Ferenc Fricsay

Ferenc Fricsay (1914-1963) was a Hungarian conductor and pianist. He is considered one of the great conductors of the 20th century. He began his career as a conductor at the Berlin State Opera, and later conducted the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.

Fricsay is known for his interpretation of works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler, as well as his recordings of 20th-century music by composers such as Bartók, Ravel, and Stravinsky. His most famous albums include his 1960 recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, his 1956 recording of Mozart’s Requiem, and his 1954 recording of Ravel’s Bolero.

An interesting fact about Ferenc Fricsay is that he was a close friend of the famous Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan. Karajan was known to have a very competitive attitude towards other conductors, yet he and Fricsay remained close friends throughout their careers.