Ferenc Rados, János Devich, Sándor Devich, Béla Bánfalvi. Their debut concert was at the Bartók Memorial Hall in Budapest.
In the summer of 1998, the ensemble spent five weeks in Chicago at the Ravinia Festival, where they had the opportunity to work with prominent string quartets and teachers such as the Tokyo, La Salle, Cleveland, Emerson String Quartets, Paul Katz, Henry Meyer and Peter Quirdijan.
After personnel changes, the Somogyi String Quartet has been working in the current line-up since the autumn of 1998: Péter Somogyi, first violin, György Lendvai, second violin, Balázs Tóth, viola, László Pólus, cellist.
In addition to keeping the classical repertoire, the ensemble has set itself the goal of presenting the works of contemporary Hungarian authors. Since 1998, it has been a permanent participant in the “Mini Festival” which presents contemporary works held annually in Budapest. In 1999, Attila Bozay’s third string quartet, recommended for the ensemble, was presented here, the work was recorded at the Hungaroton record label. Hungaroton reports László Dubrovay and M.W. Also Karlins’ albums, on which the quartet appears. Several of their concerts were recorded by MR Bartók Rádió, the band is a regular guest of the Ars Nova series.
They attach great importance to the musical education of the youth. This is how their instrument presentation concerts for schoolchildren took place at the Castle Theater at the turn of the millennium.
Beyond the borders, they performed with great success in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, France, Switzerland and Mexico. In 2001, 2003, the group was a guest of the summer festival in Joinville (France), where, in addition to concerts, the members held individual and chamber music masterclasses.
Their partners at domestic and foreign concerts were: Béla Drahos, Zoltán Gyöngyössy, Csaba Klenyán, Endre Hegedűs, Jenő Jandó, Csaba Onczay, Imre Rohmann.
During their career, they performed at several international festivals:
- Quartet Festival Radom- Poland,
- Festival de Mayo Guadalajara-Mexico,
- Viva Vivaldi Festival -Mexico DF,
- Hugo Wolf-Days St. Paul- Austria,
- Spring Festival Valletta- Malta,
- CAFe Budapest – Mini Festival – Budapest.
In 2011, the string quartet won the performance award of the ARTISTJUS MUSIC FOUNDATION.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Ferenc Farkas (1905–2000)
Old Hungarian Dances
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
String Quartet No. 62 in D minor, Op. 76 No. 2, Hob. III:76, “Fifths”
- I. Allegro
- II. Andante o più tosto allegretto
- III. Menuetto. Allegro ma non troppo
- IV. Vivace assai
Interval
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) arr. Leó Weiner (1885–1960)
Andante
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, B. 179, “American”
- I. Allegro ma non troppo
- II. Lento
- III. Molto vivace
- IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo
