Sounds of Hungary - Georg Solti

Georg Solti, by formal title Sir Georg Solti, was a Hungarian orchestral and operatic conductor.  He held impressive appearances with Munich (Bavarian State Opera), Frankfurt (Oper Frankfurt), and London (Covent Garden Opera Company) operas and held a long time position as music director with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  

Solti also served as music director of the Orchestre de Paris and principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Georg Solti studied in his native Budapest and in the 1930's, he worked at the Hungarian State Opera as well as Salzburg Festival.

Fleeing Nazi control of Hungary, Solti spent the whole of World War II in Switzerland as a pianist (being prohibited from conducting).

Point of intrigue - Georg Solti received West German citizenship in 1953 (Solti was of Jewish descent) and British citizenship in 1972.

The better part of Solti's career was with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as music director - 1969 to 1991.  His final role was the orchestra's music director laureate.

(A full background can be found on Wikipedia.)

Georg Solti - October 21, 1912 - September 5, 1997

Honors -

- Honorary British CBE (1968)

*Most Excellent Order of the British Empire...rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences.

- Honorary Knighthood (1971)

- Named Sir Georg Solti upon citizenship in 1972

- Global Honors: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, ad the U.S.

- Honorary fellowships and degrees from the Royal College of Music, DePaul (a Chicago, Illinois university), Furman, Harvard, Leeds, London, Oxford, Surrey, and Yale

- In 1987, a Bronze Bust was dedicated in Lincoln Park (Chicago) outside the Lincoln Park Conservatory ... In 2006, the bust was moved to Grant Park near Orchestra Hall in Symphony Center.

- 31 Grammy Awards 

- Trustees Grammy Award shared with John Culshaw for recording of Ring (1967)

- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)

- Most Grammy-awarded recording artist, classical or popular

(Unique honors can be found on Wikipedia)

My take away -

I am not one for classical music and in my time as a violist, I struggled to follow the sheet music and conductor at the same time.  With this said, I do hold great respect for orchestral and operatic conductors.  Without their lead, the musicians may still play but without proper direction.  Orchestral performances are dedicated careers that begin very early in life, practice, and hone on a daily basis.

Georg Solti truly is one of great honor in his home country of Hungary and worldwide.